SOLVED Cadmium Fuzz

[forbesguitars]

I finished this build and it does seem a bit noisy. The issue I have is the white LED is getting some power even when not switched on. When on it does get bright? Any suggestions on how to trouble shoot this?

 

[swelchy]

your soldering looks quite cold in general and you should clean the flux off your board with 99% isopro... That being said is probably has to do with the way you wired the led to that stereo jack instead of using a mono..... Hard to tell in photos how you have it but something doesn't look right

 

[forbesguitars]

your soldering looks quite cold in general and you should clean the flux off your board with 99% isopro... That being said is probably has to do with the way you wired the led to that stereo jack instead of using a mono..... Hard to tell in photos how you have it but something doesn't look right

I will clean the board and check the joints. The jacks are mono, they are just the switched ones with two grounds. Thanks for the reply

 

[darwin999]

Any luck yet?
Have you checked all the parts values? The center row of caps looks fine, but the resistor colors are difficult to read - so check those as well. Any shorts to the pots underneath? Did you use pot dust covers - aka 'pot condoms'? I also can't verify the +/- voltage wires go to the correct connections on the DC voltage jack. Keep trying, you'll get it. Sometimes it's best to put it aside for a day or two, then come back with a fresh eye.

 

[forbesguitars]

Any luck yet?
Have you checked all the parts values?

I will double check

The center row of caps looks fine, but the resistor colors are difficult to read - so check those as well. Any shorts to the pots underneath? Did you use pot dust covers - aka 'pot condoms'?

The Vimex pots have plastic caps

I also can't verify the +/- voltage wires go to the correct connections on the DC voltage jack.

I will check the continuity on the jack to confirm. Centre negative I am assuming

Keep trying, you'll get it. Sometimes it's best to put it aside for a day or two, then come back with a fresh eye.

You may be right

 

[falco_femoralis]

The LED being slightly on even with the board off means DC power is remaining in the circuit. You can probably get the LED to light up brighter if you touch the cathode with your finger. Use your finger and poke around to see which part of the circuit makes the LED brighter. See if this only happens when the audio jacks have something plugged into them. Check your soldering and see if there's even a trace of anything creating a short

 

[forbesguitars]

The LED being slightly on even with the board off means DC power is remaining in the circuit. You can probably get the LED to light up brighter if you touch the cathode with your finger. Use your finger and poke around to see which part of the circuit makes the LED brighter. See if this only happens when the audio jacks have something plugged into them. Check your soldering and see if there's even a trace of anything creating a short

I pulled the board from the case I will hook it back to power from my protoboard and touch the spot in the picture. I almost looks like copper is exposed. I assume that is bad.

 

[forbesguitars]

Solved. I reflowed the solder on the switch and it fixed it.