Mad Bean's Holy Roller low output level

mybud

Well-known member
Came across this schematic recently and have breadboarded it for testing. I used an NSL-32 as recommended by a fellow builder and it seems to function ok, but with a very reduced gain. I observe that the LED indicator (parallel with the vactrol) stays lit all the time.

I also notice that @bean no longer offers the board and was wondering if anyone else has tried this and if so, what their results were. It's an old circuit judging by the copyright date so there may be some insoluble problem that I'm trying to solve here. Any advice gladly received.


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Solution
I think this was only ever offered as an etch/diy PCB.
Did you use an LED and a NSL-32?
Not sure what you mean by "led parallel to the vactrol". Or did you just insert a led parallel to see? D1 should be changing luminosity when playing...
Others reported good luck with a LDR with 1meg Rdark and red lwd. A NSL32 is only 500k Rdark.
I think this was only ever offered as an etch/diy PCB.
Did you use an LED and a NSL-32?
Not sure what you mean by "led parallel to the vactrol". Or did you just insert a led parallel to see? D1 should be changing luminosity when playing...
Others reported good luck with a LDR with 1meg Rdark and red lwd. A NSL32 is only 500k Rdark.
 
Solution
I think this was only ever offered as an etch/diy PCB.
Did you use an LED and a NSL-32?
Not sure what you mean by "led parallel to the vactrol". Or did you just insert a led parallel to see? D1 should be changing luminosity when playing...
Others reported good luck with a LDR with 1meg Rdark and red lwd. A NSL32 is only 500k Rdark.
Thanks for the reply, @jwin615. I wired the indicator diode across the diode of the NSL-32. That it stays on all the time bears out what you're saying regarding Rdark.

Let me try this with a home-rolled vactrol setup. I have a couple of LDRs (5516, 10720) that may be closer to the mark than the 32.
 
Thanks for the reply, @jwin615. I wired the indicator diode across the diode of the NSL-32. That it stays on all the time bears out what you're saying regarding Rdark.

Let me try this with a home-rolled vactrol setup. I have a couple of LDRs (5516, 10720) that may be closer to the mark than the 32.
Ok, LED still stays on but much more gain. There seems to be an issue now with the level control which only allows signal at full CCW. I'll do a proper job of sealing the vactrol and recheck the wiring, probably some silly error on my part. Thanks again in any case.
 
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