Just realized I have wrong cap values in all my pedals.

Started by VPIF, February 16, 2013, 02:03:23 PM

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VPIF

I was reorganizing my components when I realized I had mislabeled some of my 0,01uF caps as 0,1.  :icon_redface: I have only built three muffs and a tube screamer, and they do work, but they have a little less gain than I'd expect. I allways boost the muff with another overdrive anyway, so it wasn't a problem. The Civil War Muff actually sounds quite good, but upon closer inspection it seems to oscillate a bit.

Just thought I'd share my rookie mistake. Now I'm actually glad I never had the time to build more pedals  ;D

LucifersTrip

you're lucky...all you have to do is solder a .1 in parallel with each of the .01's
always think outside the box

chptunes

When I first began ordering parts and building my first diy stuff (mostly passive filters), I had the incorrect impression that higher Resistor values was actually less resistance.  ..frustrating for a few days.  Haha...

Your mistake is no big deal.. two Capacitors in parallel have a combined value.  :)

VPIF

The PCBs are kind of tight, so I guess I'll just replace the caps. No big deal. Glad I didn't make 20 pedals before I discovered this, though. But I have to say that I find it strange that the muffs that have six 0,01 caps that are supposed to be 0,1uF sound as good as they do.BTW, I built three pedals before I learned that the metal DC-jack shorts the +9V to ground too.  ;D

R.G.

If you keep building pedals, try to cultivate the viewpoint that component mistakes will always be made. Don't get upset about it, just correct it and move on.

... er, like I just did this afternoon when I found I'd put an NPN 2N5088 in a PCB instead of a PNP 2N5086.

:icon_lol:
R.G.

In response to the questions in the forum - PCB Layout for Musical Effects is available from The Book Patch. Search "PCB Layout" and it ought to appear.

VPIF

QuoteIf you keep building pedals, try to cultivate the viewpoint that component mistakes will always be made. Don't get upset about it, just correct it and move on.

I actually remember your name from years and years back, when I looked into the idea of having a friend build one of your switchers. And if you, with all your knowledge and experience, keep making the same old mistakes, I guess it's something that is going to happen once in a while. But I hope I won't mislabel entire batches of components very often.

Perrow

Quote from: R.G. on February 16, 2013, 04:11:41 PM
try to cultivate the viewpoint that component mistakes will always be made.

And be sure to use your ears so that you're sure it's not a happy mistake you're correcting.
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VPIF

Good point. As I said - apart from a slight oscillation - the Civil War Muff sounds good to me. I will have to build one with the correct value caps and compare them before i start unsoldering caps.

LucifersTrip

honestly, there's no reason you shouldn't be measuring your caps and resistors one final time before soldering.

a cap meter kit is inexpensive and a fun, relatively easy project. They're sold out at a few places, but you should be able to find it somewhere (in about the $10-$15 range)

search: jye tech capacitance meter kit

https://www.sparkfun.com/products/9485
http://www.amazon.com/JYE-Tech-Capacitance-meter-kit/dp/B0050ZKXHK/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
http://www.nkcelectronics.com/capacitance-meter-kit.html
http://www.watterott.com/en/JYEtech
always think outside the box