Blown Ring mod fixable? (Snarling Dogs Mold Spore)

rps-10 · Post by **rps-10** » Sun Jun 26, 2011 12:20 pm

I think I may have blown the ring mod side of my Snarling Dogs Mold Spore pedal

The little doggy eye LED lights up ok when activated but it kills all through put/sound. The wah side works ok.

I was trying stuff out on my pedal board yesterday as I have received the mouting kit from JSF and wanted to sort the order and placement out before nailing down pedals. While emddling I noticed the ring mod wasn't working - I'm using a Johnny Shredfreak PSU and daisy chain so that should be ok as the JSF PSU as far as I know is a regulated one?
Or it might of been the feedback loop that killed it??

Is there anyone here who could take a look and fix it for me, I'd guess itâ€™s a IC chip thatâ€™s gone as I can't see resisters or caps blowing??

Eternally grateful if someone can as this is the bestest of best pedals ever!

Gratuitous pedal board pic,...

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wwrrss · Post by **wwrrss** » Sun Jun 26, 2011 6:44 pm

I mess about with feedback loops loads and have never killed anything doing it, so I wouldn't think it was that, I might be wrong though.

rps-10 · Post by **rps-10** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 11:02 am

Yeah I doubt it was anything to do with the feedback looper pedal I built and more to do with a voltage spike or something.
Reading about these pedals, they need to have a regulated supply so Iâ€™ve mailed JohnnySF to confirm if the 9v PSU they supply is or not.

Also from a little bit of research this morning it seems that it is the â€œ1044 charge pumpâ€� which is the main failure point of the Ring Mod side of the pedal.

Info:
freestomboxes.org
Geofex

Is this a part I could get myself easily and have a go at replacing? Although I would prefer a seasoned pedal fiddler to sort it out for me.

Post by **Doog** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 11:06 am

wwrrss wrote:I mess about with feedback loops loads and have never killed anything doing it, so I wouldn't think it was that, I might be wrong though.

I killed my RAT with a feedback loop, so it DOES happen.

Post by **Mike** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 11:13 am

1044 charge pump

Notoriously fragile; the ICL7660S is better.

Post by **Doog** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 11:24 am

rps-10 · Post by **rps-10** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 11:33 am

Mike wrote:1044 charge pump

Notoriously fragile; the ICL7660S is better.

<best 6yr old voice>CAN U FIXIT???</best 6yr old voice>

totaly understand if you're too busy/don't want to touch with bargepole etc.

Post by **Mike** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 11:52 am

Um - maybe? There's no guarantee that is all that's wrong with it I'm afraid, but I'll probably be able to take a look at it for you, however do you think you could snap some gutshots so I can see what I'm playing with here?

I'm pretty stacked with builds at the moment, but there's a chance I can get some time to look at it on my bench.

Have you got a DMM? If so you could have a look at getting some IC pin readings which might help us figure uot what's up.

You getting any status LEDs or anything?

rps-10 · Post by **rps-10** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 1:14 pm

DMM = Digital Multi Meter? Yes, have one.
IC pin readings: What do you need ( 1 to 3 etc? Or 1 to ground?? Long time since I did electronics/physics in college)
Gut shots, can do when I get home, or in morning.
LEDs status â€œonâ€� both work (1 for Wha, 1 for ring mod) however turning ring mod on, cuts all signal from pedal â€“ silence. (wah side on it's own works fine, with ring mod activated, silence again)

edit >> is a "1044" also know as MAX1044

Post by **Mike** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 2:31 pm

Stick the black probe on ground and set the DMM to 20V DC (V and a solid line most likely with a 20 section).

Then give me the IC pin values for all ICs and what the ICs are called. Take some photos also please.

Check out pinouts of the ICs to make sure you're giving me the correct pin numbers but generally ICs look like this:

yes MAX1044 = 1044

If it's anything like the Klon you'll have 9V on pins 1 and 8, and then off pin1 there'll be a couple of diodes in series and then the output of those will be your double voltage output, should be around 15V

V- will come from pin5, should be around -8V

Ground should be on pin3.

All IC pin voltages will help a little. It could be the IC or one the electrolytic caps near it that is buggered if the voltages aren't right.

rps-10 · Post by **rps-10** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 9:55 am

Got some gut shots this morning before leaving for work. Last day in for me today so will be able to get IC pin voltages some time tomorrow.

bigger version

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Post by **Mike** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 10:18 am

Yikes. Lots of stuff going on there.

OK so LM565CN = Phase Locked Loop (PLL)

LM324N - Quad Op-Amp

This will help me with the voltages when you get them.

First impressions - could be a bastard to get the board out and also to desolder any chips if I need to, but I may be game for this. I think the DIY Community have been after one of these to RE so I could also get some photos up for people and they might be able to help debug also.

rps-10 · Post by **rps-10** » Wed Jun 29, 2011 9:15 pm

All with ring mod on (patch leads in both jacks) and powered by mains PSU not battery.

MAXX1044

1, 18.06 ................... 8, 18.06
2, 11.45 ................... 7, 6.57
3, 0.00 ................... 6, 8.62
4, 4.65 ................... 5, 0.12

LM565CN

1, 2.99 ................... 14, 0.00
2, 0.00 ................... 13, 0.00
3, 0.00 ................... 12, 0.00
4, 12.64 ................... 11, 0.00
5, 12.64 ................... 10, 14.37
6, 13.29 ................... 9, 10.00
7, 13.29 ................... 8, 13.27

LM324N

1, 0.98 ................... 14, 13.60
2, 0.48 ................... 13, 0.00
3, 0.17 ................... 12, 0.00
4, 16.41 ................... 11, 0.96
5, 0.57 ................... 10, 0.10
6, 1.54 ................... 9, 1.07
7, 0.98 ................... 8, 6.35

HTH

Post by **Mike** » Thu Jun 30, 2011 7:31 am

Hmm.. the MAX1044 voltages look way different to the ones I've seen from the Klon, but that might be a red herring, it could just be configured differently.

What's really strange is pins 1 & 8, which are connected together, are both 18V, I was expecting 9V. Or does this thing use a greater than 18V supply and a recitfier?

Klon Charge Pump voltages:

1, 8.98 ................... 8, 8.98
2, 4.47 ................... 7, 6.62
3, 0.00 ................... 6, 4.40
4, -4.47 ................... 5, -8.72

Compared to what you're seeing

1, 18.06 ................... 8, 18.06
2, 11.45 ................... 7, 6.57
3, 0.00 ................... 6, 8.62
4, 4.65 ................... 5, 0.12

I guess it's just configured differently to produce +18V instead of +-15V like the Klon Charge pump.

Hmm. Not sure what to suggest, I've requested working IC voltages from FSB.org but had no reply and sinec I don't have a scope I'm not sure what I could do to debug this without them - sorry mate.

rps-10 · Post by **rps-10** » Thu Jun 30, 2011 7:39 pm

Using a normal 9v supply, I've read that it steps up the voltage a bit. Thanks for taking the time to have a look and if you know (or anyone else knows) of anyone that can fix it I'd be most grateful.

I suppose on the other hand I still have the great wah effect but now really do need to save for a HAX (or maybe the Black Cat ring mod) and expression pedal.

Post by **Mike** » Mon Jul 04, 2011 8:01 am

The guy from FSB has kindly agreed to post IC voltages so that may help us.

rps-10 · Post by **rps-10** » Mon Jul 04, 2011 4:04 pm

Thanks Mike, that's a bit of good news (hopefully)

Theres a Mold Spore for sale on ebay at the mo, over Â£100 already. Not the most reliable of pedals

rps-10 · Post by **rps-10** » Fri Jul 06, 2012 4:57 pm

Mike wrote:1044 charge pump

Notoriously fragile; the ICL7660S is better.

One year later... (hadn't realised it had been that long)

A TC1044 was also suggested but I couldn't find any without huge minimum buys. The chap from North Effects recommended this 7660 as well

I am now armed with de solder wix and pump, I have the board out of the pedal - that was the easy bit. Hopefully tomorrow (or sometime soon) I'll remove the 1044 IC and solder in a DIL socket, then see if this IC L7660SCPA will work it's magic.

rps-10 · Post by **rps-10** » Sat Jul 07, 2012 10:32 pm

Not to blow my.own trumpet but...

it fucking works!

Post by **Mike** » Sun Jul 08, 2012 10:32 am

Well fucking played