Clueless trying to build a kill switch

Started by JIMMYJAMES, January 12, 2022, 02:48:20 PM

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JIMMYJAMES

I'm just a Bass player. Not a builder. I need your help so I can build a kill switch which will sit within a pedal chain. What I have is a 3PDT Latching switch, two Switchcraft mono jacks and an enclosure. No LED or Power involved. I know the 3PDT is probably overkill but it is what I have.

How would I wire this up??

Thank you!

antonis

"I'm getting older while being taught all the time" Solon the Athenian..
"I don't mind  being taught all the time but I do mind a lot getting old" Antonis the Thessalonian..

Kevin Mitchell

#2
There's a few ways you can swing it. Here's a super simple take.

What the switch does;

Looking at the bottom of the switch with the lugs of the 3PDT (3 Pole, Double Throw) flat/horizontal (like the image above) you have 3 single pole double throw switches. The center row are your poles and they connect to the above or below throw lugs, depending on what position the switch is in. Each column is isolated from each other unless wired together.

Google 3PDT wiring for visual descriptions if it helps. There must be dozens if not hundreds by now. Even exact diagrams for what you're asking for.

The idea is to ground the signal going out for your "kill" rather than leaving it floating open which would cause noise. Your instrument cable has two conductors/wires - one for the signal, one for ground (unless it's stereo, then it would have 2 signal wires and 1 ground). For mono, the conductors on the jack are referred to as "tip" and "sleeve". For stereo that extra signal wire would be the "ring".

Signal = tip
Stereo signal (when applicable) = ring
Ground = sleeve

The output jack's tip will be wired to one of the three poles(center lugs). One throw(outer lugs) would be wired to the input jack's tip, the other throw wired to ground. This is the easiest way to do it and doesn't involve a power source as ground would be completed via other pedals in series or the amp. In this format the input signal isn't grounded at any time and will be viable if you decide to put something like splitter before the kill switch.

Any welcome to the forum!!
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