Combining switches in Lovetone Flange Clone (Dead End FX E. Nigma)

[slowpogo]

OK, I'll do my best to explain this. I'm a builder/musician, not an engineer, so forgive my continued reliance on you fine people.  I'm building my second Lovetone Flange clone, using the awesome E. Nigma board from Dead End FX, and I'm wondering if I can combine two toggle functions into one.

The pedal has an SPDT toggle switch in the middle labeled "Mono/Stereo" which is really just a phase switch.  It only affects the bypassed signal.  Without flipping the switch, apparently, your bypass signal would be out of phase when you're plugged into both left/right jacks.

There's also a "ring lift" mod which adds a second SPDT toggle switch.  This second switch is there to eliminate ground buzz when using the pedal in stereo, or when plugging into only the right or "Time Out" jack.  In mono, this switch eliminates the flange side of the mono summed signal (undesirable).  So in my opinion, this ring lift mod really deserves the "Mono/Stereo" label more than the other one.  It's not just a phase switch, but actually correlates with mono/stereo functionality.

So here's the question.  Can we combine these two switches into one?  Can there be a single switch that when flipped, does both of the above functions: lifts the ring to eliminate buzz in stereo, and also keeps the bypass signal in phase when in stereo?

The pedal is complicated enough without having two separate switches which are effectively, in different ways, "Mono/Stereo" switches.  This may really show my ignorance but couldn't you simply wire them as in the manual, but use both sides of a DPDT switch instead of two SPDT?

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kqEvRodTRtgS7zFl3puy6qp6RXRRoSle/view

[digi2t]

Yes, it is possible, but let me explain the present configuration...

The trace of the DEFX board is based on the original trace by Electricstorm. That trace was lifted directly from an original unit.

If you go through the Lovetone manual, the possibility of ground loops when using the Time Out/stereo setups is covered (pg.12 of the DEFX build doc).

So, while the two functions could be combined into a single mono/stereo DPDT switch as you so desire, the caveat is that the ground lift function is also dependent on stereo amp setups. In other words, a separate ground lift switch is much more accommodating to the possibility of a ground loop created by the amps. In some cases you might need it, in others you might not.

If we tie this switch to the other, then it defeats all the flexibility that it's meant to provide.

[slowpogo]

I did read that part of the manual, but I think what I'm not getting is... if you use the pedal in stereo to two amps, what is the scenario when you would not want the ring lift activated? 

I understand it's there to eliminate ground buzz, but even if you're not experiencing buzz, is there any harm in activating the ring lift?  I think I'm not understanding the apparent downside, or what situation requires the flexibility you speak of.

[digi2t]

I did read that part of the manual, but I think what I'm not getting is... if you use the pedal in stereo to two amps, what is the scenario when you would not want the ring lift activated? 

I understand it's there to eliminate ground buzz, but even if you're not experiencing buzz, is there any harm in activating the ring lift?  I think I'm not understanding the apparent downside, or what situation requires the flexibility you speak of.

OK, in a nutshell, as you state, it's ONLY function is to eliminate ground loop buzz, if you are in stereo, OR... if ONLY using the Time Out jack, the switch will give you the easiest way to eliminate a ground loop hum (as compared to the A, B, or D options).

There will be no harm done by flipping the switch if no loop hum/buzz is present. No explosions. No harm to household pets or loved ones.

[slowpogo]

Okay.  Lifting the ring seems like a win/win, I wonder why Lovetone didn't just wire it that way? I think I'll forget the switch and simply not connect the Ring to the board. :shrug:

[ficelles]

Sorry to hijack a thread, but is anyone using an alternative to the NSL-5542 LDR in their E.Nigma build? Finding that hard to source here in the UK.