Big Muff Mod Help Needed Please

[calculating_infinity]

Hey I dont have a drill right now and I really wanted to add a spdt to my big muff so I can switch between a circuit bend and normal usage.  I dont use the 9v jack so I decided why not just use it.  So it fits perfectly however, I know I need to do something with the ground and the other 2 wires.  What should I do with the points in the box. 



Can I just remove the wires from the jack and connect these two red ones and ground to a pot or something?  Sorry for being such a noob.  One step at a time here.   

Thanks ahead of time!

[Bernardduur]

Just tape them up individually and leave em in the box

[petemoore]

  I just wire clip the ends, then pull a bit of insulation down so the copper is doing 'the turtleshell'.
  Actually I try to rid all unecessary lead lengths as a general rule, you may however someday decide you want that DC Jack though.

[Mark Hammer]

Hold up at second base there for a moment, lad.

The mini phone jack is a closed-circuit switching jack.  The red wire that goes to the board simply carries +9v.  It doesn't really care where the 9v comes from.  If nothing is inserted into the jack then the red wire from the battery connector is connected to the other red wire.  If a plug from an adaptor is inserted into the jack, though, it bumps the battery contact out of the way and now the 9v will come from the adaptor instead of the battery (i.e., the battery is disconnected from the circuit).

If you want to clip the leads of the jack, you are going to de-power your pedal because the battery red wire will not connect to the PCB red wire.  Happily, this is easily fixed by simply soldering the free end of one to the free end of the other.  Some heat shrink over the solder joint is a good idea.  Fortunately, the ground (black) wire from the power jack is but one of several ground wires, and if the jack isn't being used you can live without it.

[comfortably_numb]

Another option is to simply remove the screw outside the box and push the jack inside the enclosure leaving it connected.  It shouldn't cause any problems and you don't have do desolder anything.  Also, if you do choose to use it in the future, it's right there and ready.

[Mark Hammer]

Excellent point.  Just make sure it doesn't short out against anything though.

[calculating_infinity]

thanks a lot guys I appreciated the help.  this is my 2nd bend so far on a pedal.  I plan on building a true bypass box/feedback looper in the near future.  Taking it one step at a time =)