Alright guys. Ground Q

Started by georges, October 14, 2005, 09:02:23 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

georges

Couldn't find anything about it, although there probably is something somewhere.

With the pedal I'm making (MXR Dist+) there are links to ground. I'm wondering what to do for ground, or is it part of the lead to the amp? Cheers. If it is to the amp, what part of the output jack should I attach the ground wires to?
Cheers.
Almost ready to make :)
George.

petemoore

#1
  Ground must be at the jack/plug ring connections...input to effect, effect, and output of effect...the cables and the circuit.
  *If you're using a metal box and jacks, 1 wire to 1 jack ring should get ground to the jacks and box.
  *Run a ground wire from one of the jacks to the board grounds. [I run a ground along the 'bottom' of the board to which I connect all grounds, and use a 'double length wire...insulation removed so I can solder the [small de-insulated portion] middle of the wire to ground and have 'two ground wires' from one soldering...one I use for volume pot, the other for the ground to the jacks and box.
  Almost all circuits need two offboard ground wire connections [one for volume one for box] I start with one long wire, de-insulate the ends, and de-insulate in the middle where I solder it...and end up with two offboard ground wires
  If you're using other than metal jacks and box, you'll need to add ground wires...I like to start with one long wire, new jacks with unsoldered lugholes, stringing the wire through [de-insulating wherever a connection is to be soldered] jacklugholes, and then screwing the end down to the box, avoiding the 'tack on to tacked on wires'...this makes it easier to solder, so that one, intact wire does most all the offboard ground connecting [to jacks and box, if you're using plastic jacks].
  Basically everything with a ground symbol connects to one point on the board.
  Test that all marked grounds on schematic are actually made for the circuit using the DMM.
  I end up with resistor leads running along under the 'bottom' of the board which make all the ground connections, but also I stand one resistor up, so that it's ground connection is also a good 1/2'' lead connection above the board, right on the bottom, away from components, this is very easy to connect a stranded ground wire to, I deinsulate the middle of a double offboard ground wire ['butterfly' ground wire...one wire makes two], thread it through, twist it on a little bit, push it to near the board [reducing the stress on the copper board pad] and solder.
  All my offboard wires loop through the board [drilled holes] to relieve stress.
  When soldering, a joint should be completely melted, [clarifying 'tacked on
here] so I like to make the ground connections spread out a little, this way I don't have them bunched up in one spot that doesn't want to heat easily or evenly, nothing I like less than a 'ground pile' with wires that want to fly off when the solder melts...that is ugly, funky...
Convention creates following, following creates convention.

georges

Cheers for the help :)


I'll have to post clips around christmas time when it's able to come home :)