Need help from DIY builders - Page 2

cheapbasslovin · #21 12-10-2012, 06:05 PM

Plastic on the outside, metal on the inside sounds good. On some of my projects, I've had issues with tiny frayed wires or wires with worn insulation that I cannot see get pushed into the case when cramming the parts into the enclosure. That could be an issue.

Edit::: Sorry I'm responding from my phone, I didn't read the whole thread until just now; I thought you were operating with less experience.

Lark · #22 12-10-2012, 06:23 PM

Ok...

Led works fine.
Powering the effect when it is not engaged, no sound, however touching the input and output jacks I can hear signal.
When the effects is engaged, only "signal" on the output, not input.....
Thoughts?

Lark · #23 12-10-2012, 08:02 PM

Update.

I've taken everything out of the enclosure and it works fine. maybe a slight hum/buzz.

Do you think this is a grounding issue? Should I tape all of the solder connections with electrical tape? What's my moves from here?

Ibanezsr500 · #24 12-10-2012, 10:00 PM

Yeah mate, sounds like a ground issue to me. Pics might help, but there is only so much we can do without actually being there. I'd double check anywhere that the pcb and its components could be contacting the enclosure first.

Lark · #25 12-10-2012, 10:45 PM

Yeah pretty sure it's a grounding issue, as out of the enclosure works (reasonably) fine and in the enclosure bypass works, but nothing when engaged. Its my first "proper" effects build, donuts a bit messy and with longer than necessary wires. I'm thinking that I may need to order and drill a new enclosure to fit it flush, as it is quite a squeeze in this one, and I don't want to cause any unnecessary damage to the pcb and components.

cheapbasslovin · #26 12-11-2012, 11:46 AM

You clearly are shorting out the power supply through the case. This means you have the ungrounded power connections on one of the grounded parts or you are pushing power supply conductors into the ground by closing the enclosure. Try it with all the pots, jacks and switches mounted, but with the enclosure opened and all the other parts pulled out and exposed. If it still shorts out without anything in the enclosure but the I/O hardware and controls, you have a problem with power getting to your jacks or switches. If it shorts out only when you try to close it, you're pushing something into a shorted position. That should help narrow it down.

Lark · #27 12-25-2012, 11:50 PM

Hey guys, just wanted to give an update/seek more advice haha.

At this stage my builds are as follows: single knob bazz fuss with led and 3pdt, a GGG Ross compressor, a buff n blend splitter looper and GGG ef440 envelope filter.

Have a few questions for each:

Bass fuzz- all soldered, sound through bypass, but none when engaged. LED works fine. If i take the components out and hold down on the lugs of the pot, I get effect signal when engaged. When i take my fingers off, no signal. How can I fix this? Is it just bad solder joints?

Comp - having trouble fitting in the enclosure without it shorting. Going to buy a bigger enclosure and drill the holes in more strategic positions to (hopefully) counteract this.

Splitter blender - build seems fine. Haven't had a chance to test the loop section, but will do so tomorrow. Bypass works fine, however the LED doesn't light up. Is orientated correctly and no signs of anything shorting. What could it be? It is a violet LED from mammoth.

Filter - no dramas this far. Enclosure painted and pcb almost finished being soldered.

Sorry for the long story but I'm finding all this help great. Thank you in advance.

EricssonB · #28 12-26-2012, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lark

Hey guys, just wanted to give an update/seek more advice haha.

At this stage my builds are as follows: single knob bazz fuss with led and 3pdt, a GGG Ross compressor, a buff n blend splitter looper and GGG ef440 envelope filter.

Have a few questions for each:

Bass fuzz- all soldered, sound through bypass, but none when engaged. LED works fine. If i take the components out and hold down on the lugs of the pot, I get effect signal when engaged. When i take my fingers off, no signal. How can I fix this? Is it just bad solder joints?

Sounds like grounding, or maybe a short somewhere. I had an issue like this that I couldn't figure out until I just rewired the entire ground net.

Comp - having trouble fitting in the enclosure without it shorting. Going to buy a bigger enclosure and drill the holes in more strategic positions to (hopefully) counteract this.

Go buy a larger enclosure and drill holes in more strategically. How are you mounting these? Using standoff feet?
http://www.pedalpartsplus.com/mm5/me...egory_Code=ACC
Get some of themz. I have the 3/16" -- absolutely indispensable. The rubber feet are good to have, too.

Splitter blender - build seems fine. Haven't had a chance to test the loop section, but will do so tomorrow. Bypass works fine, however the LED doesn't light up. Is orientated correctly and no signs of anything shorting. What could it be? It is a violet LED from mammoth.

Have you tried a different LED? I've burnt out a few.

Filter - no dramas this far. Enclosure painted and pcb almost finished being soldered.

Sorry for the long story but I'm finding all this help great. Thank you in advance.

Yeah.

Lark · #29 12-26-2012, 04:10 PM

Update on the bazz fuss. Took it all apart and resoldered the grounds. Put it back in and had bypass, no signs of shortage (power supply light not flashing), no effect signal when engaged. I put a bit of pressure on the pot lugs and had faint sound, but nothing when I would take my finger off. I would add a photo, but it is pretty messy....

What do you guys think?

Ibanezsr500 · #30 12-26-2012, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lark

Update on the bazz fuss. Took it all apart and resoldered the grounds. Put it back in and had bypass, no signs of shortage (power supply light not flashing), no effect signal when engaged. I put a bit of pressure on the pot lugs and had faint sound, but nothing when I would take my finger off. I would add a photo, but it is pretty messy....

What do you guys think?

Try a new pot? Try shorting the two lugs on the pot with a piece of wire and see if it works. If you get sound, I'd replace the pot. It is unlikely that a pot would fail though...

EDIT: Is the pot PCB mounted? Did you reflow the solder joints on the lugs?

EricssonB · #31 12-26-2012, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lark

I would add a photo, but it is pretty messy....

What do you guys think?

I think you need to clean it up.

Lark · #32 12-26-2012, 06:48 PM

It's not horrendously messy, just I only have one colour wire and is hard to see what is where. Reflows all the solder points on the pot lugs. Not PCB mounted, I've made this on vero. I'll try and get a photo, but I feel like it is something to do with the pot. I'll try what you said ibanez.

Lark · #33 12-27-2012, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lark

Splitter blender - build seems fine. Haven't had a chance to test the loop section, but will do so tomorrow. Bypass works fine, however the LED doesn't light up. Is orientated correctly and no signs of anything shorting. What could it be? It is a violet LED from mammoth. .

Tested the Splitter and it works fine. Just need to figure out the issue with the LED. Hopefully wont be too much.

Then i will move on to finishing the Bazz Fuss and Envelope filter.

Lark · #34 12-31-2012, 08:55 AM

Sorted the looper blender out and now works fine with the LED. Now working on an envelope filter, and trying to finish off the bazz fuss and Ross comp clone.

Lark · #35 01-09-2013, 04:05 PM

Hey guys,

I'm working on the big muff at the moment. I'm adding a mids boost pot to the effect which shouldn't be too difficult. I am just wondering where each if the pot lugs are soldered to. I imagine one or two lugs would go back to the pcb, but which one? And where would the other be soldered to. Specific numbers would be fantastic.

Thanks again.

Lark · #36 02-12-2013, 03:23 AM

Hey guys.

Does anyone have any suggestions on the grounding wires? I've used a star ground from the input jack sleeve to the dc jack, the circuit, the footswitch and the output jack sleeve. I am making a bass fuzz, and I am getting bypass signal and LED works, but no effect signal. I suspect grounding. I will try and take a few snaps.

Also, looking to wire a pot to a pcb as described in the previous post. Would it be correct to wire FROM the pcb to lug 1, then solder lug 1 to lug 3, then solder lug 2 back to the pcb?

Any help is appreciated.

cheapbasslovin · #37 02-12-2013, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lark

Hey guys.

I am making a bass fuzz, and I am getting bypass signal and LED works, but no effect signal.

Unfortunately, this means that anything on the circuit board could be bad. It could be a short to ground, but it could also be miswired transistors or a backwards diode or a smoked cap or a bad solder.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lark

Also, looking to wire a pot to a pcb as described in the previous post. Would it be correct to wire FROM the pcb to lug 1, then solder lug 1 to lug 3, then solder lug 2 back to the pcb?

If I'm understanding you right this will never work. Soldering straight from 1 to 3 will just short the resistance out which will halve the value of the resistor and make it operate in an on-low-on fashion as you go through the sweep.

Not knowing the nuance of your circuit, I can't say for certain what you need to do, but I can't imagine a circuit that would need a straight one to three connection. What I would see as likely is you wire in and out to 1 and 2, and then 3 to ground, but I can't say for certain.