I hate......

[billstein]

Haha, I'm still new to building pedals so I haven't got to experience all the fun that comes with it yet.

And I've been doing this since we had to carve our own transistors out of wood.

Wood transistors! TOTAL MOJO!
*starts eyeing his antique oak dresser*

[pickdropper]

I hate buying a pile of 0603 SMD parts only to realize I ordered .0603 mm not inches.... case size actually 0201... And there is no way I can use them.  I can barely see them

Yeah, hand soldering 0201's isn't the most fun.

[GermanCdn]

I hate taking a perfectly good, working circuit, and deciding I want to improve the aesthetics a bit/try a mod with little consequence/something else stoopid, and then plug the circuit back in only to find that I've managed to screw something up and now have to troubleshoot a circuit which was fine before I decided to make it "better".

[Govmnt_Lacky]

I hate taking a perfectly good, working circuit, and deciding I want to improve the aesthetics a bit/try a mod with little consequence/something else stoopid, and then plug the circuit back in only to find that I've managed to screw something up and now have to troubleshoot a circuit which was fine before I decided to make it "better".

I believe they call that "Fix it 'till its broke!" 

[Jabulani Jonny]

I actually don't mind the troubleshooting! I have a ritual that I perform with EVERY build that keeps debugging down to almost nil ...

So...care to expound on the ritual?Inquiring minds want to know!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[GermanCdn]

I actually don't mind the troubleshooting! I have a ritual that I perform with EVERY build that keeps debugging down to almost nil ...

So...care to expound on the ritual?Inquiring minds want to know!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I heard it involves chicken bones, the blood of newt, and much incantation.....

[Govmnt_Lacky]

So...care to expound on the ritual?Inquiring minds want to know!

Its really no secret. I just verify EVERYTHING twice during the whole process...
- Verify ALL resistor, capacitor, IC, etc... markings while preparing for build AND during the build.
- Verify ALL PCB traces are in tact and connected (sometimes with a DMM but mostly just visual)
- Double check ALL solder joints for continuity.
- ALWAYS check that every IC on the board is getting proper V+ and V- on the appropriate pins. (This has saved me multiple times)

There are other steps but, these are the big ones. I honestly cannot remember the last time I had a build not work DUE TO BUILD ERROR. I did have an issue with my Mutron Flanger however, it was only because I didn't adjust the BBD bias trimmer properly. Once I did that... worked like a champ! 

[raven174us]

So...care to expound on the ritual?Inquiring minds want to know!

I honestly cannot remember the last time I had a build not work DUE TO BUILD ERROR.

Not bragging a little bit are we? lol 

[Govmnt_Lacky]

Not bragging a little bit are we? lol 

Not trying to... 

Just learned a long time ago and after countless debug threads and assists that MOST problems come down to wrong component values, bad soldering, or miswiring, etc. All stuff that can be avoided with a little extra time for precaution 

[GermanCdn]

Truthfully, that's the method I've gone to as well.  I measure every passive component (caps, resistors, pots) on my DMM before I install them, then that usually isolates the bad actors to either transistors or ICs, both of which I socket.

[Gledison]

to place an order from Tayda, paying for express delivery and have to wait 1 week for the German customs! ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhrgh

[gordo]

I heard it involves chicken bones, the blood of newt, and much incantation.....

Hoo boy do I feel stupid doing my interpretive dance naked every full moon in the front yard.  Even the dog can't look the neighbors square in the eye.  Now to find out that wasn't it...

[billstein]

Maybe you could be the moderator in our new interpretive dance sub-forum.

[raven174us]

I'm happy now! I got all my orders in!   

[aballen]

I hate buying a pile of 0603 SMD parts only to realize I ordered .0603 mm not inches.... case size actually 0201... And there is no way I can use them.  I can barely see them

Yeah, hand soldering 0201's isn't the most fun.

I won't even pull them out of the ribbon.  Those things are meant for ribbon/wire bonders, not human hands or eyes.