SOLVED All my LED's only work backwards

[eliosvanpizza]

Hello, I've built a Kliche Mini (success) Muffler Noise Gate (failure) and a Cobalt Drive (success).

for all three of those pedals, the LED only works when I reverse the leads- they work with the long lead through the circle and the short lead through the square.

I am following the wiring diagram exactly as written in the build information, but I noticed that my 9V jacks are kinda inverted from what is showed on the diagram. in the diagram the center lug of the jack is positioned higher than the left lug where the positive wire goes. On my jacks, the left lug is positioned higher and the center lug is lower.

Could this be why my LED's are backwards? These are the 9V input jacks I am using SKU# A-2237 on Tayda

DC Power Jack 2.1mm Enclosed Frame With Switch

Get It Fast - Same Day Shipping

www.taydaelectronics.com

 

[Robert]

Everything was covered in this thread four years ago. It's stickied and shows up as the third thread on the "General Questions" subforum.

LED polarity

The LED symbol printed onto PedalPCB circuit boards is being updated, please read! Proper installation of LEDs in PedalPCB circuit boards Traditionally the Cathode of a diode is installed into the Square pad of a PCB. Symbol #1 and Symbol #2 conform to this standard. Symbol #3 is...

forum.pedalpcb.com

Some of the older PCBs used the incorrect pattern that was mentioned earlier. They're updated/corrected as they're reordered.
Most have been updated at this point (even if the preview image doesn't reflect that), but there are still a few hanging around.

 

[Betty Wont]

I was just joking because everything is upside down in the Southern Hemisphere.

This is how I remember LEDs:

View attachment 44459

I've mentioned this before on here. Not all LEDs are made with the same convention. For example I mainly use these from Tayda https://www.taydaelectronics.com/leds/round-leds/5mm-leds/led-5mm-red-water-clear-ultra-bright.html and they have a flat edge on the anode. I also have a Radio Shack diffuse LED assortment where all the cathodes are the long legs. Its all stupid easy to test on a DMM without resorting to trying to figure it out though physical characteristics.

 

[Laundryroom David]

I've mentioned this before on here. Not all LEDs are made with the same convention. For example I mainly use these from Tayda https://www.taydaelectronics.com/leds/round-leds/5mm-leds/led-5mm-red-water-clear-ultra-bright.html and they have a flat edge on the anode. I also have a Radio Shack diffuse LED assortment where all the cathodes are the long legs. Its all stupid easy to test on a DMM without resorting to trying to figure it out though physical characteristics.

Could not agree more.

I have a quick test rig with my peak, a small breadboard and some jumpers. It takes 2 seconds to confirm which lead is which. No stress. Super easy.

 

[music6000]

Could not agree more.

I have a quick test rig with my peak, a small breadboard and some jumpers. It takes 2 seconds to confirm which lead is which. No stress. Super easy.

If you are not aware about the peak, I have used a Peak DCA55 for around 8 years & wouldn't be without it.
I haven't changed the Battery yet!
If your really serious about doing it for a living, the Peak DCA75 woud be the Better option.

Peak Atlas DCA model DCA55 | Peak Electronic Design Limited

 

[Nic]

For example I mainly use these from Tayda https://www.taydaelectronics.com/leds/round-leds/5mm-leds/led-5mm-red-water-clear-ultra-bright.html and they have a flat edge on the anode.

That could explain why I always mess those up ...

 

[jimilee]

Could not agree more.

I have a quick test rig with my peak, a small breadboard and some jumpers. It takes 2 seconds to confirm which lead is which. No stress. Super easy.

You can also use a DMM on the diode setting. I do this because Tayda is sometimes screwy.

 

[Laundryroom David]

One day I wore my boxers backward inadvertently. I feel for those poor mixed up LEDs.

 

[Betty Wont]

One day I wore my boxers backward inadvertently. I feel for those poor mixed up LEDs.

It was fashion for girls to wear boxers backward (as outerwear) when I was in high school. I’ve never worn them the other way.

 

[Feral Feline]

Cut them out, suck the stubs out with the solder, and put new ones in

Careful you don't burn your lips or tongue, and don't swallow the stubs nor the solder.

 

[benny_profane]

It was fashion for girls to wear boxers backward (as outerwear) when I was in high school. I’ve never worn them the other way.

Why backward?

 

[ICTRock]

kris kross

 

[Betty Wont]

Why backward?

So glad you asked. Boxers, at least “dad” boxers back then were cut for no ass and a roomy gather in the front for wishful guy parts. If we flipped them around they fit our dumptrucks in a flattering way.

 

[benny_profane]

So glad you asked. Boxers, at least “dad” boxers back then were cut for no ass and a roomy gather in the front for wishful guy parts. If we flipped them around they fit our dumptrucks in a flattering way.

Thank you for explaining. That oddly makes perfect sense.

 

[Locrian99]

I literally every board I build pull up the stickied thread because of I don’t I screw it up. No idea why, but every damn time lol.

 

[Laundryroom David]

So glad you asked. Boxers, at least “dad” boxers back then were cut for no ass and a roomy gather in the front for wishful guy parts. If we flipped them around they fit our dumptrucks in a flattering way.

“Roomy gather”

 

[JTEX]

I once flipped an LED around TWICE, and it was STILL backwards!!!

 

[benny_profane]

I once flipped an LED around TWICE, and it was STILL backwards!!!

The USB type-A paradox.

 

[Fingolfen]

My LED functionality / polarity tester:

 

[andare]

One day I wore my boxers backward inadvertently. I feel for those poor mixed up LEDs.

Don't get your knickers twisted in a bunch, it's a just an LED.

Also does anybody here go commando or do you always use a bezel?

 

[steviejr92]

I’ve gone commando quite a few times.
In all seriousness I think it looks good without a bezel as long as the drill hole for the led is smaller than the led so it’s not protruding. I don’t particularly like that look.

This convo is going to take a turn for the worse….