OBP-3 (or probably general) wiring question

[Detonation]

It's a bit of a newbie question, but I'm trying to wire an Aguilar OBP-3, and the schematics only show one line coming out of each pickup, while (obviously) there are 2 coming out of each pup. Where does the other one go? Ground? Also, in the wiring diagram, does the black wire from the OBP-3 connect to ground?

wiring diagram

[scottbass]

Yes to both questions. "Ground" is electrically connected to the "shield" aka "sleeve" aka "common" terminal of your 1/4" jack AND to your bridge AND to the solder "blob" on the case of each of your volume, blend and tone pots, AND to the shielding on the sides and floor of your control and pickup cavities, if applicable. As you can see from the diagram, neither of the battery terminals is connected to ground. The negative terminal of your battery is connected to the middle, or "ring" terminal of your 1/4" jack.

[Detonation]

Thanks Scott, it's as I kind of suspected, but just wanted to check. I wasn't sure the 'ring' (shield) was ground as I'm used the the 'triangular' kind of ground sign Cheers
Otto

[scottbass]

Originally Posted by Detonation

Thanks Scott, it's as I kind of suspected, but just wanted to check. I wasn't sure the 'ring' (shield) was ground as I'm used the the 'triangular' kind of ground sign Cheers
Otto

DANGER, WILL ROBINSON!!!!

You say 'ring' (shield) - THEY ARE DIFFERENT!

A 3-conductor jack has three terminals, tip, ring and sleeve/shield/ground. Ring is the terminal that contacts the middle portion of a 3-conductor 1/4" plug - a stereo plug, if you will. Sleeve/shield/ground is the terminal that contacts the portion of the plug farthest away from the tip.

The reason you use a 3-conductor jack with an active preamp is to provide switching for the battery. When you insert a normal instrument cable with a two-conductor 1/4" plug into the 3-conductor jack, the middle (ring) contact and the sleeve/shield/ground contact of the jack both touch the shaft of the plug, completing the circuit and turning your preamp on. When you remove the plug, the circuit is broken and your preamp is unpowered, thereby extending battery life.

DON'T connect your battery's negative lead to the sleeve/shield/ground contact of your 3-conductor jack. DO connect your battery's negative lead to the middle - ring - contact of your 3-conductor jack.

[Rolle2k]

I did exaclty the fault scottbass is describing when i wired my bass, and it took hell alot of thinking before i found out what was wrong.
Or in my case the problem was that i only had a mono jack on the bass, you'll need a stereo one for the on/off switching to work.

[Detonation]

Originally Posted by scottbass

DANGER, WILL ROBINSON!!!!

You say 'ring' (shield) - THEY ARE DIFFERENT!

I'm not sure why I said shield there, I meant to say ground there. Thanks for the extra info nevertheless!