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Projects => Tech Help - Projects Page => Topic started by: zenless on February 09, 2015, 01:53:39 AM

Title: Aion shreadmaster volume stuck at one value?
Post by: zenless on February 09, 2015, 01:53:39 AM
So i'm a little stumped. I built out a Aion shreadmaster, tested it out and seemed fine (though obviously missed something!)

After i boxed it i discovered the volume pot didn't seem to adjust.. used an ohm meter and found the resistance didn't change. So replaced it (100kA), but same problem. And outside the box the resistance did change! So I reflowed all the solder for the connections near by, but no change. My only thought is in the pictures there are a couple of small (though bought as 1/4 watt still) resistors from diyguitarpedals.
Should also note everything else seems to work fine, able to adjust gain, contour,etc without a problem from what i can tell.

Any tips on what to check? Here are pics!
(http://i.imgur.com/5MhP9hvl.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/gRUBWt3l.jpg)
Title: Re: Aion shreadmaster volume stuck at one value?
Post by: mgwhit on February 09, 2015, 05:36:52 AM
Quote from: zenless on February 09, 2015, 01:53:39 AM
After i boxed it i discovered the volume pot didn't seem to adjust.. used an ohm meter and found the resistance didn't change. So replaced it (100kA), but same problem. And outside the box the resistance did change! So I reflowed all the solder for the connections near by, but no change.

So what resistance do you measure between pins 3-2 and between pins 2-1 when it is in the box?  Is the volume always zeroed, flat out or somewhere in between?  Be aware that resistance is tricky to measure in circuit -- particularly when in the presence of capacitors and/or paths to ground.  I'm just interested to see what you get.

And please test continuity between the volume pot pins and their nearest components on the schematic.  I would recommend testing between pin 1 of the volume pot and pin 7 of IC2, between pin 2 and the near side of C17, and between pin 1 and the positive leg of C19.  Good luck!

Title: Re: Aion shreadmaster volume stuck at one value?
Post by: zenless on February 09, 2015, 09:02:44 PM
Quote from: mgwhit on February 09, 2015, 05:36:52 AM
Quote from: zenless on February 09, 2015, 01:53:39 AM
After i boxed it i discovered the volume pot didn't seem to adjust.. used an ohm meter and found the resistance didn't change. So replaced it (100kA), but same problem. And outside the box the resistance did change! So I reflowed all the solder for the connections near by, but no change.

So what resistance do you measure between pins 3-2 and between pins 2-1 when it is in the box?  Is the volume always zeroed, flat out or somewhere in between?  Be aware that resistance is tricky to measure in circuit -- particularly when in the presence of capacitors and/or paths to ground.  I'm just interested to see what you get.

And please test continuity between the volume pot pins and their nearest components on the schematic.  I would recommend testing between pin 1 of the volume pot and pin 7 of IC2, between pin 2 and the near side of C17, and between pin 1 and the positive leg of C19.  Good luck!

So i must be crazy, now the values on the pot pin to pin do adjust. Volume does not actually change when adjusting the pot though. The resistance to c17 stays at 2.5 ohms, to ic2 pin 7 shows 740-900 k when adjusting. To c19 stays at 3.4ohm.

So C17 bad?
Title: Re: Aion shreadmaster volume stuck at one value?
Post by: mgwhit on February 09, 2015, 10:12:36 PM
Quote from: zenless on February 09, 2015, 09:02:44 PM
So i must be crazy, now the values on the pot pin to pin do adjust. Volume does not actually change when adjusting the pot though. The resistance to c17 stays at 2.5 ohms, to ic2 pin 7 shows 740-900 k when adjusting. To c19 stays at 3.4ohm.

So C17 bad?

No reason to suspect C17 of anything.  I was really just asking you to check continuity between the pot pins and those components, not resistance.

Test resistance between pins 1 and 2 and between pins 2 and 3.  Test those at maximum counterclockwise, twelve o'clock and maximum clockwise settings on the volume knob.  Also, what setting does the volume seem to be stuck on?  Somewhere in the middle or either extreme?
Title: Re: Aion shreadmaster volume stuck at one value?
Post by: zenless on February 09, 2015, 10:18:30 PM
Those seem to adjust from approx 0 to 100k. The volume seems a little on the high side
Title: Re: Aion shreadmaster volume stuck at one value?
Post by: mgwhit on February 10, 2015, 03:32:20 AM
Quote from: zenless on February 09, 2015, 10:18:30 PM
Those seem to adjust from approx 0 to 100k. The volume seems a little on the high side

I should have added, is the resistance between pins 1 and 2 always approximately 100K minus the resistance between pins 2 and 3.  Apologies if that sounds obvious, but if the pot is adjusting resistance on the wiper now, and if pin 3 is connected to VA, there's not much left to check there.

Oh, and is this malfunctioning both inside and outside the enclosure now?

If the pot really appears to be functioning correctly, please go ahead and post the voltages from all of your IC pins.  I'd like to at least confirm that your VA is correct since that is what your volume pot uses as a virtual ground.
Title: Re: Aion shreadmaster volume stuck at one value?
Post by: zenless on February 10, 2015, 05:03:53 PM
Quote from: mgwhit on February 10, 2015, 03:32:20 AM
Quote from: zenless on February 09, 2015, 10:18:30 PM
Those seem to adjust from approx 0 to 100k. The volume seems a little on the high side

I should have added, is the resistance between pins 1 and 2 always approximately 100K minus the resistance between pins 2 and 3.  Apologies if that sounds obvious, but if the pot is adjusting resistance on the wiper now, and if pin 3 is connected to VA, there's not much left to check there.

Oh, and is this malfunctioning both inside and outside the enclosure now?

If the pot really appears to be functioning correctly, please go ahead and post the voltages from all of your IC pins.  I'd like to at least confirm that your VA is correct since that is what your volume pot uses as a virtual ground.

1 to 2 and 2 to 3 seem to add up to 100. The volume seems to behave the same either way. Where should i connect the other connection to from the IC? BTW Thanks for the help  8)
Title: Re: Aion shreadmaster volume stuck at one value?
Post by: mgwhit on February 10, 2015, 06:56:19 PM
Quote from: zenless on February 10, 2015, 05:03:53 PM
Where should i connect the other connection to from the IC?

Not sure what you mean here.  Are you asking how to measure voltage on the ICs?  If so, set your multimeter to around 20V DC, clip the black lead of your multimeter to a ground point in the circuit (right on the power jack is perfect as long as you don't short out to the power lug, or to the enclosure if it's connected and grounded) and then probe the IC pins with your red lead.  Start to the left of the notch and move around the pins counter-clockwise.  Apologies if that's not what you meant.
Title: Re: Aion shreadmaster volume stuck at one value?
Post by: zenless on February 10, 2015, 06:58:48 PM
Quote from: mgwhit on February 10, 2015, 06:56:19 PM
Quote from: zenless on February 10, 2015, 05:03:53 PM
Where should i connect the other connection to from the IC?

Not sure what you mean here.  Are you asking how to measure voltage on the ICs?  If so, set your multimeter to around 20V DC, clip the black lead of your multimeter to a ground point in the circuit (right on the power jack is perfect as long as you don't short out to the power lug, or to the enclosure if it's connected and grounded) and then probe the IC pins with your red lead.  Start to the left of the notch and move around the pins counter-clockwise.  Apologies if that's not what you meant.

Ohhhh, ok that makes sense, thanks! For some reason my morning brain was reading that as looking for resistance originally. I'll check it out this evening. Thanks again!
Title: Re: Aion shreadmaster volume stuck at one value?
Post by: mgwhit on February 10, 2015, 07:06:34 PM
Just so you know where I'm going here, you've confirmed that the potentiometer is functioning correctly, but it doesn't appear to be functioning as a proper voltage divider like a volume pot should.  If the connection to lower potential through the reference voltage rail (i.e. VA) is wonky, the potentiometer could just be functioning as a variable resistor, in which case it's affect on volume would be minimal.
Title: Re: Aion shreadmaster volume stuck at one value?
Post by: zenless on February 14, 2015, 10:01:17 PM
Quote from: mgwhit on February 10, 2015, 07:06:34 PM
Just so you know where I'm going here, you've confirmed that the potentiometer is functioning correctly, but it doesn't appear to be functioning as a proper voltage divider like a volume pot should.  If the connection to lower potential through the reference voltage rail (i.e. VA) is wonky, the potentiometer could just be functioning as a variable resistor, in which case it's affect on volume would be minimal.


Meant to do this sooner, anyway, here's the ic voltages
ic1
4.7
4.7
4.6
0
2.32
4.7
4.7
9.4

ic2
4.7
4.7
4.69
0
4.59
4.7
4.7
9.4
Title: Re: Aion shreadmaster volume stuck at one value?
Post by: mgwhit on February 16, 2015, 03:50:29 PM
Well, there goes my theory....  Those all look good.
Title: Re: Aion shreadmaster volume stuck at one value?
Post by: zenless on February 17, 2015, 06:55:26 PM
Hmm, maybe remove RPD2? Though if that was grounding it out too much it'd just fail completely wouldn't it? Maybe those smaller resistors aren't holding up ?
Title: Re: Aion shreadmaster volume stuck at one value?
Post by: mgwhit on February 17, 2015, 07:32:20 PM
Quote from: zenless on February 17, 2015, 06:55:26 PM
Hmm, maybe remove RPD2? Though if that was grounding it out too much it'd just fail completely wouldn't it? Maybe those smaller resistors aren't holding up ?

Double check the value of your RPD2 before you desolder it -- it should be Brown - Black - Black - Yellow - Brown and you can probably measure it easily, too.  I couldn't see it in your photos.  A smaller value there could mess with your output.

And while 1/8W resistors wouldn't be the first components I would choose for the power section of a circuit, those should be fine there.  If they had problems, they would fry themselves (usually visually obvious) and your VA voltage would be hosed.
Title: Re: Aion shreadmaster volume stuck at one value?
Post by: zenless on February 17, 2015, 07:36:20 PM
Quote from: mgwhit on February 17, 2015, 07:32:20 PM
Quote from: zenless on February 17, 2015, 06:55:26 PM
Hmm, maybe remove RPD2? Though if that was grounding it out too much it'd just fail completely wouldn't it? Maybe those smaller resistors aren't holding up ?

Double check the value of your RPD2 before you desolder it -- it should be Brown - Black - Black - Yellow - Brown and you can probably measure it easily, too.  I couldn't see it in your photos.  A smaller value there could mess with your output.

And while 1/8W resistors wouldn't be the first components I would choose for the power section of a circuit, those should be fine there.  If they had problems, they would fry themselves (usually visually obvious) and your VA voltage would be hosed.

Thanks again. They're supposed to still be 1/4 watt, but making a guess of what if they were 1/8th. I'll double check RPD2 tonight.
Title: Re: Aion shreadmaster volume stuck at one value?
Post by: chromesphere on February 17, 2015, 09:01:48 PM
Hey guys,
Just to clarify the "compact" series of resistors on my site are infact TE Connectivity LR series resistors.  These are rated at 1/4w.  Check out their specifications here: (it will say "create account" just close that screen and the pdf will come up next)

http://www.te.com/catalog/pn/en/1-1625873-0?RQPN=RES+KIT+LR0204R

Hope that helps!
Paul
Title: Re: Aion shreadmaster volume stuck at one value?
Post by: zenless on February 18, 2015, 01:17:50 AM
Quote from: chromesphere on February 17, 2015, 09:01:48 PM
Hey guys,
Just to clarify the "compact" series of resistors on my site are infact TE Connectivity LR series resistors.  These are rated at 1/4w.  Check out their specifications here: (it will say "create account" just close that screen and the pdf will come up next)

http://www.te.com/catalog/pn/en/1-1625873-0?RQPN=RES+KIT+LR0204R

Hope that helps!
Paul

Thanks man! I thought they were rated as such. I appreciate the confirmation.

Of course popping out the RPD2 (which was rated at 1M) didn't make a difference...
Title: Re: Aion shreadmaster volume stuck at one value?
Post by: zenless on February 25, 2015, 04:28:26 PM
So what kind of small bird do i need to emulate the call of to get this thing to work?
Title: Re: Aion shreadmaster volume stuck at one value?
Post by: zenless on March 23, 2015, 07:04:26 PM
I know this is a month old but does anyone else have any ideas?
Title: Re: Aion shreadmaster volume stuck at one value?
Post by: chromesphere on March 23, 2015, 08:54:00 PM
Its kind of crazy suggestion zenless but any chance anyone knows if they are verified?  I had an Aion Nimbus the other day i just couldnt get working...
Title: Re: Aion shreadmaster volume stuck at one value?
Post by: playpunk on March 24, 2015, 10:08:16 AM
I built a nimbus and it works fine....


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Title: Re: Aion shreadmaster volume stuck at one value?
Post by: chromesphere on March 24, 2015, 10:09:51 AM
Figured its a coincidence, thanks Andrew.  I didnt actually build the nimbus, someone else did, i try to get it going...for the record...you know... :|