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battery draining

G

Groovin_Joe

May 12, 2002
250
4
Kanata, Ontario. Canada
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#1
Hi all.

I have a problem. I have done a search and nothing conclusive as of yet.

I built a warmoth parts bass about 5 months ago, I didn't notice it but I am going through batteries like nuts. I have APJ-1 bass lines in it. Pro-actives. They are awesome but if I don't use the bass for a few weeks then the battery is almost dead. I think I messed up the wiring somehow. This isn't my first rodeo with wiring, but it is with active pickups.

Attached is pictures of the bass jack wiring. I think the issue is is there.

Any help would be great.
The pic of the jack, has the neg of the battery on the right of the pic.

ForumRunner_20120212_174952.png



ForumRunner_20120212_175030.png
 
#2
Hey , I had the same problem and I finally figured out the rings on the output jack had slipped around and barely made contact with each other so the battery ground was on even when it was unplugged. Look closely at the jack...or if any connection( like the unprotected capacitor wire) touches the grounding paint inside the cavity, that could also cause problems.
 
#4
Pilgrim said:
I have to ask the obvious, so please forgive me - you're not leaving a cable plugged in, right?
Click to expand...

No offence taken, but yes it is unplugged. Mostly stays in its case.

Did also check other things and nothing is touching. But I did find that something was touching the shielding. I was reading voltage between the pos and the tip of the jack and shielding. May have found it. :D
 
#5
Hmm...Joe, I'm trying to figure out in my own mind how this thing works. As I recall the positive of the battery is always connected to the preamp and the the battery ground wire goes to the middle contact on the jack. The middle contact on the jack then contacts the rest of the grounds in the system by the sleeve (long part) of the guitar cord plug when a cord is plugged in. So the battery shouldn't drain if there is actually no contact from the battery ground wire to the rest of the electronics when then cord is unplugged.
Hope this isn't too much jibberish, just trying to help.
Can you take a ohm meter or continuity checker and go from the battery ground to the rest of the grounds in the system? There shouldn't be a connection (continuity) when unplugged.
 
#7
You are correct, Maurilio. Good illistration. Sorry, Hope I didn't confuse matters. I meant the middle contact on the plug. Not really sure which ring it will be for wire connection. I just have to look closely at the jack to see which lug goes to which contact.
 

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