Traditional Fuzz Face circuit draining 9v batteries even when unplugged?

[henryd12]

Hey! Does anyone know why my vintage style fuzz face builds always drain the 9v battery really fast even when completely unplugged from guitar cables? Do you think something is grounded where it shouldn't be?

[Phend]

The Input jack has 3 lugs. Tip, Sleeve and Ring.
The tip lug (that which contacts the tip of the guitar plug) goes to the switch.
The Sleeve which contacts the barrel of the guitar plug is ground, it goes to ground.
The ring also contacts the barrel of the guitar plug when the plug is inserted into the jack.
It goes to neg terminal of the battery.
When the plug is inserted into the jack the sleeve and ring become connected hence the neg terminal of the battery is going to ground.
Remove the plug and the ring will have no connection and the neg of the battery is open.

[sinthmart]

When the plug is inserted into the jack the sleeve and ring become connected hence the neg terminal of the battery is going to ground.
Remove the plug and the ring will have no connection and the neg of the battery is open.

when completely unplugged from guitar cables?

[Phend]

Check to see if the jack is wired correctly.
If you have the battery connected to the sleeve instead of the ring then that may be where the problem is.

[sinthmart]

Apparently the circuit (board) of your pedal does not disconnect from the power supply as others do. This needs to be checked (measure the voltage on the board, on the minus and plus) and if so, then look for the cause.
Here you will have to become a bit of an electronics specialist.

[GibsonGM]

You must be sure of which input jack tabs are which.  Tip, Ring, Sleeve.  As Phend said, when the input cable is removed, ground to battery should be interrupted (shutting off the PCB). If you have ring/sleeve reversed (with their associated ground runs), it will not go off if unplugged.

There's a PDF here that shows how this works. Look carefully.
http://www.tonepad.com/project.asp?id=35

[Mark Hammer]

Unfortunately, there is no standard for the alignment of solder lugs in stereo phone plugs.  Sometimes the lug one thinks you're soldering to has a different connection/function than was believed.  I find it is always best to check, via visual inspection, and sometimes a continuity check with the meter, and verify that the lug goes to where you think it does.

[Phend]

Looking at your photo, the white battery wire is going to the middle lug. When you put the bottom cover on does the solder joint contact the cover? Maybe look across and see if it is sticking up else just bend it down out of the way. Without a meter it makes things difficult. As Mark said you need to know which lug does what. I see 3 that are not used at all, what do they do?

[GibsonGM]

I use a stereo patch cord to test these things. Ya, each brand can differ in how the legs are set up!

[henryd12]

Hey guys really appreciate the help! So I'm hoping I found the problem. The negative wire from the battery on the ring lug sticks up and looks like it hits the back plate when it's on. So this must be what's causing the problem right? Also what points in the circuit should I be checking if the 9v battery is still coming through even when unplugged with a multimeter?

[bluebunny]

You may have found your problem.  Check simply by leaving the back plate off.  If it works, then you'll need to find some way of insulating those lugs when the plate goes back on.  You could also trim the wires coming through the lugs a little.

[Phend]

Tape, thin cardboard, whatever. Just as long as the culprit isn't a sharp point.

[sinthmart]

The protruding wires of the white and purple wires must be cut off at the root with nippers and any insulating gasket must be laid there, for example, from plastic from adapters, power supplies, glue, or, of course, several layers of scotch tape, electrical tape

[duck_arse]

I see 3 that are not used at all, what do they do?

the switched contacts. no plug inserted means each those pairs contact across, take signals etc "somewhere". when the plug inserts, the fingers lift, and those connections break, leaving signals etc "here".

[GibsonGM]

I see 3 that are not used at all, what do they do?

the switched contacts. no plug inserted means each those pairs contact across, take signals etc "somewhere". when the plug inserts, the fingers lift, and those connections break, leaving signals etc "here".

In fact, in a stompbox DC power jack, this is how the internal battery is cut off when you plug in a power supply. 

Those plastic jacks (like you have) have 2 sets of switches Another thing to look out for when learning a specific kind - one set are normally closed, one normally open.  We use the normally open (open with no plug inserted) for power switching using input jack.