Boy being colorblind sucks for this hobby!!

[erick4x4]

So I have been trying to fix a BSIAB II for some time now. I try then step back for a week try again etc. I have built lots of pedals, and this one had me doubting everything I've learned, doubting data sheets, basic laws of physics etc!

I was measuring voltages and correct. The audio probe kept showing problems at the transistors, so I kept tweaking them. I checked for solder joints and parts every time. Was pretty much about to take every part off 1 by 1 until I found my problem . . .

I realized I had ordered a whole batch of 1K resistors that were mistakenly put in the 1M drawer. They look exactly the same Brown-Black-Green, so I measure 1 its 1M, I look and all the others are identical so I don't take them out and test them. Turns out 4 of the 5 1M resistors that were "identical" are actually Brown-Black-Red whichs looks exactly the same as green to me. Argh!! Had my wife not been there overhearing me mumble ("Brown,Black,Green ok looks good"), and said "You know those are Red right . . ?". Never again will I trust the labeling from the parts orders! And since I mix up about half the colors on the old color wheel, maybe every resistor is getting run by the wife or the multimeter before I put it in. I have always been meticulous about organizing resistors based on the packaging labels, because I know I can't see them, but this one got me!

Anyway, now I'm done, replaced the bad resistors, did the midrange mods, and have a great pedal.

Now if we could just label resistors like caps . . .

Anyway just thought I would share my woes and eventual success with you.

[mongo]

I share you pain!!! I'm colorblind as well, and even if I TRIPLE check every resistor I still have a problem like this from time to time!!


Andy

[Cardboard Tube Samurai]

Man that would suck! I am pretty anal about putting my resistors in the right trays in my small drawers and so far haven't had to even bother checking the colour schemes. I could imagine that it would make things difficult.

So out of interest... what colour sound comes out of a BSIABII if you are colour-blind? Is it still brown? 

[jmusser]

I never thought about that! That would be tough. My Dad is color blind, and I lucked out and didn't inherit that trait. The worst I do is transpose from time to time.

[bancika]

I never rely on color codes, always measure resistor before puting it into circuit...

[zjokka]

I never rely on color codes, always measure resistor before puting it into circuit...

Me neither, I never bother to learn the color coding. Just measured the values when I got a new batch and wrote them on the strip, so I can flick through them. So I have a strip of 973K resistors instead of me thinking its 1M, allowing me to add some 30K in series, making my own precision resistors. In small circuits it can realy make a difference I noticed.

It's a dated system anyway. Was it invented before they could print small enough? I find it near to impossible to identify diodes.
best to you still,
j

[Alex C]

Here's a thread with more discussion on this topic:
http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=46554.0

[$uperpuma]

yeah I think thebattleofmidway has the same prob... I couldn't imagine... I had to let one of my car audio/security installers go for that reason...

[petemoore]

  Think of it as a great excuse to have for measuring every resistance just prior to installation, there are other good reasons for this...
 A resistor bin, all lableled drawers for R values...measure the string of resistors just prior to putting them into the labeled stock bin, I did some of this with cereal box bottoms, masking tape and a marker....stuck those in cardboard box / custom shelving unit I made...instead of buying a plastic stock bin box with many drawers.

[jonathan perez]

damn right!

i got every box labeled, along with every baggie...now i just have good memory. 

[lumpymusic]

I share you pain!!! I'm colorblind as well, and even if I TRIPLE check
every resistor I still have a problem like this from time to time!!

I measure every resistor but not because of color blindness.
I just have a hard time SEEING the darn stripes, even magnified.


Lumpy

[erick4x4]

Well I should have measured, but this particular batch of resistors came from mouser labeled 1M and I thought (surely they're right), and since there were dozens of different size resistors and they were are all nicely labeled I just threw them in the appropriate drawers.

But I do like the excuse of measuring, as well as using that to correct tolerance, by adding in series measuring until I hit exactly 1M, or whatever I am looking for.

Oh totally Off topic, but I do know how the colorblindness is passed. It is almost always in males, and it is passed through the mother, and skips a generation. So my grandpa was color blind, my mom was not, and both me and my brother are. And its like 90% chance that my daughters (if I ever have kids ) would be fine, but their sons would be color blind.

Yet another piece of mostly useless info from me!

[doug deeper]

yeah im also color blind.
i just keep my dmm at close range.

[jonathan perez]

what if we started a gang?

what would our color be?   

[petemoore]

  Red or Brown// for males
  Green or Black// for Females
   I can't tell without a close in light, I prefer quartz.

[343 Salty Beans]

I'm not colorblind, but my eyes are pretty bad at picking out those wee little numbers on diodes, caps, and trannies.

And with these antibiotics I'm on, I fart like a howitzer 24 hours a day. I kid you not, at least one giant fart a minute. I can't stand being in the room with myself. I'm afraid it's going to mess with the way my solder flows or something...

[Snuffy]

Take a couple hits of acid and you'll probably get some interesting results.
Before it was illegal that was really done by doctors to try and treat color blindness... and it sometimes worked!

[Gilles C]

I always measure also. Especially those with red or black stripes that are almost the same color sometimes, depending on the companies who made them.

Gilles

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

I have particularly good color vision (but, I have other problems, eg can't drive a car). But, I always measure resistors, unless they are still in the original packet (I get those ammo pack boxes of 1,000).
The only time it would be a problem, would be trying to decode while repairing stuff, but believe me, quite often witht old stuff the resistors are so grunged up that there is no way you could trust a visual inspection anyway.
I guess what I'm saying is, you ae being forced to do what you should anyway!

[jonathan perez]

^^^

im not allowed to drive anymore, either.