Neutrino - Popping Issue

[RnR]

Hello,

I have built several effects and I have a decent working knowledge of DIY building. I recently etched my own PCB and made a Neutrino and while everything works fine no matter what I try I cannot get rid of the popping when switching the effect.

I have tried replacing the input cap, raising R1 from 1M to 2.2M, ensuring all of my grounds are good, general inspection for cold solder joints (etc) and disconnecting the (regular red ie not ultra bright) LED.

I even went so far as to build a second pedal and it has the same issue.

Would adding a pull down resistor to the ouput/ground on the board help? I tried connecting one from the out lug to the ground lug on the switch but that did not work.

One thing that perplexes me is that the LED will come on without jacks inserted. Is this somehow connected to my popping issue?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[stecykmi]

The LED lights with nothing in the jacks because it was not wired to use a stereo jack as a power switch. I doubt it's related.

I would try a switching scheme that grounds the input/output when switched off (I personally use #2 in the general wiring diagram sticky thread in this sub-forum).

If that doesn't work, try replacing C6, the output cap, with the biggest non-polarized you can find. 10uF is huge and you likely won't be able to find one that large, but something in the .33uF to 1uF range should work. Sometimes polarized electrolytic caps have DC leakage which can cause switching noise.

edit: noticed wiring diagram images are kaputt, here's a pic of one of pandadan's post from back in the day.

[RnR]

Thanks for that. Unfortunately it did not work for me.

Something else must be going on here as both builds do the exact same thing. I have quadruple checked my solder joints and there are no bridges.

Can anyone spot any issues with the DIY PCB layout or has anyone else made their own PCB successfully without any popping?

[gtr2]

Do you have two full builds or two different circuit boards that used the same jacks and switch?

Josh

[RnR]

I have two full builds - a Black and a Burst. This is why I am having a problem wrapping my head around the issue. I have a hard time believing both pedals have a faulty componet causing the problem. I even changed a switch in one of the pedals.

[stecykmi]

With the pedal plugged it, use a multimeter and check if there is any DC voltage on the input and output nodes... It might be a pretty small values, you may have to use the lowest setting (usually 200mV).

[RnR]

Yes - I tried that and I am getting 0.01 on the output now - definitely leakage there.

I might have to try a pulldown resistor on C6 next unless anyone else has any other ideas - I would love to hear them.

[RnR]

I changed both the input and output caps and it still pops.

[gtr2]

What setup (amp, guitar etc.) are you using?

Josh

[RnR]

I have used combinations of a Tele and a LP in an Egnater and a Fender.

I did notice that the pop would increase/decrease with higher volume and gain settings.

I am stumped. It sounds great but the pop sucks. I had a look on YouTube and there are several people with videos of boutique pedals popping including the Eternity - even with Lovepedal's 'silent' switch.

There has to be a way to get rid of that pop.