I Think I Found the Problem

texstrat · January 12, 2011, 05:21:11 PM

This is my first stomp box and I have spent enough time troubleshooting this, I could have rebuilt it three times over. And not to be a quitter, I think I found my problem, it may be the way that I wired the foot switch. I may have reversed it after reading Aron's Switches/Bypass/Etc. article. Can someone confirm or deny that is what my problem is with the box. Here is the layout for my build and I wired it exactly like the it shows. Layout: http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/pdf/ggg_ff5_lo_b69.pdf?phpMyAdmin=78482479fd7e7fc3768044a841b3e85a

The fact that it says Bypass at the top of the switch makes me think that its the case. Being new to DIY stomp boxes I assumed it meant bypass switch.

Jhouse · January 12, 2011, 07:59:54 PM

I don't see anything wrong with your wiring. $:-\$

When you first built the pedal did you put in every part correctly, like did you accidentally put in the capacitors the wrong way and turned it on?

texstrat · January 12, 2011, 08:10:24 PM

No capacitors were installed with proper orientation. The transistors were not oriented initially, but that was squared away fairly quickly. This is the strangest thing not being able to diagnose the problem. I know it is going to be something really simple and stupid on my part and I don't know if I am continuously overlooking the problem.

Jhouse · January 12, 2011, 08:16:44 PM

When you test it, do you use a battery?

texstrat · January 12, 2011, 08:18:09 PM

Fresh battery and cord in the input jack.

twabelljr · January 12, 2011, 08:28:32 PM

Is the wire circled in green at volume lug 2 sticking through and shorting to the pot case or is that just an illusion from the photo?

Jhouse · January 12, 2011, 08:39:31 PM

It might be. I really cannot tell from the picture.

texstrat · January 12, 2011, 08:44:58 PM

The wire in question, middle wire, runs back to the foot switch next to the wire lead.

twabelljr · January 12, 2011, 09:01:20 PM

And then connects to the output jack. If it is shorted you will have no output. What is the problem you are having? What works and what doesnt? Does bypass work?

Jhouse · January 12, 2011, 09:09:52 PM

He had an old thread of this, but I could never figure out how to help him. HERE is the link to it.

aron · January 12, 2011, 09:20:11 PM

I would test bypass first and see if you can even get that working.

twabelljr · January 12, 2011, 09:32:18 PM

The other link said it plays fine in bypass. (Thanks for the link Jhouse) This wire loks shorted to the pot case to me. Effect output from volume.

texstrat · January 12, 2011, 09:50:44 PM

Quote from: aron on January 12, 2011, 09:20:11 PM
I would test bypass first and see if you can even get that working.

How would I go about testing the bypass switch?

texstrat · January 12, 2011, 09:53:21 PM

Quote from: twabelljr on January 12, 2011, 08:28:32 PM

Is the wire circled in green at volume lug 2 sticking through and shorting to the pot case or is that just an illusion from the photo?

It was touching the case. I have looked at this so many times, I have looked right past it. No telling what else I am missing.

Jhouse · January 12, 2011, 10:05:28 PM

No worries about the bypass. You already said it works when the pedal isn't on. That is when it is in bypass. Did the pedal work after you fixed the short?

texstrat · January 12, 2011, 10:23:27 PM

No. With the box in bypass, I get voltage to the following leads at the foot switch:
battery 8.96V

Dark green lead 8.96V
Orange jumper 8.96V
Orange middle lead 8.96V

Effect on:

Yellow lead 8.02V
White lead 8.87V

The yellow lead, tip of input jack, initial voltage starts at 8.65 and drops to 8.02V. Red lead, output tip, reading vacillates in the mV range. Do I have a short or cold solder joint possibly?

danielzink · January 12, 2011, 10:41:47 PM

How far away from the bottom of the pot is your input jack ? When you plug in to the pedal could the jack be shorting to ground on the bottom of the pot ?

Dan

texstrat · January 12, 2011, 10:58:34 PM

Pulled the jack out and still the same issue. I have power to both sleeves 8.93V, but probing the input tip the voltage starts at 8.45 and drops to 8.00. I get nothing on the output tip back to the switch.

danielzink · January 13, 2011, 09:02:19 AM

Quote from: texstrat on January 12, 2011, 10:58:34 PM
Pulled the jack out and still the same issue. I have power to both sleeves 8.93V, but probing the input tip the voltage starts at 8.45 and drops to 8.00. I get nothing on the output tip back to the switch.

Someone correct me here - but sleeves are ground - no ?

I wouldn't think there should be any voltage on the sleeves.

Dan

milosch · January 13, 2011, 09:11:52 AM

On the DC jack it appears that the tip is wired to ground. Is that on purpose (negative voltage on tip) ?

News:

I Think I Found the Problem