Exasperation with repeated problem…

[universalmind81]

I've been building successfully for about 2 years, but I keep running into this same issue and cannot for the life of me figure out why. Sometimes, seemingly more often than not as of late, I'll hook up a newly finished board to test and get no sound. But, when I touch both jacks, or sometimes when I touch a particular part of the board (on the solder side), suddenly there's sound and the pedal works fine... until I stop touching it, then silence again. Can anyone help me with this? Surely I'm not the only one who's experienced this, but I've searched several forums FAQ and not seen anything like this. I have a ground wire connecting both jacks and the board with board mounted pots, and the power supply grounded to the ring lug on the input jack. I would be immensely thankful for any help I can get, thanks in advance

[idy]

welcome to the forum. That does sound like bad grounding, or something that is intermittent like a cold colder joint. I would, next time this happens, put on the Sherlock Holmes hat (but maybe go easy on the pipe!) and start eliminating possibilities.

Using a meter in continuity mode, (and no power to the pedal) make sure that all your grounds are really connected together. Your solder joints may look impeccable.... but be loose inside a glob of solder. You...can....not....tell...by....looking. You can't. I know I can't.



Test also the continuity of the signal path, tip of cable to board in, board out to tip of other cable. Make sure none of these places show continuity to ground.

Look out for plugs/jacks that when inserted and given a bit of a tug in a certain direction might contact something. Plug tip touches ground terminal bent a tiny bit. Plug tip touches part of PCB, or back of a pot.

Legs of board mounted pots may touch something else, like a switch body, when bent a tiny bit by the enclosure. Body of pot touches PCB same thing.

Another gremlin is a broken trace on the board, which may close or open when the board is flexed a tiny bit. Botched rework way lift the "eye" from a plated hole. Requires a jumper.

Signal probe is a life saver. Follow the sound. It dies somewhere. The thing that kills it is right there....

[universalmind81]

Much appreciated, I will give it a shot!