Peavey Accelerator Overdrive AOD-2 Help. Won't stay engaged.

[Jamforthelamb]

Hello all.

I recently aquired a Peavey Accelerator Overdrive AOD-2 pedal. Everything seems to work except that I have to keep my foot on the bypass switch to keep the effect turned on. This pedal is unusual because it has a rubber pad where the bypass switch would be, and there is a tactile switch that it mounted to the board under the pad. I don't know if this is supposed to be a latching switch and it's just broken, or if it has a switching circuit that isn't working properly. If I just need the switch does anyone know where I can get one ?
Is this pedal worth keeping ? Any good mods ?
Here's some pics...





Thanks,
Kevin

[George Giblet]

I'm not familiar with the switching on these pedals but, assuming there's only pots on the other board, I can't see any switch circuits or JFET switching or anything (other than LED drive).  That would mean the switching is done by the switch. 

The switch itself might be a push-on/push-off type.  It's made by MEC,

http://www.mec.dk/

You might be able to hunt down a replacement - probably best to ask Peavey for it!

[alfafalfa]

Does it sound like a Rat copy ?

Alf

[Mark Hammer]

I have a similar-styled latching DPDT switch on my old MXR Commande Series Stereo Flanger.  Not the greatest switch in the world.  It can work just as reliably as any other I suppose, but it probably needs a very special actuating mechanism to make it work unfailingly, since it is somewhat frailer than conventional stompers.  Whether Peavey did their homework enough to achieve that is something I have no firsthand knowledge of.

I've never tried or heard one of these pedals, but it stands to reason that, even though the presence of an LM308 does give pause for thought, the name ("overdrive") suggests they were aiming for something very different than the Rat.

[Jamforthelamb]

Hi Mark,

Thanks for your input. Do you think I should try and source another one of these switches, or would it be better to just try and set it up with a switch like the ones Aron sells ?

God bless,
Kevin

[Jamforthelamb]

alfafalfa: I'm not sure because I have to keep my photo on the switch to keep the effect engaged, and I've never played through a Rat before  .

[Mark Hammer]

Hi Mark,

Thanks for your input. Do you think I should try and source another one of these switches, or would it be better to just try and set it up with a switch like the ones Aron sells ?

God bless,
Kevin

If the chassis is amenable to it, I suspect everything would be simpler for you if you just changed to a 3PDT switch and was done with it.  Certainly, the more robust "click" as you step is useful tactile fedback, which the existing switch does not serve up.  You could, of course, buy a replacement for one of the switches that comes with the pedal.  I pay something like $1.20 or $1.60 for them.  Since they are based on conventional IC spacing for PC mounting, you'd need to unsolder the one there and install a new one in its place.

[Jamforthelamb]

Hi Mark,
Ok, that's kinda what I thought.

I've got no problem putting another one in like it, I'm just not sure where to find one. I dug around on MEC's website that George Giblet posted, but didn't find anything similar.

[Mark Hammer]

This one is likely to sub nicely: http://www.smallbearelec.com/Detail.bok?no=33

Note that it comes with a metal mounting bracket.  Take your needle-nose pliers, bend the tabs out so that the bracket slips off and Bob's your uncle.