SOLVED Celestial drive, 2nd attempt

D

donovan

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This is my 2nd attempt at this particular drive. The first one produced very little sound so I ordered another and was very careful about using the right components. I also chose to pin most of them, for later tinkering. But this one, like the first one, lights up and makes sound but it is very quiet. With my amp at a make my gf mad volume, this pedal, as it is, is barely audible.

Is there anything obvious to anyone that I've done wrong? If the two red LEDs were in backwards would that cause this issue?
IMG_20251129_181646678_HDR_AE.jpg IMG_20251129_181554391_HDR_AE.jpg
 
Solution
swelchy
Ah... my bad.. yeah a different layout than schematic posted sent me down the wrong hole for you.. Always go with what is screen printed on your pcb! 99.9% of the time if you have done your part everything will fire up.
. As far as the auditorium.... I myself have overlooked and made a bad connection for the switch area.... If I use those now I make sure I solder really long leads so I can also flip the board over during any testing/troubleshooting... I also tin the wires well and make sure they are stripped back really well so they make a good connection... Multimeter in continuity mode should show you if you connection is good... one of the leads on soldered spot at pcb and the other lead on the screw head that tightens the lead on...
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From stomp box parts. That's where I got everything. The LED clipping diodes I wired A+ (circle) and K - (square), but C7 and C8 are opposite, where the circle is negative and the square is positive. There (C 7 and 8) I was following what is printed on the board. I'm curious if I got the LED's backwards.

IMG_20251129_190801683_AE.jpg
 
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You have the clipping leds in correctly.. the flat spot on led indicated cathode.. as well as component leg length.. longer lead is normally positive.... The strip on your electrolytic capacitors denotes ground... currently you have C8 and C7 backwards... Which is most likely one of your issues.. if not all
 
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I reversed C7 and C8 and still get almost no volume. I included a picture of the first board I tried and you can see that the + is clearly marked in the orientation that I originally had them. The data sheet that I printed from the website is not the same as the board they currently sell. I'm wondering if something else is different and I don't have the knowledge to trace it down. The white wire is my attempt to fix the problem by jumpering the volume pot. Didn't work. Same very low volume.
IMG_20251129_211900400_HDR_AE.jpg
 
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Ah... my bad.. yeah a different layout than schematic posted sent me down the wrong hole for you.. Always go with what is screen printed on your pcb! 99.9% of the time if you have done your part everything will fire up.
. As far as the auditorium.... I myself have overlooked and made a bad connection for the switch area.... If I use those now I make sure I solder really long leads so I can also flip the board over during any testing/troubleshooting... I also tin the wires well and make sure they are stripped back really well so they make a good connection... Multimeter in continuity mode should show you if you connection is good... one of the leads on soldered spot at pcb and the other lead on the screw head that tightens the lead on auditorium.. should hear the beep... test each connection... adjust as necessary.. Would be funny/not funny if you had one of your switch wires not making contact with test rig and your pedal is fine....
 
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Solution
It was something to do with the Auditorium, not sure what yet, but I wired it up without the enclosure and it works perfectly.

swelchy, I will try using cloth push-back wire as it has a solid thicker core wire. I'll re-flow all the lugs as well.

I appreciate the help. I'm sure to be back as this is a new hobby and I have no background in electronics. I'm 99% certain the first pedal attempt is fine as well, so I've got more stuff to tinker with. I'm also a lot more comfortable using solder wick and removing parts without damaging the board.

Again, thank you.
 
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donovan said:
It was something to do with the Auditorium, not sure what yet, but I wired it up without the enclosure and it works perfectly.

swelchy, I will try using cloth push-back wire as it has a solid thicker core wire. I'll re-flow all the lugs as well.

I appreciate the help. I'm sure to be back as this is a new hobby and I have no background in electronics. I'm 99% certain the first pedal attempt is fine as well, so I've got more stuff to tinker with. I'm also a lot more comfortable using solder wick and removing parts without damaging the board.

Again, thank you.
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Woohoo! Nice. I have no electronics background either. I got into this because I needed a nicer compressor pedal for less than a new one could be purchased. That was over 12 years ago. 🤣
 
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donovan said:
It was something to do with the Auditorium, not sure what yet, but I wired it up without the enclosure and it works perfectly.

swelchy, I will try using cloth push-back wire as it has a solid thicker core wire. I'll re-flow all the lugs as well.

I appreciate the help. I'm sure to be back as this is a new hobby and I have no background in electronics. I'm 99% certain the first pedal attempt is fine as well, so I've got more stuff to tinker with. I'm also a lot more comfortable using solder wick and removing parts without damaging the board.

Again, thank you.
Click to expand...
I'd stay away from cloth pushback on pedals... get the multicolored pack on amazon.. 22 gauge remington stranded/topcoated wire
 
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