Caeser Chorus Mounting

[Itsmedant]

Hey all! New to the forum but I’ve built a few pedals in the past. Mainly wah wahs with a guy who owned his own company that made them, so plenty of room to run wires between switches and pots!

This is the first full build I’ve done with everything mounted directly to the PCB and I thought I did a pretty good job with lining up the drilling template but now that I’ve test mounted everything, I have found that i overestimated my skill level at that point. Everything is a bit low by a few millimeters which prevents the pots to “lock in” to their spots on the pcb without bumping into the switch.

My question here, I have a ton of hookup wire and heat shrink available, can I just solder some of it too the lugs on the pots/switches and run it into the pcb spots? Anyone see any huge issue with doing that?

Or do I need to scrap the enclosure and try again?

 

[Itsmedant]

I also have some liquid electrical tape I was going to put on the back of the pots just in case too.

I’m going to see if slightly bending all the posts will help, but I think the toggle switch is going to be the one that prevents it, it’s lugs are pretty small and strong….may end up just damaging the switch but not sure!

 

[jwin615]

Elongate the footswitch hole with a Dremel or round file and put a big ass washer on top. Good enough for the first time around.
If you have male male header pins, will make connecting the footswitch PCB to the main PCB easier as well.
Don't overheat the footswitch. Take your time between lugs.

 

[KR Sound]

You can bend the legs to make it fit.

 

[Itsmedant]

I think both of those ideas will make this whole thing work. Time for sleep for me but it’s a dang good morning project!! Thanks so much for the advice!!!!!

 

[music6000]

You can do what has been suggested above or purchase a smaller version 3pdt Footswitch like this:

Taiway 3PDT Latched Foot Switch - Low Profile - Solder Lugs

Save space in your builds! The compact size of the low profile 3PDT Latched Foot Switch from Taiway is perfect for tight builds. Rated for 50,000 cycles.

lovemyswitches.com

Alpha does them as well!

 

[Itsmedant]

You can do what has been suggested above or purchase a smaller version 3pdt Footswitch like this:

Taiway 3PDT Latched Foot Switch - Low Profile - Solder Lugs

Save space in your builds! The compact size of the low profile 3PDT Latched Foot Switch from Taiway is perfect for tight builds. Rated for 50,000 cycles.

lovemyswitches.com

Alpha does them as well!

Ooooooh may have to grab a few of these as well. I got 2 other pedals on the bench now too!

 

[jwin615]

You can bend the legs to make it fit.

View attachment 78099

Was gonna say this too, but toggle switch hole interferes with proper execution...

 

[music6000]

Was gonna say this too, but toggle switch hole interferes with proper execution...

When toggle switches are involved, you pretty well confined!

 

[Nostradoomus]

I’d at least buy the Caesar Chorus a nice seafood dinner first

 

[music6000]

I’d at least buy the Caesar Chorus a nice seafood dinner first

Something like this!

 

[Itsmedant]

You can bend the legs to make it fit.

View attachment 78099

What is the best strategy for this?? Solder them onto the board then “gently” guide them into position?

 

[Itsmedant]

I’d at least buy the Caesar Chorus a nice seafood dinner first

I’ll talk to it all sweet too, even pull out the chair before it sits!

 

[Itsmedant]

Was gonna say this too, but toggle switch hole interferes with proper execution...

That was my biggest worry, that toggle switch seems to be the tightest fit.

 

[Erik S]

What is the best strategy for this?? Solder them onto the board then “gently” guide them into position?

As others mentioned - the toggle prevents any leg bending adjustments. Even if you could do that, there’s some risk of damaging your pots or your board. Doesn’t seem worth it to me.

I think elongating the footswitch hole with a Dremel or a round file is your only real option to salvage that enclosure.

The Caesar is a cool sounding pedal, probably worth just getting another enclosure for it.

 

[music6000]

It's a hard ask, you can offset the toggle hole with a file & use the provided washer that comes with it & that sorts out that issue.
The centre top pot is fixable with some slight bending.
To connect the other 3 pots I would resort to to solder lug pots with hook up wire!
The Footswitch , I would go for the Mini version of it!!!
You will need another set of skills to bend the 2 led 's into the 2 chrome bezels!
After all this, I hope the Circuit works???

 

[Itsmedant]

I think elongating the footswitch hole with a Dremel or a round file is your only real option to salvage that enclosure.

I think I’m going to give this a try tomorrow and see if it gives me enough space to fit it all in there. If not, I’ll just try on another enclosure! I need to get my 3d printer up and running so I can print of that enclosure guide someone made here

The Footswitch , I would go for the Mini version of it!!!
You will need another set of skills to bend the 2 led 's into the 2 chrome bezels!

I think I’m going to order a handful of the mini switches anyways. Does the switch pcb fit on those as well? Was debating on grabbing a few of those too.

I hadn’t even fully planned out what I was going to do about the LEDs. I was going to put them in and perhaps run a small wire from each leg.

But at this point, the amount of extra work I’ll need to do is probably how long it would take to drill out another enclosure!

 

[Itsmedant]

Well that escalated quickly…went to the site to buy JUST the low profile switches…$70 later my order is in.

 

[jwin615]

Well that escalated quickly…went to the site to buy JUST the low profile switches…$70 later my order is in.

Welcome to the fold.
The smaller 3pdt fit the PCBs fine and I'd recommend them at least for tight builds. I enjoy direct wiring the footswitches but when it's that tight, go with the pcb. Also. Note previous comment on header pins. Way easier than scrap leads imo and more sturdy if the circuit has to come back out.

 

[Itsmedant]

Welcome to the fold.

I'm horrible with "hobbies"

I saw a meme the other day and it resonated with me so much.