volume pot

[j_wyatt]

I recently finished my first DIY project (mini-booster) and it sounds killer. The problem I am having is the volume pot doesn't work, and the effect kicks on wide-open. I have tried a couple of different options, but I am a bit stuck. Who can help me? Thanks.

[Pedal love]

Do a resistance check on the pot and post results.pl

[joegagan]

volume pot doesn't work, and the effect kicks on wide-open

that's what it does when it isn't grounded

[j_wyatt]

Sorry...not at home (don't tell the boss). I can tell you I used the true bypass diagram with LED from the AMZ sight. I have a hot output coming from the PCB and a wire coming from the switch to the pot. At first, I wired them together...kicked on and off, but no volume. Then I put the wire from the switch to the common (middle) pole and got nothing. Then I experimented usisng clips and connected ground to center (clicks on and off but no volume) and vice-versa. I know it's got to be simple, but this is my first time doing this sort of thing. Should I put the + to the center pole and the wire to the switch on the outer pole?

[j_wyatt]

I've got a crazy bunch of grounding going on in this box (Hammond 1590B). I'm not just relying on the box for ground, but I have everything worth grounding tied together (hard wired). It seems a bit of an overkill, but I wanted a solid ground. Could this be my problem?

[joegagan]

sounds like you bypassed the volume to get it working. you probably accidently grounded a hot lug of your vol pot.

[j_wyatt]

Do a resistance check on the pot and post results.pl

I do not remember the numbers, but the pot has been tested and offered up resistance. I'm using a 100k pot I purchased through Small Bear.

[Pedal love]

>>I do not remember the numbers, but the pot has been tested and offered up resistance<<



Check the outer lugs one at a time against the middle and see if the resistance changes as you turn the pot.pl

[j_wyatt]

Check the outer lugs one at a time against the middle and see if the resistance changes as you turn the pot.pl[/quote]

I will do that tonight and let you know what it read. I got a response from Jack Orman who told me to (with the pot facing down as if in the box) put the out from the PCB on the left lug, put the wire to the switch to the middle lug, and the ground wire on the right lug. This is exactly how I have it hooked up now, and I get nothing when it is wired this way. If I put a jumper from ground to middle, I get LED switching and a wide-open pot...same goes for jumping from hot to middle. Something's afoot!

[j_wyatt]

Check the outer lugs one at a time against the middle and see if the resistance changes as you turn the pot.pl[/quote]

I tested the pot last night. When testing the outer poles, I get an almost exact 100k as I shoud, but when I check the outer poles against the middle pole, I get nothing but blinking numbers. Turning the shaft changes nothing...it seems like there is a disconnect in the pot or something...faulty? I have wired a few pots into guitars before but I have never run into this problem. It's easy to take from granted that your parts will work...I always assume I screwed something up.

[Pedal love]

...I always assume I screwed something up.

Never assume that...pots screw up all the time. Actually, I am hard pressed to find a pedal I have had, that didn't have a pot problem of some kind. :lol:

[jmusser]

Hey Joe, First time I've seen your name in print here for a long time! Send me a PM if you get time.