Adding LED's to remote dual channel/reverb switch

[Tomspn]

Hi,
My name's Tom and i'm new to this forum.
I've been playing guitar for a long time now (i'm 33) and have been repairing (or finetuning) some friends' guitars over the last few years, so i know 'something' about wiring a les paul or things like that, but stompboxes are absolutely new to me. I've played with effects (Boss GT3) the first years, but i was never satisfied (too hard, too many choices, and what i recently found out: the thing really changed my tone, so i got tired of it after max 30 minutes of playing).

Anyway, now i own a couple of very fine pedals (a few fulltones, a DL4, a CE-2, ...) and i have a few projects in my mind.
I'd like to make an AB-Box (i ask Mike from AnalogMike to make one for a friend, and i'd like to try one myself), also i'll need True Bypass box (for the CE-2?) and first of of all the project mentioned in the subject: adding LED's to my remote switch.

I think this is probably the easiest project, since it's impossible to mess the sound up, because it's a remote switch, not a box where my signal has to pass through., right? But i'm not sure... Remember, i can solder guitar wirings and know how to split coils and such, but this stompboxstuff is really new to me.

So if i look at my remote switch, it's a very simple design. The 2 switches only have two lugs. Stereo jack comes in, ground goes to both switches (reverb and channel), RED and BLACK each go to the free 'lug'. I hope i make myself clear... I guess this means i have a SPDT switch, and i'll have to change them for DPDT or 3DPDT, right? But then i get stuck...

Does someone know how to help me? I have this feeling that it should be an easy project, i'm i right?


Thanks!

Tom

[Processaurus]

Hi, sounds like because your switches have two lugs they are spst.  the simplest way to add LEDs without knowing about your amp and what is coming down the cable (like if you can leech power off it) is to use DPDT footswitches, and light an LED from the second pole.  You'll need a battery to power the LEDs.  Go battery + > LED +, LED - > resistor (1K to 20K depending on the type LED) > outside lug of a pole on a stompswitch > common lug on that pole > battery -.  For the second switch, same thing, duplicate the series and have them meet at the battery + and -.

Hook the other poles on the switches up like your current SPSTs are.

make sense?  if you have a multi meter you can beep out your new switches so you can get an idea how they work.

There might be a way with your amp to just put an LED + resistor in parallel with each spst switch, and power from the amp would turn the LED on, until the switch shorts it out, but that would only work on certain amps.

[Tomspn]

Thanks so far!
I can get started now. I think i understand the connections, anyhow i have small jumpercables (that i use when wiring a guitar) so i can try things out.
I'll probably make a (smaller) second footswitch with leds for on my board and leave the original peavey one untouched, in case i need to rehearse with only the amp and no board...
But one question remains: Which LED's should i use and which cap do they need?
I know there must be plenty of possibilities, but it's just a simple switch and i'm a firsttimer, so anything simple will do. Just 2 normal different-coloured leds.
Also, i don't know if it's worth adding a 9V entry besides the battery. Would battery last long for 2 led's?

[Processaurus]

But one question remains: Which LED's should i use and which cap do they need?

Also, i don't know if it's worth adding a 9V entry besides the battery. Would battery last long for 2 led's?

Hi, this won't use caps, just LEDs and resistors.  The resistor is to limit how bright the LED gets, if it gets just hooked up with no resistor it will be really bright for an instant before it fries.

use super-bright LEDs, not because they need to be so bright but because they are efficient and you can run them with a higher series resistor, so they use less current = less battery.  smallbearelec.com has different colors and does small orders, radio shack might have some too.  Small bear is fun because there are weird colors, like violet, blue and white available.

5K is a good value to start with, go bigger for dimmer, smaller for brighter.

Battery life will be good for the super bright LEDs, just switch them off when you leave and they aren't taking power.