New discovery in debugging!!

[TrentC]

So I've been beating my head against a wall for a few days trying to figure out how to make this Green Ringer work. It's my first project, and I've hit all the bumps I thought I could avoid  Anyways, I spent most of the afternoon trying to figure it out then decided to have some beers. A few beers in, I start noticing several errors! I'm curious if alcohol has helped anyone else out there with debugging. At least it makes it more fun, and i'll just leave the soldering iron off till the morning 

Anyone else had this happen before?

[Solidhex]

Yo

  I like beer but most likely just the act of taking a short break and looking at it fresh made the faults jump out at you.

--Brad

[Taylor]

eehhhhhh I shee the problem herrrr.

Somebody put their bloody thumb in thhe RC network.

-me debugging while drunk. I think maybe an audio probe is a more reliable tool, but whatever works.

[TrentC]

The pedal works! (I couldn't wait till the morning). Thanks everyone for the help. Without this forum and everyone's knowledge, there is no way I would be able to make even the most simple circuit. I'm sure I can speak for all us new guys here that we greatly appreciate it. Now I'm doomed to a life of solder burns and bits of leads all over my floor.

[oldrocker]

Cool that could be it.  The more I drink the better I'll get at debugging.  For safety I'll be the lab rat and experiment with this and let you know my findings.

[TrentC]

Hey guys. The pedal is working, but I've noticed that the volume seems extremely low, also if I plucked a string or played a higher not I got a harsh buzz. When I roll the treble back on the guitar, this goes away. Could these problems be from being out of the enclosure?  I am just wrapping the input tip around the + of the battery, so maybe they are just connecting weakly? Here are some voltages.

http://www.tonepad.com/getFile.asp?id=90

http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/pdf/ggg_gro_instruct.pdf
BATTERY 11.1 (duracell is frustrating)

Q1 C = 6.7
      B = 2.1
      E = 1.6

Q2 C = 3.4
      B = 6.7
      E = 7.7

Q3 C = 11.1
      B = 4.9
      E = 4.4

[Thomeeque]

 Your beer-level seems to be very low! T.

[TrentC]

Ok, I got the volume figured worked out. The tip of input was just not connected well.

The harsh buzz is the only problem. I notice that when I change my 5-way switch or change the volume from my guitar, you can hear it though the circuit. Are these all related to not being shielded in the box?

[MikeH]

Usually the opposite for me; I try to build with a head full of beer and I can't get the damn thing to work.  Then I go back the next morning and it's usually a quite obvious problem.  "Oh look, I forgot to wire the input jack to the switch."

[TrentC]

Anyone got any ideas why loud notes are buzzing bad, especially when there is more treble coming from the guitar. Or why you would hear noise when I turn the guitar volume or 5 way switch? I just want to be sure I get everything good before mounting it all in the box.

[TrentC]

Nobody? I hate to be bumping this all day, I just want to check with someone about this loud buzzing and guitar noise. it sounds like it's kind of overloading and doing a high pitch harsh buzz, but only with treble. I explain it above. Thanks guys.

[mtripoli]

I've tried beer... and scotch...  ... then found an o'scope works best...

[Solidhex]

Ha

  I play pool better after a couple beers... An audio probe is the best tool for debugging though I think. Once I debug a pedal I'll celebrate with a beer....

--Brad

[head_spaz]

The simplest law of physix dictates that : You are never too drunk if you can lay on the floor without holding on.

If only the highway patrol would adopt a similar procedure of diagnostix.... eh?

Good luck on your Reen Gringer.