OLC Orange Peel Build (done)

Post by **Mike** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 9:03 am

It's bloody loud as well. I had the volume somewhere between 8:30 and 9:00am to get a nice lift about my clean tone with the gain at midnight. It's got a lot more volume left in it.

NickS · Post by **NickS** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 9:04 am

Doog wrote:I remember reading in the PDF manual that the pedal doesn't have a set polarity? I.e, it'll work either way round. NO idea how this is possible

Replace "AC in" with "DC in, either polarity", and "DC in" (?) with "DC out".
Although this allows you to use either polarity, you lose two diode drops in voltage. Using Schottky barrier diodes like the >>1N5817<<, 17p >>at Maplin<<, you could keep this down to under 0.7V at 100mA. Germanium diodes have a slightly lower forward drop but it's difficult to find a germanium diode with a useful current capacity these days.

Post by **Mike** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 9:08 am

Clever.

Is that liek a Wheatstone bridge or something? it rings a bell from university days.

NickS · Post by **NickS** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 12:07 pm

Mike wrote:Clever.

Is that liek a Wheatstone bridge or something? it rings a bell from university days.

Bridge is the right word, it's a bridge rectifier circuit. I guess in a DC application like this you could call it something bullshitty like a "current steering diode array" or whatever.

Post by **Mike** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 7:39 pm

Orange Peel case painted, ready for stenciling.

Hopefully tomorrow I will be able to fix the direction of teh Gain, Bass and Volume pots and also the cold solder joint on the FAC, and replace the output jack with an open style switchcraft.

Ninja Mike 808 · Post by **Ninja Mike 808** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 10:06 pm

Switching the direction is as balls. Just switch the 1 & 3 around...

Looks good, though! Are those salt boosters?

Post by **Mike** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 10:08 pm

Yeah, I know it's simple. I did a degree in this stuff.

Yup, those are my unpatented derivative boosters.

Post by **Mike** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 10:04 am

Fixed the pots, but realised some of the wires were getting duff from all the in and out of the case action, so after replacing the volume pot wiring, then the gain, then teh treble, and then the bass.. I basically redid all the pot wiring (and routed them all under the board so it's much tidier now.) and now it's quiet as a mouse and sounds great. Need to see if I can get some rub-on transfers for lettering today, or I'll just scrawl on it. Going to replace the input jack with a switchcraft like I did the output. The holes are too large for these cliff jacks really and I hate Cliff jacks. You have to offset the plastic from the hole inside to hold it firm since the diameter of the drilled hold exceeds the plastic of the cliff jack.

No worries, will get a new jack and sort it and post final gut shots then.

euan · Post by **euan** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 10:11 am

Yeah overall switch craft jacks all the way. I might try and troubleshoot my OP today. Spend some time out in the sun then come home and solder my life away.

I think the main problem I've got is all the pots are just not making a good enough connection. Hate non lead solder.

Post by **Mike** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 10:23 am

I don't like using stranded wire is also something I've learnt. When you're moving the wires like I did on the pots the insulation can get really hot in the unsoldering/removing process and peel back, I think I lost the integrity of the the wires then. I use solid core on all my Saltboosters now and all the replacement wiring I did on this was solid-core, and it all works a charm. Like I said in the other thread, I also found a lifted PCB trace so had to make a jumper to ground from one of the caps in the bass control filter stage, it was causing a large unstoppable bassy hum. Took a while to find the bastard. The build is MUCH neater with the pot wiring under the board and only the FAC wiring on top. I also removed the battery clip, I'll never use it.

BTW I got some Neutrik open style jacks on the way from Banzai, I saw them and thought of you.

euan · Post by **euan** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 10:30 am

I would have Neutrik build me a house if I could. That shit will survive a nuclear explosion.

I was going to boost to Halfords and get some paint for my boxes+Woolcaster (which I am going to finish) but the routes to either Halfords within 5 miles of me either take me through bandit country or exits from motorways. Do not want to be doing that on my bike.

Post by **Mike** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 3:26 pm

You and your fucking bike.

Maplin didn't have an open stereo jack in stock because they're twats so I'll just wait I guess. No luck on rub-on transfers either. I'm just going to write I think.

euan · Post by **euan** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 3:39 pm

Haha snap. They didn't have any open stereos for me either.

Ninja Mike 808 · Post by **Ninja Mike 808** » Sun Jun 08, 2008 1:23 am

Looks pretty good. Reminds me of the color we used to use, actually, haha.

Yea, I hate when my wires start to peel back. When i build, I usually get the thing workin' with a little bit of slack and then tighten everything up. I've also been pondering whether or not to just lay some hot glue or somethin'...

Post by **Mike** » Sun Jun 08, 2008 9:09 am

What finish do you apply when you build the cases? The same as the sample picture on the website?

Ninja Mike 808 · Post by **Ninja Mike 808** » Sun Jun 08, 2008 11:59 pm

Yea. White base, screen printed gfx. I got one on my table, but i might not have it there for long...

Post by **Mike** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 7:30 am

I think I'm probably just going to leave it as it is. I can't find any rub-on transfers small enough and I just can't be rigged. It looks fine as is.

Ninja Mike 808 · Post by **Ninja Mike 808** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 8:56 am

Yea, looks good. I was thinkin' of writin' some graffiti on mines...

Post by **Mike** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 9:06 am

The only thing that bothers me about the design is the trimpots as the Drain resistors, which are adding some noise to the circuit. If I can be bothered (i'm talking months down the line here) I'll measure their settings and replace them with resistors instead to fix the bias.

Thom · Post by **Thom** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 10:21 am

Looks good Mike