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Wiring a Stompbox

Started by YouAre, May 16, 2007, 01:01:47 PM

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YouAre

I feel like a total beginner asking this question but.....

When wiring a stompbox, can you wire the ground lugs of the input/output/dc jack together, and have 1 lead from all of those come onto the PCB of whatever circuit? Would i run into grounding/hum issues?

The setup would be like 1 wire goes from the input's sleeve >> the power jack's ground lug >> the output's sleeve >>board's ground

thanks,
~Murad

blanik

i've been doing this since i made my first pedal... works or me, i never had any hum problems...

GibsonGM

If I'm using a metal enclosure, I wire the battery - to the jack's ring, and board ground to sleeve (aka shield): stereo jack.  This will switch the effect on when the plug is inserted.  The output jack (mono jack) I only run the hot output wire to, at its tip; the enclosure will provide the ground connection thru the body of the output pot.  So, you can't use insulated jacks - you want the jack bodies to contact the enclosure securely.  If done incorrectly, you'll know from the hum!

The purpose of this is to ground the enclosure too, which provides shielding from RF interference.  Adding a ground wire to the output just increases the odds of a ground loop.  This is close to star grounding; not 100% (which would have the battery - go to the enclosure, and all grounds terminate there), but the advantage is that this method allows the 'switching trick' at the input jack.  I've never had a single problem with this method.

Sorry if you know most of this already, Murad, it's worth repeating    8) 
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solarplexus

I always wire Input ground to board ground, output ground to board ground, DC ground to board ground, switch ground to board ground... like in GGG wiring schemes... would that cause problems??  :icon_eek:
DIY Poser.

YouAre

 :)

I'm asking because i'm building a little testing rig for my desk.

Little station on my desk near my amp, in and out for guitar and amp, and the leads for power, ground, in, and out come for the box and go to the PCB all on my desk.

Its way more efficient than my old method of wiring the jacks to the PCB each time in a makeshift little box, putting it on the floor and testing it. I'd pray that plugging the instrument cables in wouldn't break the leads cause i put them together so quickly. This way, i can have everything on my desk and its neat.

Thanks guys! really appreciate it!

~Murad

YouAre

Quote from: solarplexus on May 16, 2007, 01:33:17 PM
I always wire Input ground to board ground, output ground to board ground, DC ground to board ground, switch ground to board ground... like in GGG wiring schemes... would that cause problems??  :icon_eek:

nah that won't cause problems. I'm asking about the alternative for that style, so that i can save all the extra wiring.

solarplexus

I think I`ll start doing that kind of wiring as well... it's almost impossible to do a clean interior in those pedals with that kind of wiring (no offence to GGG)
DIY Poser.

rasco22862

Quote from: GibsonGM on May 16, 2007, 01:21:24 PM
Adding a ground wire to the output just increases the odds of a ground loop.

I built a dynacomp in a metal enclosure, and i have radio interference.( I live in a 14th floor) My other stompboxes, has no hum. In my tonepads dynacomp i connected all the grounds to the sleeve of the input jack, including the output sleeve, that i know that is connected to ground with the enclosure. Is this causing the hum?
Also connected the Millenium Ground to the ground pad on the pcb.

Thanks

rasco22862

If i disconnect the wire from input sleeve to output sleeve, and connect them only between metal chasis, the radio interference should stop?

Pushtone

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