PCB and stupid mistakes...

ParlorCitySound · May 22, 2009, 11:59:59 PM

I went ahead and made a PCB for the first time today. Printed, etched, drilled, and populated-I had an absolute blast! After finishing wiring up the pedal, I popped a battery in...nothing. Checked the obvious, peeked at all the solder joints, and started probing around with my DMM. After about 20 minutes, I narrowed it down to the fact that I forgot to plug in a cable.

My point: Trouble shooting is part of the process, and I'm growing to enjoy it.

Also, If anyone has the hankering to give building their own PCB a shot, I suggest you do; It was truly gratifying. (You can find instructions and videos on line showing the process of etching, but if anyone would like me to post a "tutorial" I would be happy to)

-Kevin

MicFarlow77 · May 23, 2009, 12:24:31 AM

Quote from: ParlorCitySound on May 22, 2009, 11:59:59 PM
I went ahead and made a PCB for the first time today. Printed, etched, drilled, and populated-I had an absolute blast! After finishing wiring up the pedal, I popped a battery in...nothing. Checked the obvious, peeked at all the solder joints, and started probing around with my DMM. After about 20 minutes, I narrowed it down to the fact that I forgot to plug in a cable.

My point: Trouble shooting is part of the process, and I'm growing to enjoy it.

Also, If anyone has the hankering to give building their own PCB a shot, I suggest you do; It was truly gratifying. (You can find instructions and videos on line showing the process of etching, but if anyone would like me to post a "tutorial" I would be happy to)

-Kevin

Hey Kevin,

Welcome to the board...

I know what you mean about troubleshooting.. it's actually my favorite part! I've built several boxes that fired right up the first time and they were fun, but troubleshooting the ones that didn't was what kept me going late into the night... there is something about rectifying a problem that is very satisfying to me.... course, I have had my share of "no plug' and "no power" troubleshooting sessions... keeps me humble and observant

Thanks,

Mick

rousejeremy · May 23, 2009, 01:15:32 AM

I spent 5 hours debugging a project to find out the adapter was never plugged in.

Welcome to the forum!

biggy boy · May 23, 2009, 09:38:55 AM

Forgetting to put an IC in the socket is also a good one too

Earthscum · May 23, 2009, 11:25:32 AM

I just did that last night... swapped like 5 parts before I saw that my cable wasn't plugged in.

We did that at a show... delayed the show 15 minutes trying to figure out why we weren't getting one of the guitars. Turns out my guitarist didn't even have a patch plugged into his pedal to go TO the board. I was about to strangle him at the time, but at least now it's funny.

svstee · May 23, 2009, 11:52:34 AM

After forgetting to plug in the guitar/plug in the amp/put a chip in the socket/plug in the power supply a few times, I've gotten paranoid and check these things a couple times each whenever I'm trouble shooting.

Another classic is the in cable in he out jack and vice versa.

Paul Marossy · May 23, 2009, 12:04:18 PM

Quote from: rousejeremy on May 23, 2009, 01:15:32 AM
I spent 5 hours debugging a project to find out the adapter was never plugged in.

Welcome to the forum!

No way, really?!

Quote from: biggy boy on May 23, 2009, 09:38:55 AM
Forgetting to put an IC in the socket is also a good one too

Been there, done that.

biggy boy · May 23, 2009, 12:08:14 PM

Quote from: svstee on May 23, 2009, 11:52:34 AM

Another classic is the in cable in he out jack and vice versa.

Yes did that this week with my wah pedal changed the battery checked the power supply.
Then read the labels beside the jacks "instrument" "amp" DOH

rousejeremy · May 23, 2009, 01:45:33 PM

Quote from: Paul Marossy on May 23, 2009, 12:04:18 PM
Quote from: rousejeremy on May 23, 2009, 01:15:32 AM
I spent 5 hours debugging a project to find out the adapter was never plugged in.

Welcome to the forum!

No way, really?!

Quote from: biggy boy on May 23, 2009, 09:38:55 AM
Forgetting to put an IC in the socket is also a good one too

Been there, done that.

Oh yeah. It was a Green Ringer. I was getting a clean signal but no effect.

WLS · May 24, 2009, 02:27:35 AM

Quote from: biggy boy on May 23, 2009, 09:38:55 AM
Forgetting to put an IC in the socket is also a good one too

I did this one a couple of days ago. I put in all the IC's and forgot the transistor.

DOH!!!

Bill

Andi · May 24, 2009, 03:57:56 AM

When I did my first ever PCB I was amazed at how easy it was to do the layout.

It didn't work. On investigation I'd forgotten to run power or ground anywhere.

nosamiam · May 24, 2009, 11:08:23 AM

Quote from: Andi on May 24, 2009, 03:57:56 AM
When I did my first ever PCB I was amazed at how easy it was to do the layout.

It didn't work. On investigation I'd forgotten to run power or ground anywhere.

Ouch!

Paul Marossy · May 24, 2009, 04:47:59 PM

Quote from: rousejeremy on May 23, 2009, 01:45:33 PM
Quote from: Paul Marossy on May 23, 2009, 12:04:18 PM
Quote from: rousejeremy on May 23, 2009, 01:15:32 AM
I spent 5 hours debugging a project to find out the adapter was never plugged in.

Welcome to the forum!

No way, really?!

Quote from: biggy boy on May 23, 2009, 09:38:55 AM
Forgetting to put an IC in the socket is also a good one too

Been there, done that.

Oh yeah. It was a Green Ringer. I was getting a clean signal but no effect.

Wow. I think that beats my best.

rousejeremy · May 24, 2009, 04:59:33 PM

Quote from: Paul Marossy on May 24, 2009, 04:47:59 PM
Quote from: rousejeremy on May 23, 2009, 01:45:33 PM
Quote from: Paul Marossy on May 23, 2009, 12:04:18 PM
Quote from: rousejeremy on May 23, 2009, 01:15:32 AM
I spent 5 hours debugging a project to find out the adapter was never plugged in.

Welcome to the forum!

No way, really?!

Quote from: biggy boy on May 23, 2009, 09:38:55 AM
Forgetting to put an IC in the socket is also a good one too

Been there, done that.

Oh yeah. It was a Green Ringer. I was getting a clean signal but no effect.

Wow. I think that beats my best.

Lets hear about it.

Paul Marossy · May 24, 2009, 09:36:31 PM

Quote from: rousejeremy on May 24, 2009, 04:59:33 PM
Quote from: Paul Marossy on May 24, 2009, 04:47:59 PM
Quote from: rousejeremy on May 23, 2009, 01:45:33 PM
Quote from: Paul Marossy on May 23, 2009, 12:04:18 PM
Quote from: rousejeremy on May 23, 2009, 01:15:32 AM
I spent 5 hours debugging a project to find out the adapter was never plugged in.

Welcome to the forum!

No way, really?!

Quote from: biggy boy on May 23, 2009, 09:38:55 AM
Forgetting to put an IC in the socket is also a good one too

Been there, done that.

Oh yeah. It was a Green Ringer. I was getting a clean signal but no effect.

Wow. I think that beats my best.

Lets hear about it.

I can't remember anything specific, but I know that I spent hours and hours on certain projects trying to figure out my dumb mistake. I think the most memorable one was the first thing I ever built. I had one of those all metal DC jacks, and I couldn't figure out why my battery was getting hot and why the thing wasn't working. I eventually figured out that I was shorting my power directly to ground. But that was after messing with it for a few hours...

kupervaser · May 25, 2009, 02:03:41 PM

What about forgetting to put your volume up. It happens to me almost every time, and I just keep making the mistake.

Paul Marossy · May 25, 2009, 06:58:06 PM

Quote from: kupervaser on May 25, 2009, 02:03:41 PM
What about forgetting to put your volume up. It happens to me almost every time, and I just keep making the mistake.

Ha ha, I've done that, too!

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