AB Box, but with... XLR jacks!

[Elijah-Baley]

Hello guys.
I got a new challange here. I have to build an AB Box for a friend, but it should has XLR jacks. One input and two output.
The signal instrument input come from a pedal chain ended with a Zoom multi effects with an XLR output. The box I should build has to receive this XLR input and to go in the XLR Output A or XLR Output B. Both to a mixer with differents setting. A toggle switch have to select A or B.

I need a verified layout. And some advice to connect the XLR which I never used.

I found this:



And I probably will buy the connector here:

https://www.musikding.de/RCA-/-XLR-/-MIDI-Jacks

[deadastronaut]

hi...my 2p.

3pdt.

in goes to centre '3 horizontal LUGS'   the other top /bottom 3 horizontal lugs for out A out B.

[italianguy63]

And I probably will buy the connector here:

https://www.musikding.de/RCA-/-XLR-/-MIDI-Jacks

I bought some metal ones from Tayda, and they were well made.

MC

[deadastronaut]

a lesson i just learned is the drilling for XLR yesterday

some of the chunky fancy ones have  3 inner ridges, and a bottom extruded flange, which makes them a pain in the ass to make a hole for...(so i filed them down)

so now i would go with the simpler 'nice rounded shaft'' ones

[Elijah-Baley]

Thanks!

hi...my 2p.

3pdt.

in goes to centre '3 horizontal LUGS'   the other top /bottom 3 horizontal lugs for out A out B.

Indeed, it will be really much simple. And a bit less expensive. In that layout I guess you noticed that the contacts 2 and 3 of the output XLR are connected when the other jack "selected". I'm wondering if it is really necessary.

And I probably will buy the connector here:

https://www.musikding.de/RCA-/-XLR-/-MIDI-Jacks

I bought some metal ones from Tayda, and they were well made.

MC

Thanks, italianguy63. I'll remember it. But probably this time I need them soon, and more then else, I need female and male jacks, and I would like that them look similar.

a lesson i just learned is the drilling for XLR yesterday

some of the chunky fancy ones have  3 inner ridges, and a bottom extruded flange, which makes them a pain in the ass to make a hole for...(so i filed them down)

so now i would go with the simpler 'nice rounded shaft'' ones

I guess I know what you mean. Looking the datasheet of the Hicon and the Neutrik from Musikding, those should have just one ridges, anyway, a 24mm hole should be good to fit them, then the two screws should keep it firmly in the box. By the way. I think two screws with 3mm of diameter will be ok. Right?

[deadastronaut]

yeah 3mm good....

on my cab sim i used 3mm rivets originally but that was another thing that peed me off with

the chunky XLR sockets, i couldnt get the rivet gun to go fully flat....nightmare...so i used 3M screws/nuts.


''Indeed, it will be really much simple. And a bit less expensive. In that layout I guess you noticed that the contacts 2 and 3 of the output XLR are connected when the other jack "selected". I'm wondering if it is really necessary.''

top row will be A

bottom row will be B. 

middle row input.....the 3pdt is 3 individual switches, thats what i'd try anyway...as a quickie. hmmmm..

[Elijah-Baley]

Yes, it should be clear enough.
So, the 1, 2 and 3 lugs of the input XLR will go to the middle row of lugs of the switch. And the signal can go to the 1, 2 and 3 lugs of the Output XLR A or to the 1, 2 and 3 lugs of the Output XLR B.
I guess I have no reason to draw it.

SO, these XLR jack have three lugs for the "signal" and a fourth lug for the ground. I can connect all the "ground lugs" between together. But this ground lug is isolated or it's like the sleeve of the regular open frame jack? Should make the box grounded?

[DIY Bass]

It does occur to me that the 4PDT switch that you originally had could allow you to also have 2 LEDs to indicate which output is engaged.  You would of course then need to arrange a power supply

[Elijah-Baley]

Yeah, that could be an idea.

I need now to learn something more about the XLR jacks.