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Projects => General Questions => Topic started by: jambforthelamb on September 07, 2017, 02:28:40 PM

Title: Liquid Mercury Problem. Too Subtle
Post by: jambforthelamb on September 07, 2017, 02:28:40 PM
Hey All,
Recently just finished up a Liquid Mercury Phaser. Everything seems to be working control wise etc, but the phasing is pretty subtle compared to the demo videos, even at the more extreme settings and the bias nearly cranked. It almost sounds more like a modulated filter than a phase if that makes any sense. I used the Small Bear XVive VTL5C3 work-alike photocouplers, so I'm hoping that isn't the issue since they are 6 bucks a piece  :P. Not sure where to start with this one since everything else seems to be working, so any help/guidance would be much appreciated.
Thanks!
-Kevin
Title: Re: Liquid Mercury Problem. Too Subtle
Post by: jambforthelamb on September 08, 2017, 03:14:48 PM
Also, I forgot to mention this built on the older 2 pcb sandwich set. Thanks!
Title: Re: Liquid Mercury Problem. Too Subtle
Post by: Martan on September 08, 2017, 04:01:13 PM
Sorry you are having troubles. Can you post pics?

Marty
Title: Re: Liquid Mercury Problem. Too Subtle
Post by: Andlord on September 08, 2017, 04:56:48 PM
Have you mesured the resistance of your work-alikes before putting them in? Makes a huge difference what resistance it has with light and in the dark. I know they are not cheap but maybe you can find a diy photocopler/led+ldr that works better

Like Marty said, pics would be nice
Title: Re: Liquid Mercury Problem. Too Subtle
Post by: jambforthelamb on September 08, 2017, 05:58:50 PM
Here is the top side. I can pull it apart and take a photo of the bottom if needed, but that section is only for the taplfo stuff correct? Also the two halves are joined, so I hope to not have to separate them  :'(

I admittedly didn't measure them first. I took the foolish gamble, and ass u me'd that these would work since they're the fancy ones.

Thanks!
-Kevin

(https://i.imgur.com/AWFIPHE.jpg)
Title: Re: Liquid Mercury Problem. Too Subtle
Post by: chordball on September 08, 2017, 06:42:52 PM
Unless I've missed something with the different versions of this circuit, the vactrols are indeed the problem. Not that the xvive ones are not good clones, but rather that you have the wrong part there altogether. You need the VTL5C3/2 instead of the regular VTL5C3.
Title: Re: Liquid Mercury Problem. Too Subtle
Post by: jambforthelamb on September 08, 2017, 06:50:24 PM
Ah, I made the mistake of thinking that VTL5C3/2 meant that there was a 3 and 2 version, and that either would work, so now I know that it's a full part number  ::).
I'll start researching what LDR combos have worked for everyone, as I now see that the correct part is 15 dollars a piece, yikes!
Thanks for the help.
-Kevin
Title: Re: Liquid Mercury Problem. Too Subtle
Post by: Martan on September 08, 2017, 06:50:49 PM
Oh yeah. I missed that. Should have three leads on the LDR side of those.
Title: Re: Liquid Mercury Problem. Too Subtle
Post by: chordball on September 08, 2017, 06:51:34 PM
Glad to help, but sorry it was a bit of bad news.
Title: Re: Liquid Mercury Problem. Too Subtle
Post by: Martan on September 08, 2017, 06:57:24 PM
Maybe someone has rigged up two LDRs and an LED in place of each vactrol to make this?

I built with the real ones. For what it's worth, if you are sure you like phasers, this is a GREAT one.

Marty
Title: Re: Liquid Mercury Problem. Too Subtle
Post by: jambforthelamb on September 08, 2017, 07:02:56 PM
I found a thread where m-Kresol used Tayda LDRs and green diffused LEDs, so that's likely the route I will go. Thanks for the help everyone, and having patience with my errors.
-Kevin
Title: Re: Liquid Mercury Problem. Too Subtle
Post by: bsoncini on September 08, 2017, 08:39:06 PM
I did the same thing with green LEDs and it works well.
Title: Re: Liquid Mercury Problem. Too Subtle
Post by: cresconio on September 08, 2017, 08:53:13 PM
Definitely worth to get those vactrols. I just finished mine last week and it sounds superb. I used the XVive ones as well and I think they do the job quite well.
Title: Re: Liquid Mercury Problem. Too Subtle
Post by: chordball on September 08, 2017, 09:13:46 PM
Quote from: cresconio on September 08, 2017, 08:53:13 PM
Definitely worth to get those vactrols. I just finished mine last week and it sounds superb. I used the XVive ones as well and I think they do the job quite well.

Have you tried both options? Curious because I have a phasor II pcb and I will need to decide which way to go with it.