Another Digitech Whammy 4 problem

[antknee75]

Well, I got this thing for next to nothing, and figured I would try to get it working. The Whammy powers up, some lights constantly remain on, and it only puts out clean signal regardless of the output used or if you hit the footswitch. I can't get any effect from it. I can't get the lights to turn off. I got a new factory AC power supply, and it still has the same problem.

It may not even be worth the trouble, but I will take any advice anyone has on where to start poking at this thing. It does not seem to be the typical power supply or calibration problem.

Here's a pic of the pedal with the random lights stuck on.

[Govmnt_Lacky]

When you say you got a "new factory PS" do you mean you got a power supply from Digitech specifically for the Whammy 4?

Using Google-fu... I have read that this pedal is very peculiar about its power input. If an authentic PS designed for this pedal is not working then.... you probably have to consider the fact that someone plugged in the wrong one 

What are the power requirements for the pedal? Voltage? Current? AC or DC?

[antknee75]

I received the original power supply with the pedal when I got it. In hopes that the PS was the problem, I bought an identical, new PS from the same manufacturer to the same original specs, which are 9V AC~1.3A

[Govmnt_Lacky]

Is there any change to the clean sound when the switch is on and you rock the pedal?

Have you opened up the pedal to check any easily-accessable voltage points? Does the footpedal's LED (assuming it is optical) come on?

This smells a lot like a wrong power supply situation. Probably not by you however, there is no accounting for previous owners   After all... you did get it for "next to nothing."  

EDIT: After a little more digging.. it appears that the 9VAC/1.3A power supplies could be the issue. On 3 seperate forums/areas I have seen that these have caused the same problems you are seeing and that some people have used a POD power supply or something closer to 10-12VAC. OF course... TRY THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK!  

Here is one... scroll to the bottom: http://digitech.com/soundcomm/guitar_view_thread.asp?productid=42&thread_id=1025792676

EDIT@: And more info here:

http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?action=printpage;topic=82383.0

[antknee75]

Well, I don't see any obvious cut traces or attempts to bypass it or anything.

Gut pictures here:
https://www.dropbox.com/sc/41onp0wdweu6iwl/AAAFWIZwjPaehaTlh3RQVhFka