Doubts about open or closed mono jack

[Pedroga]

Hello forum users.
I'm building a pedal and I'm having doubts about the jacks.
Do I use two open or closed mono jacks?
What is the difference between them?
Thanks a lot people

[aron]

Check out the FAQ:
https://aronnelson.com/diywiki/index.php/Frequently_Asked_Questions_(DIY_FAQ)#JACKS


It answers your questions.


Welcome to the forum!

[idy]

So there are two things:

Open and enclosed jacks, where the enclosed ones are covered in a plastic box. No chance of the tip touching something in your (jam packed wire filled) project. Here it is preference, what you like, what fits in your box. Some say the modern enclosed are more definite. The open frame ones vary a lot, I have had to bend some to make the right tightness

And there are switching jacks, the ones I know are "normally closed". Here, each conductor (not usually the ground, but the tip and ring in stereo) has a terminal that it connects to, and a second terminal, which  is attached to the first terminal until you plug a jack in, and then it is disconnected. Nice for effects loops, could be used to ground an unused input...

[Pedroga]

Check out the FAQ:
https://aronnelson.com/diywiki/index.php/Frequently_Asked_Questions_(DIY_FAQ)#JACKS


It answers your questions.


Welcome to the forum!

Aron, when I go to mount the pedal, can I ask any questions about the connections with you?
Thank you very much for the answer friend, it helped a lot

[Pedroga]

So there are two things:

Open and enclosed jacks, where the enclosed ones are covered in a plastic box. No chance of the tip touching something in your (jam packed wire filled) project. Here it is preference, what you like, what fits in your box. Some say the modern enclosed are more definite. The open frame ones vary a lot, I have had to bend some to make the right tightness

And there are switching jacks, the ones I know are "normally closed". Here, each conductor (not usually the ground, but the tip and ring in stereo) has a terminal that it connects to, and a second terminal, which  is attached to the first terminal until you plug a jack in, and then it is disconnected. Nice for effects loops, could be used to ground an unused input...

I want something that lasts a long time, are closed ones a good option?

[idy]

Yes the closed ones are long lasting...it should be noted that the original design for the "phone jack" was created to last a looong time. Old time operators with those huge banks of jacks, good for many many plugs and un-plugs. Starting around 1895...

For closed ones I get two kinds:
https://www.taydaelectronics.com/hardware/6-35mm-1-4-plugs-jacks/6-35mm-1-4-stereo-insulated-switched-socket-jack-solder-lugs.html
and
https://www.taydaelectronics.com/hardware/6-35mm-1-4-plugs-jacks/6-35mm-1-4-stereo-phone-jack.html

Like most things you have to try and see what you like. The second kind I use more although there are tiny little holes for the wires that will only fit one or two wires, and sometimes I want to solder a whole mess to the jack ground. Thees have a larger hole close to the body, and you can wrap around or solder them all together with a pigtail lead to the jack.

[moid]

If you are new to soldering you might find the open jacks easier to work with - I know I did (still like them now!) They have plenty of space to add multiple wires to if required. Having broken the tip of a plug in an enclosed socket once, it was a really difficult thing to remove... but the downside is they often take up more space inside the box and they can short things around them if you haven't placed everything as neatly as you might need to.

[MikeA]

One minor point, the open frame jacks by Switchcraft and Neutrik/Rean take relatively more force to plug/unplug, while closed jacks of the same brands require less force.  Some people have opinions about that, some don't.