Help a beginner please

[kennyabis]

Hi there, I know these are total newbie questions but could someone help with this please. I bought a fuzz kit from a seller for my first build. The ad said full unstructions were included but they don't include how to wire the off board components and the seller isn't being helpful at all. I've put together the circuit as shown in the picture below. I'm trying to wire the input and output in the most simplest way jus to get it operational (schematic im looking at also attached).The kit included 2 stereo jacks. However all schematics I've looked at have one terminal of the 9v battery clip attached to the input jack but as per the sellers instructions both terminals of the 9v are attached to the circuit board. Do I need to clip off one terminal of the 9v from the circuit and attach it to the input jack or should I be able to just attach the input and output wires already connected to the circuit board on to the jacks and plug in the battery directly to the board? Thanks for any help in advance.

[Mark Hammer]

Welcome.  Newbies are our house "speciality".   

There are many options for connecting power.  The "classic" arrangement is to have the battery disabled when removing the plug from the input jack, but one could also use a stereo output jack for the same purpose.  As more and more people are opting for pedalboard power supplies, and teensy enclosures too small to fit a 9V battery, inclusion of a 9V battery clip and wiring to the input jack, is quickly disappearing.

The simplest thing these days is to just run the wires to an external power jack, in anticipation of using an external power supply.  Myself, I keep a battery clip handy, wired to a 2.1mm plug, so I can stick a 9V battery on the end for testing things out.

[GibsonGM]

Welcome, Kenny! You will find what you need right here.

[kennyabis]

Still seem to be stuck on this one unfortunately. Got frustrated with it and went on to a different build altogether and it's turned out fine so now back to this one. Should this work? I have the input connected to one end of the input jack and the input ground to another. this is then bridged to the output jack and then from there to the output gnd on the board. There is then the o/p on the board connected to another sleave on the output jack and the 9v gnd is connected to the ring of the output. When I plug in I get pretty much nothing. The clean guitar signal is going through to the amp feintly with a lot of added hum but no effect..

[MJ_Sound_Cubed]

Hey
Good job so far.

Maybe this helps https://www.google.com/search?q=9v+guitar+jack+wiring&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=-iTyXnF2Jedd6M%253A%252Cfmlk5uimCev6wM%252C_&usg=AFrqEzfkHXcpjspagq-UA36nxxUEd0UBzw&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjyjojjoZrdAhWG_KQKHWgZAhcQ9QEwA3oECAUQCg#imgrc=aAGJ5GkT-R9w6M:

[thermionix]

I can't see the jacks well enough to see if you're using the right lugs, there are more than necessary.  But it looks like the twisted brown/white(?) pairs are connected together at the jack(s), which will ground out the signal.  As far as I can see, those pads are for shielded in/out wires, but you're not using shielded wire.

Nevermind, optical illusion.

[kennyabis]

Yeah there are 4 lugs on each of the jacks that came in the kit which has confused me but the twisted wires do go to separate ones. Ive used 3 lugs on the input and 2 on the output. Might try detaching and try different lugs or even different jacks altogether and see what happens. Would be a lot simpler if the seller would give me some basic advice but doesn't seem to want to assist at all, definitely won't be buying from him again.

[DIY Bass]

It looks to me as if your sockets are switched (there is a separate piece up beside the tip connection that would disconnect when a plug is inserted).  Your 4 lugs then would be tip, ring, ground and switch.  It looks as if you are using the output jack to switch the battery on when a jack is inserted?  Just double check your wiring and make sure you are using the tip/ring/ground lugs and not the switch lug.

[kennyabis]

Cheers, I'll try swapping them about and see what happens. Yeah using the output to turn on the battery.

[MJ_Sound_Cubed]

Does it work already?

[kennyabis]

Fraid not no... tried switching the wiring multiple ways but still nothing. Got frustrated and gone on to another project instead for now. 

[MJ_Sound_Cubed]

Exactly , better luck with the next one.

[GibsonGM]

What is REALLY helpful, Kenny, is to make 4 to 6 (or more) 'jumpers'.   I have like 20, because sometimes they are needed, all different lengths.  Jumpers are wires about 6" long (15 cm) with an alligator clip on each end.

When you finish a PCB, you clip the input wire and ground to a mono jack, and output wire and ground, to another mono jack.

Hook up the battery (a 9V snap with...you guessed it - 2 alligator clips on it!  WATCH the polarity, maybe use the rubber boot on the clips and make sure red goes to positive and so on), and test your PCB with your guitar!

THEN connect the switch wiring.  If you know the PCB is ok, that limits where the mistake can be!! 

 

[kennyabis]

Thanks that is very helpful I think I'll do just that. Was gonna order a couple of spare mono jacks to try with it anyway because the jacks that came with the kit have confused me a bit with their 4 tabs.

[kennyabis]

Exactly , better luck with the next one.

Cheers, I have now managed to successfully build a fully working boost pedal. Getting there slowly but surely.

[PRR]

> Jumpers are wires about 6" long (15 cm) with an alligator clip on each end.

"Clip-leads".


Radio Shack used to sell them by the pack. As there is now no RS north of Mexico (Maine), and that one is closed on Sunday, doesn't do us much good.

eBay and Amazon are full of clip-leads. AdaFruit:
https://www.adafruit.com/product/1008

Also handy for holding the short end of hand-rolled smoking material. (I used to have a high "evaporation rate" in my workshop.)

[GibsonGM]

> Jumpers are wires about 6" long (15 cm) with an alligator clip on each end.

"Clip-leads".


Radio Shack used to sell them by the pack. As there is now no RS north of Mexico (Maine), and that one is closed on Sunday, doesn't do us much good.

eBay and Amazon are full of clip-leads. AdaFruit:
https://www.adafruit.com/product/1008

Also handy for holding the short end of hand-rolled smoking material. (I used to have a high "evaporation rate" in my workshop.)

I just made my own.  Same for real 'jumper wires' for bread board use...some ppl get them ready-made for the BB, cut to length.  I use phone wire stripped from old....phone wire.  I DID get the clips from RS years ago, though, boots and all. When they had such things.     

Mexico (Maine) is 45 mins. SW of where I live.  On the occasion you find that RS open (I THINK it might still be there; Farmington is not), you may find some neat old 80s and older stuff - because nothing new is brought in, as far as I can tell.   An LM741 is state of the art there, TL071 is in the future still    I got the good stuff out of there a decade ago...

[kennyabis]

I'll take a look on ebay, we don't have any radio shacks or anything similar over here (I'm in Northern Ireland)

[GibsonGM]

I'll take a look on ebay, we don't have any radio shacks or anything similar over here (I'm in Northern Ireland)

We WERE in County Cork, but that was 150 years ago   

Check Ebay, and also Small Bear Electronics, who has been serving this forum for a long, long time...I have had nothing but great experiences with them and their products!