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DIY Stompboxes => Building your own stompbox => Topic started by: AudioEcstasy on September 02, 2012, 12:38:52 PM

Title: Custom Kill Switch
Post by: AudioEcstasy on September 02, 2012, 12:38:52 PM
Hey guys,

I want to build myself a kill switch like the On/Off one from Beavis Audio. I wanted to make a few adjustments to it, those being a switch to change the momentary switch function from NC to NO and back and forth, as well as to have dual outputs. Not stereo, just so one output can go to a tuner.

Is this plausible?
Title: Re: Custom Kill Switch
Post by: R.G. on September 02, 2012, 12:53:04 PM
Will you be able to get this be integrated into the run of pedals you're ordering caps for?
Title: Re: Custom Kill Switch
Post by: ORK on September 02, 2012, 01:25:39 PM
Here is a starter (kind of like the blooming of a pedal) for the basics of such an approach: http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=76932.0
Title: Re: Custom Kill Switch
Post by: AudioEcstasy on September 02, 2012, 01:43:02 PM
RG, this one is for me.

I just wanted to make a few upgrades to Beavis' idea. It's the only thing my pedalboard is missing!  8)

I was wondering if it would be possible to wire the momentary switch to a DPDT throw switch to have the option of either NC or NO. I was also wondering if splitting the output would weaken the signal at that point?
Title: Re: Custom Kill Switch
Post by: artifus on September 02, 2012, 02:07:31 PM
http://www.nicolascollins.com/texts/superswitch.pdf (http://www.nicolascollins.com/texts/superswitch.pdf)
Title: Re: Custom Kill Switch
Post by: AudioEcstasy on September 02, 2012, 08:48:46 PM
Thank you so much artifus! That was exactly what I was looking for. As for the dual output, can I just double each wire and split it to 2 jacks?
Title: Re: Custom Kill Switch
Post by: AudioEcstasy on September 13, 2012, 01:36:45 PM
Hello again guys,

I finally got around to trying out this project. I'm trying to combine this idea:

http://www.nicolascollins.com/texts/superswitch.pdf

And Version 2 and 3 of the Beavis Kill (on/off switch and variable with a pot). I'm also splitting it to 2 outputs:

http://www.beavisaudio.com/projects/StutterPedal/index.htm

I've got it assembled and get clean audio I/O, but none of the switches work and the effect does nothing. Included is a gut shot.

(http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af291/fastlanestoner/gutshot.jpg)

The signal comes in the jack on the reader's left to the On/Off Switch. I changed the connection to the 2 lugs on the bottom right (tested it with the meter for continuity). The switch on the reader's right is the momentary. I have a feeling the issue is somewhere in either how I'm connecting the on/off switch, or how I'm connecting the momentary.In short, the signal flow goes:

input -> on/off switch in -> on/off out -> No/Nc throw switch -> momentary -> pot lug 2 -> pot lug 3 -> out 1

The tip and sleeve of the input goes to both outputs.

All help is greatly appreciated! Thanks so much for your time.


Title: Re: Custom Kill Switch
Post by: Fender3D on September 13, 2012, 02:30:01 PM
Why didn't you use SPDT as trow switch?
You're just switching signal coming from on/off sw. to NO or NC...
Title: Re: Custom Kill Switch
Post by: AudioEcstasy on September 13, 2012, 03:03:45 PM
Let me clarify:

There are 3 switches.

One turns the effect on or bypasses it. There is a throw switch to toggle the third switch, the momentary, between normally open and normally closed. This is the super switch referenced to the Nicholas Collins website.
Title: Re: Custom Kill Switch
Post by: ashcat_lt on September 13, 2012, 06:06:30 PM
But that's just absurd!  Far more complicated than necessary.  I cant really see your switch well enough to tell you what's wrong, but Fender3D has the right answer.  You can just use one half of your toggle.  Input from on/off to the common.  Each outside lug goes to one of the outside lugs of the momentary.  Common of the MO to the pot.

Edit - keep in mind, though, that this will only really kill when the pot is at 0R.  At higher resistances it acts as a parallel load.  This may change frequency response, depending on the source, but not broadband volume.  Connected directly to a passive guitar pickup it will tend to work more as a Tone than a Volume.
Title: Re: Custom Kill Switch
Post by: AudioEcstasy on September 13, 2012, 06:29:11 PM
So connect the outside lugs of the momentary switch to either side "on" of the throw switch?

The signal goes input -> on/off switch -> common of throw switch -> common of the momentary to the pot -> outputs?

Thanks so much for the insight!

I've included a crude drawing.

(http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af291/fastlanestoner/drawing.jpg)
Title: Re: Custom Kill Switch
Post by: artifus on September 13, 2012, 07:50:09 PM
Quote
http://www.audioecstasyproductions.com

Custom stompboxes and cabling for stage and studio!

We build DAWs too!
Title: Re: Custom Kill Switch
Post by: ashcat_lt on September 13, 2012, 10:43:44 PM
Quote from: AudioEcstasy on September 13, 2012, 06:29:11 PM
So connect the outside lugs of the momentary switch to either side "on" of the throw switch?

The signal goes input -> on/off switch -> common of throw switch -> common of the momentary to the pot -> outputs?

Thanks so much for the insight!
Yeah, that should work, with the above caveat about the action of the pot and this new one following:

The momentary switch will affect both outputs at the same time.  You mentioned using one of these as a tuner output, and seems like this is a poor way of doing it since you will not be able to mute the amp while tuning.
Title: Re: Custom Kill Switch
Post by: AudioEcstasy on September 13, 2012, 11:27:11 PM
I rewired it and I'm getting the same results- just signal passing through, no effect. Perhaps I need to jumper the on/off switch? The switch is numbered:

1 2
3 4
5 6

I have input going to lug 4, outputing at 6 going to the common of the toggle switch. On my switch, 1/3 and 2/4 connect, and 3/5 and 4/6 connect when the switch is pressed.

Title: Re: Custom Kill Switch
Post by: ashcat_lt on September 13, 2012, 11:41:42 PM
Well, I just noticed that in your recent sketch you've got the "input" to the on/off switch coming from the sleeve of the jacks.  That ain't gonna work because you've got the momentary (through the pot) connecting also to the sleeve.  Those things are already connected together!  You need to move that "input" wire to the tip.
Title: Re: Custom Kill Switch
Post by: AudioEcstasy on September 14, 2012, 12:02:48 AM
That was a typo on my part in my haste to draw that on-the-go.

I actually have the tip of the input going to lug 4 of the on/off, as well as splitting out to the 2 outputs as in the diagram.
Title: Re: Custom Kill Switch
Post by: ashcat_lt on September 14, 2012, 01:25:50 AM
When I first said that the sketch would work I was really just looking at the two switches on the right.  Then I noticed the thing with the tip/sleeve confusion.  Now I've noticed that this:
Quote from: AudioEcstasy on September 13, 2012, 11:27:11 PM
1 2
3 4
5 6

I have input going to lug 4, outputing at 6 going to the common of the toggle switch. On my switch, 1/3 and 2/4 connect, and 3/5 and 4/6 connect when the switch is pressed.
Is not the same as the sketch either.  If the on/off switch is wired like the sketch, it won't work.

Where is the pot set when you're doing these tests?  Do you have a meter?
Title: Re: Custom Kill Switch
Post by: AudioEcstasy on September 14, 2012, 01:36:46 AM
Also a typo. Apologies.

It's wired as I said input to 4, output 6.

I've tested with the pot in all positions. I do have a meter and continuity tests fine. It's kind of perplexing that I can get throughput but nothing else.

I wouldn't have to wire the I/O and the "circuit" aspect separately on the switch would I?
Title: Re: Custom Kill Switch
Post by: deadastronaut on September 14, 2012, 03:36:44 AM
Quote from: artifus on September 13, 2012, 07:50:09 PM
Quote
http://www.audioecstasyproductions.com

Custom stompboxes and cabling for stage and studio!

We build DAWs too!

@art:   :icon_twisted:
Title: Re: Custom Kill Switch
Post by: slacker on September 14, 2012, 07:27:16 AM
If it's wired how you've described, not how it's drawn, then it should work. You know what it should be doing, so continuity testing between the various points in the chain will debug it in a couple of minutes.
Title: Re: Custom Kill Switch
Post by: AudioEcstasy on September 14, 2012, 10:50:43 AM
I would like to sincerely thank everyone who actually contributed something to this endeavor.

It's pathetic that there are so many spammers, but it's the internet and hey, I'm glad you guys can get your post counts up! Really winning at life.

I have to leave for tour today and am abandoning this project as it seems quite akin to turning lead into gold.

Cheers guys, never stop building and trying new things!
Title: Re: Custom Kill Switch
Post by: ashcat_lt on September 14, 2012, 05:16:57 PM
Sorry you couldn't get it working.  It seems like such a simple thing, I'm pretty much out of ideas on what might be wrong.  Assuming that its actually wired the way you've described and all of your components are working properly it almost cant fail!

The next thing would be to start eliminating variables until you find the culprit.  Simplify it down to just two jacks and the momentary.  Try the NO side and then the NC side.  Then maybe add the second out jack and prove to yourself that you cant mute one without the other and therefor cant use it to tune silently.  Then add the pot and notice how it doesn't really work as well as you'd hoped.  Then add the "mode" switch and finally the bypass.

Hope you can sort it out!
Title: Re: Custom Kill Switch
Post by: Fender3D on September 14, 2012, 08:15:21 PM
Sorry man, I just realize it...
the on/off switch is wired wrong
you should connect lugs 3 and 5 or 4 and 6 or 1 and 3 or 2 and 4.
Other connections (5 and 6 as in your picture) simply won't work
Title: Re: Custom Kill Switch
Post by: deadastronaut on September 15, 2012, 04:01:50 PM
Quote from: AudioEcstasy on September 14, 2012, 10:50:43 AM


It's pathetic that there are so many spammers, but it's the internet and hey, I'm glad you guys can get your post counts up! Really winning at life.


yeah i suppose it was a pretty obvious joke really!....lighten up!...have a laugh and a good tour ;)
Title: Re: Custom Kill Switch
Post by: artifus on September 15, 2012, 04:06:37 PM
i guess i don't employ smiley's as often as i should - i tend to assume everyone else is already aware of how much of a fluffwit i am from my posting history. i mean no harm. have fun.