Salt booster Help

FitzG · Post by **FitzG** » Sat May 02, 2009 6:10 pm

Recently, i've been tryin to make a salt booster
but the bloody thing wont work
when the effect is off there is a signal but with a loud hum
and when it is on there is no signal at all
any help?

Will · Post by **Will** » Sat May 02, 2009 6:21 pm

Check yr bypass wiring - 3PDT switches are confusing cause it's hard to tell which way is which.

James · Post by **James** » Sat May 02, 2009 6:24 pm

That sounds like you have a short in the case. Check nothing is touching anything it shouldn't be.

FitzG · Post by **FitzG** » Sat May 02, 2009 7:21 pm

DuoSonicBoy wrote:Check yr bypass wiring - 3PDT switches are confusing cause it's hard to tell which way is which.

if i dewired the switch and rewired at 90/180 degrees could it work?

Will · Post by **Will** » Sat May 02, 2009 7:27 pm

FitzG wrote:
DuoSonicBoy wrote:Check yr bypass wiring - 3PDT switches are confusing cause it's hard to tell which way is which.
if i dewired the switch and rewired at 90/180 degrees could it work?

Possible - but I really wouldn't bother unless you're sure that's what you did wrong. Could you post a picture of the wiring/switch/etc?

Post by **Mike** » Sat May 02, 2009 7:58 pm

Should be able to help if you give me photos of the board (both sides) and wiring.

FitzG · Post by **FitzG** » Sat May 02, 2009 8:03 pm

my camera is too shit
i had to stop trying to soulder because i was getting very pissed off
i got it to work earlier but only for about 5 minuets

http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.c ... ID=8716026

http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.c ... &i=8716049

im not whoring my myspace so dont look at the other things

Post by **Mike** » Sat May 02, 2009 8:29 pm

Yikes? No macro mode eh?

OK, here's some pointers:

1. Check that there are no bits of solder joining the tracks that shouldn't
2. Check if you have done any trace cuts that they are clean and cutting the trace completely
3. Make sure none of the resistor legs are touching each other and making connections they shouldn't.
4. Double-check your wiring and make sure all the grounds are connected etc.

FitzG · Post by **FitzG** » Sat May 02, 2009 8:40 pm

Mike wrote:Yikes? No macro mode eh?

OK, here's some pointers:

1. Check that there are no bits of solder joining the tracks that shouldn't
2. Check if you have done any trace cuts that they are clean and cutting the trace completely
3. Make sure none of the resistor legs are touching each other and making connections they shouldn't.
4. Double-check your wiring and make sure all the grounds are connected etc.

i told you my camera was shit
i checked all the wiring and it seems to be the switch as none of the components are touching eachother

Shaguar · Post by **Shaguar** » Sat May 02, 2009 10:14 pm

Did you ground your jacks? It's a common mistake and can cause what you describe.

FitzG · Post by **FitzG** » Sat May 02, 2009 10:32 pm

as far as i know they are grounded
where are they supposed to be gounded to?

Shaguar · Post by **Shaguar** » Sun May 03, 2009 3:01 am

To the ground of your effects board. In principle there should be 3 wires coming off your input jack, one going to the (-) of the battery, the other to the effects board ground, and the last one is going to go to the input of your effect. On your output jack you will have 2 wires, one from the output of the effect and one from the effect board ground. Both of the jacks' rings have to be connected to the effects board ground. I cant really see your input jack in the pics you posted, but on one of them I see your output jack, and I only see one wire going to it.

What I just wrote of course omits the bypass switch for clarity, and I'm only assuming that you used a stereo jack or a switch jack for your input.

Post by **Mike** » Sun May 03, 2009 8:45 am

That was one of my questions, make sure all grounds are connected to each other (power ground, jack sleeve connections, effect board, LED)

timhulio · Post by **timhulio** » Sun May 03, 2009 12:27 pm

I finally got round building one of these couple days ago. Rocks arse.

If you're sure your circuit works fine, then build it without the switch or any other gubbins or the switching jack like I have above. If that works you know where the problem lies.

Post by **Mike** » Sun May 03, 2009 12:39 pm

Very nice, Tim. Swanky.

FitzG · Post by **FitzG** » Sun May 03, 2009 8:09 pm

i finally got it working after making it again (twice)
it does sound like the power isnt getting through enough tho so it constantly sounds like its running out off battery
but oh well, ill post some pics when i put it in a case

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Sun May 03, 2009 8:18 pm

timhulio wrote:I finally got round building one of these couple days ago. Rocks arse.

If you're sure your circuit works fine, then build it without the switch or any other gubbins or the switching jack like I have above. If that works you know where the problem lies.

I have no idea what this is, but I dearly want to know. What is it Tim?

Reece · Post by **Reece** » Sun May 03, 2009 8:23 pm

using my super sleuth right click jpeg name checking skills i can only assuming it's a saltbooster with a switching jack.

Post by **Mike** » Sun May 03, 2009 8:57 pm

benecol wrote:
timhulio wrote:I finally got round building one of these couple days ago. Rocks arse.

If you're sure your circuit works fine, then build it without the switch or any other gubbins or the switching jack like I have above. If that works you know where the problem lies.
I have no idea what this is, but I dearly want to know. What is it Tim?

It's a saltbooster. He already said so, plus he's in a Saltbooster thread.

The "switching" jack is actually just a stereo jack that us pedal folks use to connect power when a jack is inserted into the input.
When a mono jack is inserted into a stereo jack, teh sleeve connects the sleeve and ring contacts on the socket, because there is no ring on the jack - you wire the power ground to the ring and hang everything else off the sleeve so we only draw power when a lead has been plugged in.

Tim has made his on a PCB, I can only assume he's cloning my pedal and trying to make millions by mass producing them. Where is the love?

timhulio · Post by **timhulio** » Sun May 03, 2009 9:39 pm

Phaha. No I'm not making any Saltboosters for sale, hence the lack of switching or anything else except to establish that it works good and sonds kool. This one is going into a chums Grumbly Wolf to boost the ring mod section.