Emerson Paramount Switch Pop

[peterg]

I built an Emerson Paramount a while back as per the schematic on this site:

http://tagboardeffects.blogspot.ca/2014/02/emerson-custom-guitars-paramount.html

There is popping every time the circuit is turned on - no matter how long the rest between switching. I didn't install a pull down resistor since, for some reason, I thought it wasn't needed because there are 2 pots in a row at the circuit input  .   Looking at the circuit now I realize that neither input pot goes to ground so they do not do anything to prevent switch popping. I installed a 1M pull down resistor but that didn't stop the popping then I tried a 2M2 resister but that didn't help either. Is there something about this circuit that would cause the popping or could it be a bad switch?

[antonis]

Maybe you should try to ground your input (and output..) in bypass mode via the 3PDT switch..

[peterg]

Thanks Antonis

The input is grounded in bypass via the switch. If I ground the output the same way won't that cause the input and output to be connected when the circuit is engaged?

[PRR]

> at the circuit input

What about the OUTput? Pull-down?

[antonis]

The input is grounded in bypass via the switch. If I ground the output the same way won't that cause the input and output to be connected when the circuit is engaged?

Not at all..!!!

In & Out will be connected - via GND - only in Bypass mode..
(when pedal is active their respective switch lugs are deactivated/disconnected..)

Something like the following wiring:


or this:


P.S.
Your circuit shows that the OUTPUT is grounded via Volume pot..

[peterg]

Antonis

Got it!

My switch is directly connected to the board using this switch wiring:



so the only way to connect the output to ground when the circuit is engaged is to connect the output to the switch's bottom middle post. This would connect the input and output at all times. Thanks for the diagrams. They made me think out side the (stomp)box.

Turns out the issue was not with the switch but a cold solder joint at the transistor collector. Pressing the switch caused shorting.

[antonis]

Turns out the issue was not with the switch but a cold solder joint at the transistor collector. Pressing the switch caused shorting.

If you didn't use a pc mounted switch (or a very "soft" enclosure..  ) it's quite strange... 

edit: I didn't see this < My switch is directly connected to the board >