Going insane...please help...

[Giglawyer]

I built a GuitarPCB Pumped Up Tonebender for my bass today.  I did the bass mods, so it is apparently very close to a Marshall Supa Fuzz.  While it was on my Beavis board, it sounded AWESOME. 

Then I tried to box it.  Aigh...

I can't get power when it is boxed and when it is wired to a power jack.  I can box it, and connect the power wires to my board, and power the pedal through the board. But when I wire the jack, nothing comes through.  I have tried 2 different jacks. 

I will post a picture soon.  I am going out of my head trying to figure out what I am doing wrong.   

[haveyouseenhim]

Is the jack metal or plastic?

[GibsonGM]

...and, do you have a multi-meter?  You may need to confirm you're wiring the jack right!!   And THEN solder it to the board.

Please don't go insane, you're going to figure this out, ha ha...

[vigilante397]

Sounds like the old metal-jack-on-a-metal-enclosure problem. It's not a problem if you use center positive  (aka backwards) power supplies like me, but with standard center negative supplies you're connecting your positive voltage to the enclosure, which is generally grounded through your input and output jacks.

Solutions: plastic jacks (highly recommended), or use backwards power supplies and wire your power jacks backwards like me 

[GibsonGM]

Sounds like the old metal-jack-on-a-metal-enclosure problem. It's not a problem if you use center positive  (aka backwards) power supplies like me, but with standard center negative supplies you're connecting your positive voltage to the enclosure, which is generally grounded through your input and output jacks.

Solutions: plastic jacks (highly recommended), or use backwards power supplies and wire your power jacks backwards like me 

Oh yes, most likely problem!  Gotta LOVE it when the thing works outside the box, and dies when you get it together.   Next, you solve that problem, and then break a pot wire or something on the next re-assembly, ha ha!

[Giglawyer]

OK...its a plastic jack...pretty standard I think.  Its this one http://www.mammothelectronics.com/4SJK-101DCXT-Round-External-Nut-DC-Power-Jack-p/600-1000-xt.htm

I don't mean to sound overconfident but I am pretty sure I am not wiring it wrong.  I have alligator clips from the board for +9v and ground, and I can clip them to the wires that are soldered to the jack, and power the pedal this way.  Its just that the power doesn't seem to flow through the jack.   BUt I have tried two jacks now, and both had the same effect.  AIGH!

I will post pictures in a bit.  Maybe that will help.

[GibsonGM]

It's a switching power jack, dude!  If there's no plug inserted, it allows you to use a battery. When a plug IS inserted, it cuts off the battery.  If it's wired wrong, you'll have power at the pins and not flowing thru...

Go to this PDF and assure yourself you have it connected right.   https://www.generalguitargadgets.com/pdf/ggg_sw_dcjack.pdf   Looks like the typical one you showed.

Not saying it HAS to be the problem, but I know when I started, it sure was!!   Things made me....go insane...  ! 

[Giglawyer]

It's a switching power jack, dude!  If there's no plug inserted, it allows you to use a battery. When a plug IS inserted, it cuts off the battery.  If it's wired wrong, you'll have power at the pins and not flowing thru...

Go to this PDF and assure yourself you have it connected right.   https://www.generalguitargadgets.com/pdf/ggg_sw_dcjack.pdf   Looks like the typical one you showed.

Not saying it HAS to be the problem, but I know when I started, it sure was!!   Things made me....go insane...  ! 

This has to be it.  This makes sense.  Some pics, as promised...

Boxed up, but not working...
http://giglawyer.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/before.jpg

Working once again, powered with alligator clips from board...
http://giglawyer.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/after.jpg

[Jdansti]

Looks like you've got the red wire connected to the switched lug instead of the "always on" lug.

[LakeFX]

I'm still a noob at this too, but at first glance it looks like you have positive and negative reversed on the jack. Standard power wiring is tip negative, which is the reverse of just about everything else out there.

Edit: oops never mind. Looking at the picture on my phone it was hard to see which lug is which. Yes, you are hooked to the switched lug.

[Jdansti]

His photo appears to have the black wires connected to the tip of the jack. Assuming that black = ground/negative, that should be fine.

[armdnrdy]

The black wire should be on the empty lug.
That's why it works when you do not have a plug inserted in the jack and are feeding it from the alligator clips.
You are back feeding the ground through the jack switch.

[armdnrdy]

This lug is empty correct?

[armdnrdy]

I see it clearly now....you definitely need to put the positive on the empty lug. The lug you have the positive wire on is the switch.

Kind of hard to see with the alligator clips in the way.  

[Jdansti]

I see it clearly now....you definitely need to put the positive on the empty lug. The lug you have the positive wire on is the switch.

Kind of hard to see with the alligator clips in the way.  

http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=107052.msg970640#msg970640   

[Giglawyer]

It's a switching power jack, dude!  If there's no plug inserted, it allows you to use a battery. When a plug IS inserted, it cuts off the battery.  If it's wired wrong, you'll have power at the pins and not flowing thru...

Go to this PDF and assure yourself you have it connected right.   https://www.generalguitargadgets.com/pdf/ggg_sw_dcjack.pdf   Looks like the typical one you showed.

Not saying it HAS to be the problem, but I know when I started, it sure was!!   Things made me....go insane...  ! 

Fixed!  Awesome, thanks!

[Giglawyer]

Thanks again everyone.  Awesome bass fuzz happening here. 

[GibsonGM]

Good deal!  These things are a little confusing the first couple of times, many of us still have to tweak the jack a bit like you did to make it work.  Rock on....

[Jdansti]

What's scary is when you do this enough to remember which lug is which without looking at the pin out! 

[duck_arse]

the good part is, because of the internal nut, you have to disconnect and reconnect again. draw yourself a diagram, so you can unnerstan it, put it w/ your power jacks. draw it again on your layout next time you print one. repeat, ad nausea.