How to wire an On/Off switch for pedal or amp?

[micro]

Ok, I'm specifically encountering this problem in building a little gem but I would also like to use it on some pedals. Im trying to understand how wiring
the negative of the battery to the ring of a stereo jack turns the circuit on. I want to be able to turn the circuit on without plugging in the input jack.
Help!?!?!

[the_random_hero]

Ok, I'm specifically encountering this problem in building a little gem but I would also like to use it on some pedals. Im trying to understand how wiring
the negative of the battery to the ring of a stereo jack turns the circuit on. I want to be able to turn the circuit on without plugging in the input jack.
Help!?!?!

When you plug the jack in, the sleeve and ring contacts are shorted together, which provides electrical continuity and completes the circuit. If you use a mono jack and wire the negative lead of the battery to a simple on/off switch, then it will only be on once the switch is turned on.

[micro]

Excuse my newbie-ness but I would wire the neg of the battery to a switch then from the switch to where?
Sorry

[the_random_hero]

Excuse my newbie-ness but I would wire the neg of the battery to a switch then from the switch to where?
Sorry

The board grounds, which have to be connected to the shield on the input jack. You could just make the connection on the input jack if you wanted to.

[petemoore]

  Disconnect a battery pole = no circuit = no current drawn from battery.
  this can be done anywhere, like:
  cut a battery wire and stick a switch there [all other connections to PS permanent].
  Use of a mono 1/4'' plug to make/break the ring/sleeve lug connections of a Stereo 1/4'' jack.
  get a 1/4'' plug [mono] and a 1/4'' jack [stereo] set the DMM to beep mode. 
  DMM beep mode test across the ring/sleeve lugs of the 1/4'' [stereo] jack, notice no connection.
  Plug the [mono] 1/4'' plug into the jack, repeat test, notice connection between R/S lugs of jack, also notice how the ['long'] PluG sleeve spans across and makes a physical connection through Jack Sleeve > Plug Sleeve > Jack *Ring, without the plug sleeve in the jack, the jacks sleeve/ring lugs are not connected.
  Since the ring wouldn't otherwise be doing anything [floating], connecting the battery - to the ring makes/breaks the battery circuit 'automatically' when you plug in a Mono Plug, ground to sleeve/signal to tip wired as usual.
  -------------
  Those methods cut power, if you want muting, I'd try grounding the input.

[GibsonGM]

Seeing the topic name, "pedal or amp", makes me just have to insert that wiring up a switch for AC mains power is a LITTLE DIFFERENT.   Switching the ground on a pedal is just fine, or on the hot on a 9v circuit for that matter.
 
If you were actually trying to switch a 120VAC amp power supply, etc.,, you'd have to go search for the right, and safe way to do that, wherein everything is isolated and properly fused with rated components and all of that.  Just thought this belonged in here for the random forum searcher someday....