I'm Another "First Pedal Won't Work" Idiot (Triangulum)

[JimF]

Hi all,
Currently building the Triangulum Boost (clone of a Fortin 33). Surprise surprise, it doesn't work.

The LED works, I get sound with the pedal on bypass but with MASSIVE earth/ground hum. When the pedal is engaged I get a different hum (60hz?). I'm taking this to be two seperate problems.
When the pot is turned, the hum sounds different. Well, to be honest it sounds like an interference hum with a clean boost dimed This makes me think the pedal is functioning correctly, but the issue is with the signal getting through the switch.

I've checked continuity through the pins of the footswitch, all seems fine.
I've used IPA and scrubbed the back of the board with a toothbrush.
I've re-flowed the solder joints, including adding more solder to any suspect looking ones.
I've noticed that IC1 doesn't get warm, only IC100. I checked the voltages and whilst I can't remember them exactly, they didn't seem to match up to what they should be.

I'm a bit stuck for ideas now.

Pics attached below. The zoomed in pic is to show those rogue strands of wire aren't making contact.

If you're explaining things, please speak like you're talking to your dog. This is probably only the 10th time I've soldered anything. I don't have a great understanding of electronics, but at least I'm honest! I wanted to build the pedals I couldn't afford/find locally, rather than start a pedal building business or something.

First build & first post, be gentle please! Thanks for reading!

 

[JimF]

Further pics

 

[zgrav]

are you trying to get it working without the transistor and other two parts that are empty on your board?

 

[zgrav]

also looks like you may have one of your jacks wiring reversed, which would account for some of your hum issues.

 

[JimF]

Those components are spare so left them off. I decided less soldering means less mistakes made whilst soldering.
Also, was sat here looking at the pics wondering about the jack socket! So if you think that too then I'm happy
I believe the missing components shenanigans was down to when Fortin cloned the TC Electronics Preamp but with fixed settings, and that pedal had a circuit which muted the pedal when the lead was removed.

 

[zgrav]

I have not built the pedal so will defer to you and your sources on whether they can be left off. Good call on your part if that is the case.

The jack may fix the hum but won't solve the problem if you are not getting distortion in the pedal. But a step in the right direction, and a reasonable choice for a first project for you.

 

[JimF]

Will try shortly and report back, thanks for the help!

 

[Barry]

I have not built the pedal so will defer to you and your sources on whether they can be left off. Good call on your part if that is the case.

The jack may fix the hum but won't solve the problem if you are not getting distortion in the pedal. But a step in the right direction, and a reasonable choice for a first project for you.

Jack may well fix it it's the input that's wired wrong

 

[Barry]

Further pics

You might need to retouch and trim up some of those solder points

 

[music6000]

Could be this:

 

[JimF]

Fingers crossed swapping that will help!

 

[music6000]

Fingers crossed swapping that will help!

It ain't gonna work like it is.

 

[JimF]

Corrected the input jack. Works well on bypass. Still getting a loud buzz when engaged. Re-flowed any problematic looking solder points. Still no joy.

 

[JimF]

It ain't gonna work like it is.

Any clues? Am I missing something obvious?

 

[music6000]

Obvious would point the Solder side of the board, It's not pretty.
Others would say Isopryl with a toothbrush.
I personally use CRC Electronic Contact Cleaner, the Highlighted area's are a mess but the hole board needs to be cleaned as there looks like some suspect solder pads :

 

[JimF]

Thank you! I actually have some CRC Contact Cleaner I used when stripping my old amp down.
Naturally it isn't pretty, kinda learning as I go!
Thank you for taking the time to highlight my problematic areas!
So best plan of action is to clean the back of the board with the contact cleaner, then try to re-flow those highlighted areas?
I'm determined to make this work!

 

[Chas Grant]

What type of transistor did you use? Also measure IC1 voltages and post them.

 

[Chuck D. Bones]

Specifically these IC1 (TL071) voltages:
Pin 2 (-input)
Pin 3 (Vref)
Pin 6 (output)
Pin 7 (Vcc)

Don't bother measuring IC100, you need a scope to get anything meaningful on that IC.

 

[JimF]

What type of transistor did you use? Also measure IC1 voltages and post them.

I bought everything as recommended on the build list, but I can find the invoice for the specific item if it would help?

Going to clean the board up tonight, re-flow the suspect joints and also remove & re-solder the pot. I'll be back with voltages!

Thanks for the help again guys! Hopefully I can return the favour at some point.

 

[JimF]

Okay, I didn't realise my wifi went off and that reply didn't post, but here I am with voltages. Also cleaned the board off and reflowed any questionable joints.

Pin 2 (-input) - 19.7v
Pin 3 (Vref) - 17.4v
Pin 6 (output) - 0.14v
Pin 7 (Vcc) - 23.0v

Havn't had chance to test it (bit late to fire up the Engl), but I'm presuming I won't have magically fixed it with contact cleaner, a toothbrush and double checking the solder joints...