Please help before I lose it!

[Guybrush]

So I've had to take a few weeks off from finishing my first build as I've been busy getting married, going to Reading festival and a few other things. 

Before the break I had boxed my build (Thunderpuss) up and it didn't work.  I took it to bits, cut the wires and hooked it back up to my test rig and everything worked great. 

I started back at it earlier this week and tested it again on my test rig.  Still all ok.  I took my time and re-did the wiring etc and boxed it back up.  You guessed it, no sound.

I have been scrutinising it all week and I can't for the life of me work out what the issue/s are.

So...

Would anyone be kind enough to have a look at it for me? I'll pack it up and post it to anyone who fancies giving it the once over.  I live in the UK so I guess someone also living in the UK would be most sensible.

I'm sorry if I'm being a bit cheeky but I'm on the verge of packing up this hobby just as I'm getting started.  I genuinely think it'll be a simple mistake but I'm at my wits end trying to find it. 

I'd post photos but I don't think they'd help as it's almost certainly a wiring issue and its difficult to follow wires in photos.

I'd be eternally greatful if someone could help me out and do their best to de-bug it. I'm broke (wedding's really are expensive!) but there's a pint in it for anyone who can point out what I've done wrong. 

If you fancy a shot PM me your address and I'll get it in the post (with a few quid for a beer) asap.

Thanks guys.

[midwayfair]

At least post photos before spending postage. I know it seems like it won't help, but you'd be surprised what people can spot.

Also, you can check a few things that aren't obvious right away with a multimeter.

Can you getting bypass sound BEFORE you put your effect in the box? Do you still get bypass after the effect is soldered in?

Here are some things that occasionally (read: often) go wrong for me when I box something up and it doesn't work even in bypass:
1) Jacks grounding on the enclosure when they're plugged in. Probe the tips and the box itself and see if you get a beep. This happens to me CONSTANTLY with open jacks.
2) Check that the switch is not sideways.
3) If you're using stereo jacks, double check that you're on the right lugs. Use a multimeter to check. Check even if you're sure. Especially if they're enclosed jacks.
4) If you're using certain switched jacks, these will disconnect one side when you plug in a cable. Make sure you've soldered to the side that DOESN'T MOVE.

Here are some things that can go wrong if I'm getting bypass but no effect:
1) Make sure you're using a plastic DC jack. If it's metal, it'll ground on the enclosure.
2) Make sure you've soldered to the correct lugs on the DC jack. Double check with your multimeter that the +9V does not ground when the adapter is plugged in. If it does, resolder to the other lug.

Hope this helps. Don't give up. I almost did the first time I had a working circuit fail outside the box and spent days trying to find the problem ... man am I glad I didn't, because this is one of the best hobbies I've ever had.

Boxing up a circuit is the next big step once you've conquered the soldering, and as frustrating as it is, and as tempting as it might be to send it to someone else, this is an opportunity to get intimately familiar with all the connection points in the box. If you are very thorough this time, you will be able to find the problem far quicker in the future.

[Scruffie]

The offer of a pint swung me, if you can't do it via debugging i'll take a peak.

[Guybrush]

Firstly than you Jon for that detailed reply and for Scruffie for the offer.

Secondly, I've no idea what happened but I just plugged the pedal in and it fired up and works perfectly. I'm completely confused. All I can think is that it was late last night when I finished tinkering and I'd done something stupid like plugging it in the wrong way round.  Anyway I'm not complaining.

Jon:  Thanks again for your message.  I've got similar problems with my second build.  I'm debugging at the moment but might message you about some multimeter tips if that's ok?

Thanks

[Guybrush]

Spoke too soon.  There's something definitely not right.  No sound again.  Think it may be a problem with the grounding as the single comes and goes and cuts out with a pop when I wiggle the two cables that are plugged in to the pedal.  

So here's some photos of the guts.  If someone can spot something amiss please let me know.








And here's a shot of the outside of the pedal.  Should I sand away the Envirotex to get a better connection to the enclosure?



Thanks guys.

[midwayfair]

Looks like your input tip might be digging into the +9v power line. That would also definitely cause a pop, and it's consistent with the problem being (a) intermittent and (b) tied to wiggling the jacks. I've done THAT before, too.

When you loosen the jack, move the wires out from under it and then stick a small piece of something under the jack (I use a scrap of perfboard). Then you can tighten it without the jack rotating down to cut off on the enclosure. Many jacks were tortured to bring this tip to you!

The jacks are making contact on the inside of the case, too; they're also grounded together through the 1776 board. You're good on all fronts there. Your soldering also looks good.

Feel free to message or e-mail me anytime. I'm always up for a chat. Well, by "always up" I mean, not when I'm sleeping, but otherwise ...

[Guybrush]

Thanks Jon.  I'm sure I'll be in touch soon.

The in jack was pinning the dc wires down but it wasn't cutting into them. just kind of holding them in place.  I moved them out and it's done the trick as the pedal is working again.  I'm not sure it had anything to do with moving the dc wires though.  Anyway it's working for now! Build report pics up later.

Thanks again.