EA Tremolo Debugging

[newguy]

I need help debugging my EA tremolo, read past the first post for more in depth details and different problems!

Hey guys I am new to soldering and I recently bought the EA tremolo from GGG and built it up, but it still doesn't work.

My question is this:

There are 2 holes very close to each other in the PCB, one for a resistor, the other for a wire that connects to the LED. When I soldered both, the solder formed a connection between the two. Is that a problem? Am I connecting two things that aren't supposed to connect?

I can take a picture and post it if needed.

[artifus]

There are 2 holes very close to each other in the PCB, one for a resistor, the other for a wire that connects to the LED. When I soldered both, the solder formed a connection between the two. Is that a problem? Am I connecting two things that aren't supposed to connect?

looking at the schematic, if it is r18 (1k - brown, black, red) then no, it is not a problem as they are supposed to connect.

[newguy]

Thanks for the quick reply.

Sorry I wasn't specific in the first post. I am using a slightly different schematic because I am modifying for a flashing LED. The layout is here:

http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/pdf/ggg_eat_mods.pdf?phpMyAdmin=78482479fd7e7fc3768044a841b3e85a

I am using Page 2 of 4, only one LED is being used.

The two soldered connections are R8 (10k) and the purple wire just below it that goes to the long end of the LED.

Upon closer examination I found that the four black wires on the top right of the layout that go to the dc jack, the volume pot, the switch, and the output, are all connected by solder. I assume that is a problem?

Another observation I had was that if you compare the schematic on the 1st page and the 2nd page, pg.1 has a 1k R18 resistor, but pg.2 doesn't have that R18 1k resistor.
My build included both R18 and R8. That's probably a problem too.

The flashing LED works just fine with the knob, and I get a nice clean boost when I use the pedal, but no tremolo. My depth knob is stripped, but I assume it still works? I got it right out of the GGG EA tremolo kit.

Also I have one general newbie question: Does the bypass switch have to be used in a certain configuration, or can I just plop it in and start soldering according to the schematic?
What should I do next? Thanks for the help!

[GGBB]

Thanks for the quick reply.

Sorry I wasn't specific in the first post. I am using a slightly different schematic because I am modifying for a flashing LED. The layout is here:

http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/pdf/ggg_eat_mods.pdf?phpMyAdmin=78482479fd7e7fc3768044a841b3e85a

I am using Page 2 of 4, only one LED is being used.

The two soldered connections are R8 (10k) and the purple wire just below it that goes to the long end of the LED.

Upon closer examination I found that the four black wires on the top right of the layout that go to the dc jack, the volume pot, the switch, and the output, are all connected by solder. I assume that is a problem?

Another observation I had was that if you compare the schematic on the 1st page and the 2nd page, pg.1 has a 1k R18 resistor, but pg.2 doesn't have that R18 1k resistor.
My build included both R18 and R8. That's probably a problem too.

None of those three things are problems.  R8 and the purple wire are supposed to be connected.  Those four black wires are going to ground, so they are connected - the extra solder will be harmless as longs as it is not connecting to anywhere else.  R18 is for an on/off indicator LED in addition to the flashing rate LED - if you have the flashing LED connected to the switch so that it is also the on/off LED, then R18 isn't necessary but having it on the PCB won't cause any problems as long as nothing is connected to "L".

The flashing LED works just fine with the knob, and I get a nice clean boost when I use the pedal, but no tremolo. My depth knob is stripped, but I assume it still works? I got it right out of the GGG EA tremolo kit.

Also I have one general newbie question: Does the bypass switch have to be used in a certain configuration, or can I just plop it in and start soldering according to the schematic?
What should I do next? Thanks for the help!

Not sure what you mean by stripped, but if you get boost but no tremolo, and the LED flashes and changes speed with the rate knob, there is probably something wrong with the depth control (either the pot itself or the wiring), but it could be something else too.  When depth is set to minimum, the tremolo is barely audible.  Make sure you connected the depth pot properly, and make sure the pot works properly (resistance across pins 1 & 3 is 250K, resistance across pins 1 & 2 and 2 & 3 is variable and always adds up to 250K).

The only thing you have to be careful of with the switch is that you have it the right way around.  On the diagram, the 3 individual switches are represented by each column of pins, with the top row connected when off and the bottom row connected when on.  Use your meter to make sure your switch is oriented correctly.

[newguy]

With your help I managed to get the pedal working! It turns out that I had one wire from the depth pot connected to "L" on the PCB on accident. I should've been more thorough looking for mistakes. You live, you learn.

I meant "Stripped" as in the threads are stripped so it doesn't tighten onto the body of the pedal.

One thing I noticed was that when I measured the resistance of the depth pot before switching the wire, it wasn't 250k, it was around 150k. I didn't measure it after because it worked.

Thanks again! Now it's time to order another pedal kit!

[GGBB]

Measuring the pot while it's connected to the circuit might not give an accurate reading, so it might actually be 250K.  Even if it is 150K, it will only mean you have less range of depth (not as deep and not as shallow).

Glad you got it working.