why isn't this DPDT switch working?

[swinebird04]

Hey everyone, I found the site recently when I was looking for info on wiring up my own external footswitch for a Boss RC-2 loop pedal.  It looks like there's quite a bit of expertise on here, and I could use a little of it.

I gutted an old broken Boss pedal and got the pedal switch connected straight to the (former) output jack, and it worked fine as the external footswitch I was talking about.  I thought I would wire up the "input" jack as well so I could also hook this pedal up to a phase shifter as a tempo controller.  I had this DPDT switch (http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062537), and wired it up to switch between the two jacks, but I can't get either to work now.  Can anyone tell me why this switch isn't allowing the signal through?  Thanks for helping a newbie out!

[ambulancevoice]

could you a diagram or something on how you wired it

[Roobin]

Hi there, and welcome.

Do you own a multimeter? If so, use the continuity/buzzer setting to see which connectors on the switch connect together in which lever position. Being a DPDT switch, there should be 2 sets of connections. I'm guessing that to act as a external controller, it needs to ground the input (ie the momentary switch in the Boss pedal connects the tip of the jack to the rest of the jack, the ground)?

With the DPDT switch, are you trying to choose between which pedal to control?

[swinebird04]

With the DPDT switch, are you trying to choose between which pedal to control?

Yes, that's correct.  When the DPDT is flipped to the left I want the left jack to be active (connected to the momentary pedal switch), and likewise for the right.

Here is a diagram I sketched out real quickly:

[Roobin]

That looks like it should work...
Go through it with a multimeter. Put the switch to one setting, then test the jack for that setting. Hold down the momentary switch. Is there continuity between tip and ring? If so, let go and test again. This time, there shouldn't be continuity. If there wasn't continuity in the first test, test continuity for every connection between tip and ring. Start out tip -> switch, then bottom right switch pole to bottom centre switch pole (you may need to flip the switch to test this), then hold down boss switch, test continuity from bottom centre switch pole to top switch pole, then let go of boss sw. and test top centre -> top right poles, then top right to ring of jack. Repeat for other side (flip the switch).

When you say 'it doesn't work' what do you mean? The RC2 bit doesn't work? The tap tempo? Neither?

[swinebird04]

Ok, I got it working.  With the multimeter I figured out that the switch operates opposite of what I expected (and how I had it wired).  In other words, when the switch is flipped to the left, the right poles are active, etc.  You can see the finished product below.   Thanks for the help!

[Roobin]

Glad you got it working! Lovin' the finish on the pedal as well!