News:

Forum may be experiencing issues.

Main Menu

Bumble bee ain’t swellin. Resolved

Started by jimilee, May 24, 2020, 07:24:55 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

jimilee

I've reflowed a half dozen times, I've checked components about that many times. Voltages on the right top are off and it won't swell, what am I missing?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Pedal building is like the opposite of sex.  All the fun stuff happens before you get in the box.

Cybercow

Did you do the stock build or follow the variations found page 7 of the build document? (Opamp substitutions? Opto-Coupler used? FETs used? 20K trimmer or 22K resistor? Value of C25? (Although the C25 question is likely not part of the problem.)

I have a VFE Bumble Bee in build queue, and while I've not yet gotten to the building part, I have been researching all the info I can find on the SG-1 circuit. There is a lot of concurrence that the following parts (numbers based on the schematic of this particular build) should be closely matched:
• R17 & R32 (4K7 Ω)
• C20 & C21 (1µF)
• D3 & D4 (1N914)
• R33 & R34 (100k Ω)
• Q6 & Q7 (2N3904)

What are the actual measured voltages for your 2N3904 Qs?
Cybercow - aka: Mark Davis

"Don't let your talent take you where your character can't keep you."

jimilee

#2
Quote from: Cybercow on May 24, 2020, 10:49:53 PM
Did you do the stock build or follow the variations found page 7 of the build document? (Opamp substitutions? Opto-Coupler used? FETs used? 20K trimmer or 22K resistor? Value of C25? (Although the C25 question is likely not part of the problem.)

I have a VFE Bumble Bee in build queue, and while I've not yet gotten to the building part, I have been researching all the info I can find on the SG-1 circuit. There is a lot of concurrence that the following parts (numbers based on the schematic of this particular build) should be closely matched:
• R17 & R32 (4K7 Ω)
• C20 & C21 (1µF)
• D3 & D4 (1N914)
• R33 & R34 (100k Ω)
• Q6 & Q7 (2N3904)

What are the actual measured voltages for your 2N3904 Qs?
Wow, I didn't realize the pictures didn't post. Fixed. Voltages are listed, trim pot used. Madbean stock.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Pedal building is like the opposite of sex.  All the fun stuff happens before you get in the box.

Cybercow

I don't see your measured voltages listed anywhere. However in the photo, I do see two questionable solder joints - lower-right area and mid-lower-center area. (Circled in red.)

And considering there are several socketed components, (always a good idea), have you ensured all the legs of those devices are sitting snuggly in their respective sockets? Sometimes, I have to "wrinkle" the ends of the legs a bit to get them to fit snuggly.
Cybercow - aka: Mark Davis

"Don't let your talent take you where your character can't keep you."

jimilee

Quote from: Cybercow on May 25, 2020, 01:51:35 AM
I don't see your measured voltages listed anywhere. However in the photo, I do see two questionable solder joints - lower-right area and mid-lower-center area. (Circled in red.)

And considering there are several socketed components, (always a good idea), have you ensured all the legs of those devices are sitting snuggly in their respective sockets? Sometimes, I have to "wrinkle" the ends of the legs a bit to get them to fit snuggly.
Hey thanks , I'm sorry about that, I don't know what's wrong with me tonight. I chose the voltages as one of the uploads. I got it this time. I'll run over those solder joints again, thank you.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Pedal building is like the opposite of sex.  All the fun stuff happens before you get in the box.

Aentons

Hmm, I haven't built this one yet and so I haven't studied it very much but the build doc talks about the trim pots being used to bias the jfets so it seems where you have the trim pots(s) set may affect those voltages that are off. Not sure, just throwing it out there

Cybercow

One of the things I've noted about this (and some other VFE build docs) build document is that the PCB nor the build docs identify the part numbers - only the values. The only way to assure one is correctly referencing (correlating) any specific part between the schematic, the PCB and\or the build document images, is to do some circuit-tracing. Which a is PITA. At least the one image with the blue & red traces is helpful in that regard.
Cybercow - aka: Mark Davis

"Don't let your talent take you where your character can't keep you."

jimilee

Quote from: Cybercow on May 25, 2020, 11:11:12 PM
One of the things I've noted about this (and some other VFE build docs) build document is that the PCB nor the build docs identify the part numbers - only the values. The only way to assure one is correctly referencing (correlating) any specific part between the schematic, the PCB and\or the build document images, is to do some circuit-tracing. Which a is PITA. At least the one image with the blue & red traces is helpful in that regard.
I agree. I was just thinking about that. I just sat here and looked at that diagram and compared it to the picture. I still don't see any wrong parts.
Pedal building is like the opposite of sex.  All the fun stuff happens before you get in the box.

Cybercow

Quote from: Aentons on May 25, 2020, 07:52:33 PM
Hmm, I haven't built this one yet and so I haven't studied it very much but the build doc talks about the trim pots being used to bias the jfets so it seems where you have the trim pots(s) set may affect those voltages that are off. Not sure, just throwing it out there

While the 20K trimpot does indeed adjust the FET (Q2) in this circuit, the off-voltages are exhibited by what appears to be the 2N3904 transistors in the detection section of the circuit (Q5, Q6 & Q7) as indicated in jimilee's posted voltage readings. There seems to be no simple tweaking for the 2N3904 transistors.

Of the 3 trimpots on this PCB, the 20K is for the rough swell adjustment; 50K for the bass adjustment; and 100K to fine tune the swell adjustment.
Cybercow - aka: Mark Davis

"Don't let your talent take you where your character can't keep you."

jimilee

Quote from: Cybercow on May 26, 2020, 01:04:37 PM
Quote from: Aentons on May 25, 2020, 07:52:33 PM
Hmm, I haven't built this one yet and so I haven't studied it very much but the build doc talks about the trim pots being used to bias the jfets so it seems where you have the trim pots(s) set may affect those voltages that are off. Not sure, just throwing it out there

While the 20K trimpot does indeed adjust the FET (Q2) in this circuit, the off-voltages are exhibited by what appears to be the 2N3904 transistors in the detection section of the circuit (Q5, Q6 & Q7) as indicated in jimilee's posted voltage readings. There seems to be no simple tweaking for the 2N3904 transistors.

Of the 3 trimpots on this PCB, the 20K is for the rough swell adjustment; 50K for the bass adjustment; and 100K to fine tune the swell adjustment.
Yep. I'm starting to wonder if the b100 pot is bad. It seems to be the only common denominator, but I'm not sure if I'm in the right track.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Pedal building is like the opposite of sex.  All the fun stuff happens before you get in the box.

jimilee

Anybody got any ideas?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Pedal building is like the opposite of sex.  All the fun stuff happens before you get in the box.

benny_profane

Have you tried a different JFET? I believe the device there has a pretty narrow operating window. That may be why your voltages are off. Check out some of the discussions in re the slow gear for the particulars there. Also, what is the emitter voltage for Q4? The build doc says 0v, but that should be ~1/2Vcc.

jimilee

Quote from: benny_profane on May 26, 2020, 10:54:26 PM
Have you tried a different JFET? I believe the device there has a pretty narrow operating window. That may be why your voltages are off. Check out some of the discussions in re the slow gear for the particulars there. Also, what is the emitter voltage for Q4? The build doc says 0v, but that should be ~1/2Vcc.
Yep, I checked. The 5457 measures 3.1, above the 1.75 mark, but would the 5457 and the 3809s measure property?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Pedal building is like the opposite of sex.  All the fun stuff happens before you get in the box.

benny_profane

Quote from: jimilee on May 26, 2020, 11:35:35 PM
Quote from: benny_profane on May 26, 2020, 10:54:26 PM
Have you tried a different JFET? I believe the device there has a pretty narrow operating window. That may be why your voltages are off. Check out some of the discussions in re the slow gear for the particulars there. Also, what is the emitter voltage for Q4? The build doc says 0v, but that should be ~1/2Vcc.
Yep, I checked. The 5457 measures 3.1, above the 1.75 mark, but would the 5457 and the 3809s measure property?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm not sure what you're saying here. Can you test the Vgs of the JFET? I'm pretty sure you're looking for Vgs ~= 1.25–1.5V.

jimilee

Quote from: benny_profane on May 27, 2020, 12:08:38 AM
Quote from: jimilee on May 26, 2020, 11:35:35 PM
Quote from: benny_profane on May 26, 2020, 10:54:26 PM
Have you tried a different JFET? I believe the device there has a pretty narrow operating window. That may be why your voltages are off. Check out some of the discussions in re the slow gear for the particulars there. Also, what is the emitter voltage for Q4? The build doc says 0v, but that should be ~1/2Vcc.
Yep, I checked. The 5457 measures 3.1, above the 1.75 mark, but would the 5457 and the 3809s measure property?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm not sure what you're saying here. Can you test the Vgs of the JFET? I'm pretty sure you're looking for Vgs ~= 1.25–1.5V.
Sorry, yes. The VGS measures 3.1. Would that stop the 3904 trannies at the top on the right and the one below it from measuring properly? I've got more 5457s on order.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Pedal building is like the opposite of sex.  All the fun stuff happens before you get in the box.