Build Your Own Clone Message Board

Hello,
This is my 2nd build.
It went really well.. until it was time to plug it in, and I got nothing.
There is a dip in volume and the LED doesn't work.
No effect.
So I went about desoldering everything and rewiring... making a mess of a build that I was somewhat proud of.

Please look at my messy work and see what I did wrong??

Could you take another pic of the AC/9v adaptor soldering? Something confuses me when I look at it, but it may be the camera angle. I am looking at everything, and it seems to be correct, but is the wire on #9 on the footswitch soldered? From the pics, it almost looks unsoldered. Nothing is really jumping out at me as being wrong at the moment...As far as the LED, are you sure you have it in correctly?

Do you have a multimeter? If so, can you confirm that there is power getting to the board at the 9v spot. Also, confirm that the LED is in correctly and not backwards. After that, the next thing I would try to confirm is working is the the opamp. I don't have one of these kits handy, so I can't give you pin voltages of the opamp, but you want to make sure its working correctly. Also, I agree that an extra pic of the ac jack is needed....it's hard to make out...from the angle it looks like the battery is hooked up to the wrong lug.

I will take a picture when I get home.
The wire on #9 is soldered....
Thanks

I actually put another LED in .. this one is in incorrectly. The last one was too, but I started doubting myself.
I have a multimeter, which I use to check some of the wires.. but how do I check the OPAMP with the multimeter?
It has 3 wires on one side and 2 on the other...

I got an email on how to do this somewhere...I'll try to find it ASAP....

HERE IT IS!
Not an email, but a thread on this forum, which can be viewed here:
viewtopic.php?f=21&t=7903

The opamp has eight legs...looks like a computer chip. To measure the voltages at each leg, set your multimeter for voltages, touch the black probe to ground (I use the screw holes in the enclosure) and the red probe to each leg...one at a time. Take note of the readings on each leg. Also, using the same method, test that you are getting power at the 9v pad on the board itself.

Did you get the LED to work by turning it around?

thanks for the replies.
Here are some more pictures...

The LED Doesn't work.
When I plug the pedal in there is a volume drop when the footswitch is engaged.
No effect..

About the multimeter
I am using a Analog one
http://download.sears.com/own/03482362e.pdf
I placed it on AC and DC voltages and couldn't get a reading. i am going to buy a DMM today and I hope that works.
I usually use the multimeter on the resistance part and check all the wires and connectors for continunity

Anyone have any idea?

I put a new ac jack and wired it in.
I thought that may be the problem.. but I was wrong.
Maybe it's the OPAMP?

Can I get some advise on how to use the analog multimeter (I posted a link to mine above) to measure the OPAMP..
?

Here's how to check voltages at the op-amp and octo-coupler....Actually its SugarBears response, but I think you might have missed it:

The opamp has eight legs...looks like a computer chip. To measure the voltages at each leg, set your multimeter for voltages, touch the black probe to ground (I use the screw holes in the enclosure) and the red probe to each leg...one at a time. Take note of the readings on each leg. Also, using the same method, test that you are getting power at the 9v pad on the board itself.

I spent another hour fiddling with the pedal and I can't figure this one out.


In other news I also did a triboost today without any problems.

The 9V Pad? let me see if I am doing this right.
I put one end of the multimeter to the outside prong of the power jack.
I then put the other end of the multimeter to the circuit board where the wire enters into the (POS)
It shows a connection...

Thanks for the replies.
I want to measure the opamp.

this is my multimeter



Which dial do I read
The red, black or blue?
Which setting do I turn the knob to?

Ok here is what I am doing..


(yes when I am doing it I am making sure the black is inserted into the ground)


I am coming up with no reading for the OPAMP or octocoupler using that method.

When I set the dial to x1k and x10k I get readings...

I replaced the battery in it and it didn't help. I am going to go digital tomorrow.
Not sure if that will help.


Any clues?

It almost sounds like your meter also has issues. I would say get a DMM, and make sure you get one with Continuity Test because I know some of the cheaper ones do not have that feature, and it is very useful. Test your current multimeter on another fresh 9v battery. Test the battery with your tongue first....but you can if you want to make certain the 9v is functional. Set VDC to 10, then use the red on the + and the black on the -, if you get no reading, then your meter is fried, or your battery is, unless you fried your tongue with a battery, then the battery obviously works. Your meter may need a new fuse as they sometimes have fuses in them to keep them from getting fried, so if you are looking to kill sometime while waiting to get a DMM, you could try opening the meter you have and seeing if there is a fuse in there that might be blown....But I would say get a DMM anyways because those are a bit easier to read and some of them are automatic and that makes things easier sometimes....

It's a new battery in there.
The meter works for the continunity/resistance stuff.
I live on a US ARMY Base in Italy. I checked at our PX today and they didn't have a DMM.
I might have to order one through the internet.. which means that it will be weeks before I can find out what is wrong with this and order a new part..
This is really frustrating.

Dare I say it ... "Audio Probe" ???

What is it and where do i buy it?

Ok...
Here is a picture of the Multimeter I bought today



IS that the correct setting to measure voltages on the OPAMP?
I added power to my pedal

I used that setting and this is what I got..

Pin 1 (the one with the dot) 0.0
pin 2 0.1
pin 3 0.1
pin 4 0.0

now the opposite side
the entire side
0.3

So what am I doing wrong because that doesn't seem like it is correct!

UPDATE/EDIT:

Actually, switch it to the 20 setting. I just measured my OpAmp while powered with a 9v, and pins 1-3 were at about 4.6v, pin 4 was 0, then voltages on Pin 8 (opposite Pin 1) 8+v, then pins 5-7 around 4.6 volts.

OK IT WORKS!
Here it is next to the other pedals I did this week
250-Triboost-Envelope and Trem-
This is addicting!

Believe it or not the IN 4001 Diode wasn't working. That was the problem and now it powers up and everything works.
I like it.
Sounds awesome!
I am not too sure I would use the fixed wah for anything.. but the 440 sinde sounds great.
Thanks for all of those people who helped!

I just ordered an audio proe so hopefully I won't have these problems again!

It's an easier fault-finding method initially ... basically, you either get the signal travelling through a component, or you don't.

Having used a probe a few times, the DMM has become my 2nd option when I'm looking for a fault.

Glad you got it sorted ...

Glad to hear you got it working, and your pedals look good too! Is it just spray paint or is it powder coat? Also I like the knobs you use for your various builds. Nice to hear it wasn't anything major that was wrong with the pedal.