Power on with empty input jack?

[madubuisson]

I just installed a 3PDT switch in my DOD250 so that I could add a status LED.  After learning the hard way that you need to install a resistor in front of the LED, I have that part working.  The LED turns on when the circuit is on, and off when it is bypassed.  However, it will now work even when there is not a cable plugged into the input jack!  This isn't a huge problem, since I use  a pedal board with power, but it bothers me.  I have an image file from indyguitarist.com that I used as a schematic, and I think I did everything correctly.  I'll gladly post it if somebody tells me how to insert an image into a post (do I have to upload it somewhere else and link to it?).

[The Tone God]

You probably reversed the ground and power connections on your input jack.

Andrew

[madubuisson]

The input jack was already wired and working.  Perhaps the new connection that I added for the LED went to the wrong part of the input jack.  It's wired to the sleeve along with the black wire from the 9v battery clip.

[Seljer]

You attached the ground side of the LED to the side of the circuit directly next to the negative side of the battery, not to the side that gets connected only when you have something plugged in the input.

It should be to anywhere from the ring part of the input jack.

[DavidS]

Yup, that's not right. You want the LED to have the same power connections as the effect. So the led/resistor/switch is basically in paralell with the power on the effect.

Edit: Sorry Seljer, your post wasn't visible when I hit submit!

[formerMember1]

I have a question now.

I built a RangeMaster PNP.  It worked with a battery fine, the LED worked properly and everything.  But my adaptor wouldn't work.  So i switched the power and ground connnection on the adaptor jack and now it works with an adaptor.  BUt, it won't work with a battery now.  Also, if i plug the adaptor in to pedal, the LED lights on and off even though there is no cord plugged into the input jack like the poster of this thread mentioned.  It didn't do that before i switched the adaptor jack ground and power connections.  I think? I'll go check.

The reason i switched the adaptor jack power and ground connections was because it wouldn't work with my voodoo labs pedal power 2 power supply.(wrong polarity)

 Should i change the ground and power connections back to the way it was before and just get another adaptor plug with the right polarity?

[niftydog]

Ok, before I resoldered anything inside the pedal, I would have tried reversing the polarity of the power supply. Remember; if it ain't broke, don't fix it!

put it back to how it was so it's working properly with a battery, then see what you can do about the power supply.

[formerMember1]

I recieved the proper polarity adaptor cord in the mail.  I now have the dc jack wiried up so that i could use a battery or an adaptor, but my LED lights even though there is no guitar cord in the input jack.  The LED does turn on and off as any pedal is supposed to, my only problem with the LED is that I don't need a guitar cord plugged into the pedal for it to light. I could just connect an adaptor or a battery and the LED will turn on and off via the 3PDT, even though NO cords are plugged in the input jack.  I never had this problem before, i can't figure out why it is happening now. 

I have the LED hooked up to the 3PDT and the ground lug of the input jack.  Anybody have any suggestions what could cause the problem?

(The pedal is a Rangemaster PNP, according to Geofx with a Terminal strip) 

[KORGULL]

As long as the LED turns off when you remove the plug from the input jack while using a battery, I wouldn't worry about it. Just turn the pedal off or disconnect the power supply at the wall/power strip etc...

When the power plug is inserted the battery is disconnected - so you're not draining it.

[KORGULL]

Anybody have any suggestions what could cause the problem?

You could try running the wire from the power jack's ground lug to the input jack ring instead of going straight to the board with it.
I've not done this, but it seems like that should make the external power switchable using the input jack - just like the battery.

[formerMember1]

Thanks Korgull, 

You could try running the wire from the power jack's ground lug to the input jack ring instead of going straight to the board with it.

Currently i have a wire running from the power jack's ground lug to the input jack's ground lug(sleeve).  Or is that the same thing as "going straight to the board with it."?  Or should i switch it to the ring of the input jack along with the red lead of battery clip? ( remember pedal is PNP  )

THe LED works fine with the battery, it turns on and off and also only lights when a cord is plugged into the input jack.  The problem is onyl with the power jack. 

[formerMember1]

the power jack has one lug with the black battery lead attached, the top lug goes to power the board, and the bottom lug goes to ground of inputjack.  Also on the ground lug of the input jack is a pulldown resistor, a Polarity protection diode(cathode) and the LED ground.  Currently the inpput jack's ring lug only has the RED battery lead going to it.  Tomorrow i will try running the ground lug of power jack to the ring with the red battery lead.  THat seems like it would fix it.  If i do this should i remove the wire going to the sleeve of the input jack(ground)?

thanks again. 

[KORGULL]

Currently i have a wire running from the power jack's ground lug to the input jack's ground lug(sleeve).  Or is that the same thing as
"going straight to the board with it."

Yeah basically the same thing since the power jack ground and board ground are both connected at the sleeve.

Tomorrow i will try running the ground lug of power jack to the ring with the red battery lead.  THat seems like it would fix it.

 
Yeah, I think that should give you what you want.

If i do this should i remove the wire going to the sleeve of the input jack(ground)?

Yes, remove the original wire that is running to the sleeve because it is what makes the board stay powered even when you remove the input plug.