Aion fx refractor stuck at bypass

[dereckl]

i meant continuity from pin 1 to pin 8 is working , there is no effect and i can't control anything im take=ing a look at the schematics and measuring one by one if the circuit is working. my pots aren't dead so it isn't the pots

[idy]

Continuity pin 1 and 8 of IC3? Need to specify! Take your time. Measure twice.. specify.

Yes! Read the schematic! Anything else is blind poking, unlikely to discover anything!

IC 3 is the power section, creating actively -9 and +18, and passively 9v, 4.5 and 0.
These are called:
VA=9v
VB=18v
-VA=-9v
VR=4.5v

These numbers can be off because there are shorts along their paths, i.e a low number for VR (4.5) may mean there is something touching the 4.5 volt "node" (the sum of all points connected to that spot) and making a path to ground.

The charge pump seems to be working (it is creating -10v) but somehow things are getting messed up after or around it.

Can't emphasize enough how many people begin looking for "bad components" and how often the problem is solder bridge, cold solder joint (looks perfect even under microscope) lifted trace, or incorrect component values. Almost never bad components, almost always the second category. If you like, try searching other threads about this exact pedal. Maybe go right to the end, the resolution....

[dereckl]

thanka for the heads-up I have measured every resistor and diode and everything has the right values. i disconnected the 3pdt daughterboard to isolate the issue of the bypass. the sound doesn't work when it is removed so the issue isn't with the daughterboard. I'm now going to measure the capacitance of every capacitors

[antonis]

I have measured every resistor and diode and everything has the right values.

Sorry but did you perform resistance measurements on board..??
(meaning with items not desoldered..)

I'm now going to measure the capacitance of every capacitors..

See above..

[dereckl]

the measurements are made onboard wth the ohmmeter on the multimeter, the diodes are measured with the diode function to see the current leaks not the sound for continuity

[antonis]

the measurements are made onboard wth the ohmmeter on the multimeter

Interesting enough..

So, you did measure e.g. 15k across R19 with all those series resistors in parallel with it..

[dereckl]

i get a measure of 13.50 for r19

[dereckl]

i have listed a few capacitors which give me a hard time measuring, i will change c3 c6 c10 c12 and c14 , hopefully i have spare parts

[antonis]

I have measured every resistor and diode and everything has the right values.

i get a measure of 13.50 for r19

Do you mean 13.5 Ohms..??

[dereckl]

13.50k ohms for r19

[dereckl]

If I turn the gain knob it goes from between 10k to 13,5k ohm

[idy]

i disconnected the 3pdt daughterboard to isolate the issue of the bypass. the sound doesn't work when it is removed so the issue isn't with the daughterboard. I'm now going to measure the capacitance of every capacitors

Removing the daughter board (unless you also have a way to jumper the in/out jacks to the board) will of course result in no sound, regardless of anything else. I'm not sure there is a clear thinking behind this trouble shooting. And you will not be able to measure caps in circuit, but you can read the marks on them. Just to confirm that the right ones are on the board.

But really all this is distraction. Why is the charge pump not producing the correct voltages? Why are the voltages to the Op Amps all mixed up? A wrong cap is not to blame for your problems. (maybe an electrolytic in the wrong way...)

Oh no, now you are changing caps out willy-nilly. Nearly certain to damage the board. Did you do any of that before posting? A component you put in and then had to desolder (and tug or pull) to remove... So often.... so often... "Ask me how I know."

We keep trying to direct you towards the problem that is obviously there and away from doing further damage... the voices of experience an't drown out the siren song... the devil on your shoulder advising you to start pulling things off the board...sigh.

[dereckl]

I am accepting this advice and trying to figure it out. before seeing the warning I replaced the capacitors and wouldnt have done that had seeing the warning. the capacitor change nothing the sound still goes throught without any modification. the knob still won't work but i will take a reading of the values i get to see if the charge pump can get working. I have seen with r19 that the gain is affecting the circuit but it doesn't affect the sound.

[antonis]

Let's take it from beginning..

Measure continuity between In & OUT when effect is ON..

[duck_arse]

Antonis - I think this is one of those buffered/not buffered bypass pedals, with a user select switch, but as there is no build docs posted, I can't be 100% certain. we should have the refractor linked sticky, top of the page, it crops up so often.

[dereckl]

i don't have reading for continuity when checking in and out but I now noticed that when removing ic2 and ic3 and plugging it in, I still get the sound. so ic1 doesn't relay the sound to ic2 and forward

[antonis]

Antonis - I think this is one of those buffered/not buffered bypass pedals, with a user select switch,

Indeed it is but despite buffered/true/fake/whatever bypass, a continuity test between IN & OUT when pedal is engaged might clear things up..



At least, that's the first check I would do in case of a pedal output same both for engaged and bypassed..

[dereckl]

there is no continuity between those pins when on or off but i get continuity for the ring at off unbuffered

[dereckl]

wait they were unplugged i get continuity when plugged in

[idy]

Right, continuity you should see in unbuffered bypass mode only. If you also see continuity when pedal is engaged or in buffered bypass then you have a switching problem.