DPDT on-on-on noob question..

[Frenchji]

So I'm building a mono router for my pedalboard with a buffer.  Originally I wanted to buy a switch to bypass the buffer.. but I accidentally bought the on on on variety.  So I figured I'll make the best of it.  Would it be possible to do buffer before chain, buffer after chain, and bypass pedalboard with this switch?.. or maybe buffer on, bypass chain, and bypass buffer?  If not.. any suggestions on something useful I could do?

Sorry.. I really have no clue what I'm doing.

[Seljer]

The on-on-on switches come in handy if you want various tonal options. Like choosing between two tone capacitors, and in the middle position you can get both wired in parallel.

[nocentelli]

I think those are commonly called "center on" DPDTs (i.e center connects commons to both outer lugs). On on on usually indicates a different switching arrangement whereby the center position connects one common "up" and the other common "down". very useful for a SP3T

[Frenchji]

So will this work.. hopefully you can read my hand writing.  Up position is buffer on, center position is is pedalboard bypass, and down position is buffer bypass.  Will this work then?  Makes sense in my head.

[Frenchji]

Also.. how do you find out the orientation of the switch?

[mth5044]

I can't see your picture due to work computers, but use a multimeter to determine how the switch operates. Set on zero ohms and poke around the lugs to determine which are connected at different settings. The connected poles will be 0 or very small ohms while the unconnected will be infinity. DPDT o/o/o switches work one of two ways, but their orientation can also be confusing, so be careful. There is an image you can search for using google that shows the two types (as well as DPDT, SPDT, SPST) on one image that will be very useful for you.

[Frenchji]

Any help?

[mth5044]

I don't think it will, but it's hard to tell from your drawing and since we don't know the operation of the switch you're using or its orientation.

The easiest thing to do with switching is to draw out all three scenarios, all the different connection possibilities. The way you have it now it looks like the buffer output is always going to the pedals regardless of what position the switch is in.

[Frenchji]

The buffer output is always going to the pedals... I assume that's bad even if there is nothing going to the input of the buffer? 

Orientation of the center switch is the bottom and center lug on left and top and center lug on right.

[ashcat_lt]

The buffer output is always going to the pedals... I assume that's bad even if there is nothing going to the input of the buffer? 

It's bad because the unbuffered guitar signal hits the output of the buffer.  That'll destroy the tone and volume of any passive guitar trying to get to the pedals when the buffer is supposedly bypassed.  The added noise from the unterminated buffer input is a minor concern by comparison.

Why do you feel it necessary to bypass this buffer?

[Frenchji]

Oh shoot.. It's not necessary to bypass the boost.. just trying to utilize this switch to its full potential because I'm cheap.