madbeanpedals::forum

Projects => How Do I? Beginner's Paradise. => Topic started by: Sky on August 02, 2016, 06:28:36 PM

Title: Most basic way of checking your PCB before putting it all together....
Post by: Sky on August 02, 2016, 06:28:36 PM
Hi, I am looking for the most basic way to check your pedal before assembling it completely.

I tried to check my pedal build without a breadboard rig. However, all I got was buzz.  I am hoping I soldered everything right on the PCB and my mistake is just not completely understanding what connections need to be made in order to check the signal.  I first just tried connecting the input and output jacks along with the battery supply to the PCB.  Then I connected the guitar and got nothing but a sad sound buzz.  I then added a wire connecting the sleeves of the jack to the negative of the batter supply to see if that would help.  It did not.   

This probably sounds ridiculous to some of you.  I'm just trying to figure it out.  I really appreciate any advice you can give. 
Title: Re: Most basic way of checking your PCB before putting it all together....
Post by: BrianS on August 02, 2016, 07:16:00 PM
Brian (Madbean) has a tutorial http://www.madbeanpedals.com/tutorials/index.html on building a prototype rig. It looks pretty simple to put together.  I know it's a little more than what you're asking for. 

You have to have power/ground and a way to get the sound from the board to in/out jacks. There was one person on here who built one with a terminal block http://www.sportsmansguide.com/product/index/4-seachoice-terminal-block-4-gang?a=556788 like this but it was erased when the server went down a while back.
Title: Re: Most basic way of checking your PCB before putting it all together....
Post by: jimilee on August 02, 2016, 07:17:02 PM
There are a few threads I think in the tech section for testing rigs, they're fairly easy to make. Also, jmkpcbs.com had a testing rig board.


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Title: Re: Most basic way of checking your PCB before putting it all together....
Post by: wgc on August 03, 2016, 02:11:08 AM
not ridiculous at all, we've all been there

it sounds like you may have a mistake on your jacks, ie swapped signal and ground somehow

also check your soldering for any shorts on the board

good reference regardless of your issue:

http://www.madbeanpedals.com/forum/index.php?topic=902.0



Title: Re: Most basic way of checking your PCB before putting it all together....
Post by: Sky on August 07, 2016, 12:57:11 AM
thanks guys.  :)