replacing an EHX jack with a boss style jack... issues.

[bigandtall]

I just did a straight replacement of the ehx power jack in my full size BassBalls with a Boss style power jack from Small Bear. Now, I'm having issues, namely the pedal will only work with a battery and not when plugged in.

Is there some trick to replacing the jack? I just looked at wiring diagrams and tried to hook everything up the same way.

Any advice would be appreciated.

JR

[theehman]

Swap around the 2 red wires (battery positive and power to board).

[Mark Hammer]

It won't be the last time in your life thatyou encounter a pedal using a mini-phone jack for external power, rather than a barrel-style jack.  It's worth it to make yourself an adaptor cable to use your PS with any such pedal that comes your way.

[fuzzo]

Why still using that kind of adaptor ? I mean Boss plugs became standart so there're any reason to use again that kind of mini-jack, It's a real pain the ass to connect and disconnect the plug adaptor on a pedalboard .

The only big issue I have when I changed that plug is the drilling process. It's really hard to make a clean hole in EHX boxes.
 

[bigandtall]

Thanks guys.

I think that those EHX plugs are a big pain in the butt. I do have an adapter, but I wanted to see how hard it is to just spend $1.25 on a new plug and install it. Yeah, the drilling was the hardest part. The steel is quite hard and it takes some muscle to get through even with a unibit.

[trixdropd]

I have a small stone that has the power wires not hooked up right. I'm gonna repair it soon. can i just throw a regular boss style dc jack in there? I always assumed the ehx had positive ground.

[theehman]

I have a small stone that has the power wires not hooked up right. I'm gonna repair it soon. can i just throw a regular boss style dc jack in there? I always assumed the ehx had positive ground.

Small Stone's are negative ground.  Easy to install a BOSS-style jack.

[bigandtall]

Even the v1 ones with the J board? I was thinking of installing a boss jack and true bypassing it. Is it sacriledge to do those mods on a first edition one, though? I've been taking a poll to see before I do anything. I got it in a trade.

[Mark Hammer]

One...more...time....

Phone jacks/plugs:

• Pros: They are always always always shaft-negative, tip-positive; they provide a nice solid contact; the jacks take very little room to install, and are cheap like borscht and found everywhere.
• Cons: If the supply is plugged into the wall prior to plug insertion, you get sparks and there is a risk of shorting the supply out; having the tip and shaft exposed at the same time increases risk of shock to the user in handling; decreased compatibility with majority of wallwarts; confusable with audio mini-jacks (e.g., earphone).

Barrel jacks/plugs:

• Pros: Recessed inner contact decreases risk of shock to user in handling, no risk of shorting out during insertion into pedal; greater compatibility across pedals/supplies...at the moment; generally unique appearance, so not confusable with anything.
• Cons: Increased V+ surface may offset shock risk-reduction if user touches shaft and a ground connection elsewhere; less standardization of polarity/orientation than phone plugs; jacks are big, costly, and cumbersome.

[trixdropd]

One...more...time....

Phone jacks/plugs:

• Pros: They are always always always shaft-negative, tip-positive; they provide a nice solid contact; the jacks take very little room to install, and are cheap like borscht and found everywhere.
• Cons: If the supply is plugged into the wall prior to plug insertion, you get sparks and there is a risk of shorting the supply out; having the tip and shaft exposed at the same time increases risk of shock to the user in handling; decreased compatibility with majority of wallwarts; confusable with audio mini-jacks (e.g., earphone).

Barrel jacks/plugs:

• Pros: Recessed inner contact decreases risk of shock to user in handling, no risk of shorting out during insertion into pedal; greater compatibility across pedals/supplies...at the moment; generally unique appearance, so not confusable with anything.
• Cons: Increased V+ surface may offset shock risk-reduction if user touches shaft and a ground connection elsewhere; less standardization of polarity/orientation than phone plugs; jacks are big, costly, and cumbersome.

I get this, but I already have the dc jack to use and it would be easier for me to swap the jack than get a different power pack or a tip changer. I didn't know I had the option therefore have not used the pedal since I received it 6 months ago.  If the fix is that easy i'll go for it.

[bigandtall]

Thanks. This was a success!

[Mark Hammer]

I have a small stone that has the power wires not hooked up right. I'm gonna repair it soon. can i just throw a regular boss style dc jack in there? I always assumed the ehx had positive ground.

To expand on EHMAN's post, yes you CAN stick a Boss style jack in there (I assume it's the old style folded steel case?).  Since the relationship between the solder lugs and the power-plug connections is not necessarily visible to the naked eye, verify first which lug is V+, which is ground, and which is the battery lug.

How?

1) With your meter, check to see which two solder lugs are normally in contact with each other.  Two of them WILL be in contact.  One of these will be the V+ line running to the board, and the other will be where your batter's red wire goes to.  Make a note of which two lugs they are.

2) Plug the wallwart into the naked jack.  Now measure the voltage with your meter, between the 3rd lug and each of the two lugs you found shorted together a moment earlier.  You will read +9v on one of these two, and nothing on the other.  The lug where you get no reading is where the battery goes to.  The lug where you DO get a reading is where you connect to the board.

Wired up this way, when no plug is inserted, the battery connection will short out to the other lug and battery power will find its way to the board.

[trixdropd]

I have a small stone that has the power wires not hooked up right. I'm gonna repair it soon. can i just throw a regular boss style dc jack in there? I always assumed the ehx had positive ground.

To expand on EHMAN's post, yes you CAN stick a Boss style jack in there (I assume it's the old style folded steel case?).  Since the relationship between the solder lugs and the power-plug connections is not necessarily visible to the naked eye, verify first which lug is V+, which is ground, and which is the battery lug.

How?

1) With your meter, check to see which two solder lugs are normally in contact with each other.  Two of them WILL be in contact.  One of these will be the V+ line running to the board, and the other will be where your batter's red wire goes to.  Make a note of which two lugs they are.

2) Plug the wallwart into the naked jack.  Now measure the voltage with your meter, between the 3rd lug and each of the two lugs you found shorted together a moment earlier.  You will read +9v on one of these two, and nothing on the other.  The lug where you get no reading is where the battery goes to.  The lug where you DO get a reading is where you connect to the board.

Wired up this way, when no plug is inserted, the battery connection will short out to the other lug and battery power will find its way to the board.

Thanks Mark, great advice.