Guitar pedal DIY circuit grounding it's self

[ICBM]

It does sound like you might have wired it wrong so that when the battery is connected, -9VDC is applied to the output. This will shut down the amp's first gain stage entirely if it's a standard valve amp with a DC-coupled input.

If so, be thankful it's a positive ground pedal! If you connect +9VDC to the output, you can blow the valve.

[warlordzephyr]

It could be because I haven't got a switch, I intend to have it on all the time. I'm almost certain the wiring is correct.
Unfortunately I have no way of getting photos onto the computer in an acceptable quality.
Schematic is here http://fuzzcentral.ssguitar.com/rang...rschematic.gif

It's the switch thing isn't it? It's probably because I've been working off instructions designed for stuff with switches in it, so it's set in off the entire time.

[ICBM]

If you don't want a switch, and you've built it exactly like the schematic, then it should work.

I apologise in advance for insulting your intelligence, but you have got it connected the right way round, haven't you?! Input jack is on the left...

[misterg]

I'm almost certain the wiring is correct

I'm almost certain it isn't

Take a highlighter pen and systematically mark off each physical connection and component on the schematic.

Not sure what you're saying about the switch, there isn't one on the schematic. The schematic shows a stereo jack on the input (with the battery + on the ring connection and the signal on the tip) used to disconnect the battery when you take the input jack plug out. Do you have a stereo jack socket here? Double check that you've identified the lugs correctly.

[ICBM]

I'm almost certain it isn't

Same here, although a faulty component can't be ruled out yet.

The schematic shows a stereo jack on the input (with the battery + on the ring connection and the signal on the tip) used to disconnect the battery when you take the input jack plug out. Do you have a stereo jack socket here? Double check that you've identified the lugs correctly.

They must be correct, or it wouldn't pass signal with no battery connected since then the tip would be open circuit. That was the first thing I thought of too .


For warlordzephyr - if it makes you feel any better, somewhere I have a broken Fuzz Face I was given. It *must* be wired correctly and have once worked because it's a factory-made one... but I spent a couple of hours trying to fix it ages ago, and (I think) tested or replaced every part. Then I gave up and put it away to think about it, and that was several years ago now! I suppose this should remind me to find it, and what was wrong with it .

[TheThingThatShouldNotBe]

I honestly cant see the point of + ground on this schem ?!
I dont understand the reverse polarity on the battery and electro caps . Surely that will short out any other equipment ?
Look at it ! youve got + voltage on the sleeve of the input & output jack .
edit:
just realised as pointed out that the input jack is in fact a stereo in .
That might throw someone like me ....hangs head .
edit:
Still dont get that schem .

[ICBM]

I honestly cant see the point of + ground on this schem ?!

It's because it uses a PNP transistor. (This refers to the arrangement of the semiconductor layers in the transistor.)

All the early germanium transistors were PNP, and it's much easier to design a circuit for them with a negative supply... ie positive ground. Hence why germanium fuzzes and boosts are the pedals that usually use positive ground.

Silicon transistors were originally easier to make NPN, so when they came in the standard configuration was reversed, and everything switched to negative ground. They are now made in both types.


For warlordzephyr - you are definitely using a PNP transistor?

[TheThingThatShouldNotBe]

Hmm.
That makes more sense.
Ive never used 'p' type but if I did I would probably fry something until I got my head around the + ground .Especially that input stereo socket . that schem makes it look like + power going to the - shaft of the mono input jack plug . I think I must be misunderstanding the symbol as otherwise I cant see how two pedals or anything else with - ground can be connected with an audio lead .

[ICBM]

Especially that input stereo socket . that schem makes it look like + power going to the - shaft of the mono input jack plug .

It's going to the ring, so it's grounded when the plug is in, exactly the same as with a negative-ground pedal.

I think I must be misunderstanding the symbol as otherwise I cant see how two pedals or anything else with - ground can be connected with an audio lead .

It's fine as long as the supplies are separate - then it's just like a split-rail arrangement with +/- voltages, except that each pedal only runs off one half. The problem comes when you try to run both types from the same power supply, which can't be done unless the outputs are isolated.

[TheThingThatShouldNotBe]

OK I think Ive got it now .

Sounds like the kind of mistake many people would make concerning the isolated power supply .
Its got that quality for a first time unfavourable chance event