NSL-32 Vactrol installation

[joelorigo]

I am building the Aion Gale and it has a part that in my 1.5 years building pedals I have never used before. A NSL-32 Vactrol. I just wanted to make sure I am installing it correctly. There is a white dot on the part that I'm assuming matches up with the "+" on the pcb. Based on photos of other finished Gales it seems right but I thought I would post here first - assuming I was right has been wrong in the past ?

 

[Mcknib]

The dot is the negative cathode side here's the datasheet

http://datasheet.octopart.com/NSL-32SR3-Silonex-datasheet-93144.pdf

Just for info you'll find that most components have datasheets if you ever need information, not that they're always easy to decipher!

They contain varying degrees of information from electrical characteristics to physical size, maximum voltage ratings etc

 

[BCS-127]

Hi there - I'm new to the forum, but remember having the same question with my Gale build a while back. If I remember correctly, the white dot indicates the negative terminal for the LED of the NSL-32.

The schematic shows the vactrol LED is driven by a bridge rectifier, so I don't think the polarity will matter for limiter circuit. It should work the way it is shown in the picture ( I'm sure others will chime in if I'm mistaken ☺)

The Gale is a killer boost - I really dig mine!

 

[BCS-127]

I looked at the schematic again and my previous response was wrong. The NSL-32 polarity does matter and the limiter will not work if the anode and cathode are reversed.

Sorry for my error!

 

[joelorigo]

So it seems then the white dot needs to be on the other side (the right side), but still at the top of the PCB, like this:

 

[BCS-127]

That looks good - White dot upper right.

 

[granny]

The dot is the negative cathode side here's the datasheet

http://datasheet.octopart.com/NSL-32SR3-Silonex-datasheet-93144.pdf

Just for info you'll find that most components have datasheets if you ever need information, not that they're always easy to decipher!

They contain varying degrees of information from electrical characteristics to physical size, maximum voltage ratings etc

Actually, the dot is marking the anode, the positive pin for some reason. I was misled by such discussions and my diy compressor pedal buzzed when strumed hard. I reversed the octocoupler pins and everything worked as it should.

 

[fig]

Actually, the dot is marking the anode, the positive pin for some reason. I was misled by such discussions and my diy compressor pedal buzzed when strumed hard. I reversed the octocoupler pins and everything worked as it should.

Ouch. Different makers mark them differently. You can perform a diode test on them before installing.

 

[granny]

Yes, the diode test should clear things for sure. Though I have seen this part being sold by some webshops and they state in the product picture the marking of the positive pin. But you're wright different makers different markings.

 

[Diynot]

 

[Mcknib]

Actually, the dot is marking the anode, the positive pin for some reason. I was misled by such discussions and my diy compressor pedal buzzed when strumed hard. I reversed the octocoupler pins and everything worked as it should.

I just went by the silonex datasheet image defo looks like the dots cathode to me, I could be looking at it wrong though

 

[Diynot]

I just ran the NSL I have through my little component tester and the dot on mine supports @Mcknib, the dot is on the cathode (-).