[Solved] Urgent : problem with a triple overdrive, need help guys

[alltrax74]

I built this pedal for someone this week-end : it's a triple overdrive in an enclosure wired as following :
Input --> Vemuram Jan Ray --> Rocket Animal (without snarl switch) --> Zendrive
The Zendrive is physically positionned in the middle :


It worked at first run and sounds awesome.
Then for some reason that I can't figure, it started to have problems : randomly no sound, or very low level (almost not audible), then sound is back, sometime no sound even with the 3 pedal bypassed.
Sometimes it occurs when pressing on a switch, sometimes not.
I really don't understand what happens, i'm pretty sure all 3 circuits are ok.

So here is a link to a high resolution pic of the guts.
Can some of you guys take some time to try to figure out what could be the problem ?
Thanks !
Tri-Od

[induction]

I can't see the problem in the picture, but it sounds like either a loose ground connection, or an intermittent grounding of the signal wire. I would look for loose/dodgy solder connections or solder bridges near the input and output jacks. If the problem happens even in bypass, it's probably not related to the circuits themselves.

I'd also take a close look at that bare wire connection under the power jack.

[alltrax74]

Thanks Induction
Yesterday evening I checked all my solders (3pdts, in and out, power jack), I reflowed a few but still have the problem.
It occurs only with the 2 first circuits (JR and Animal), no problem with the Zendrive which is at the end.
So sometimes it's no sound at all, and sometimes I can hear the normal sound of the effect, but at very low level, barely non audible.
When the problem occurs (most of the time when switching on/off an effect, but not always), if I lift a little the corner of the enclosure and let it drop on the carpet, the sound comes back.

So I guess it has to do with a mechanical problem. FS ?
This evening I'll replace the 3pdt of the animal

[cylens]

I had the exact same problem with a previous build. I had a small piece of solder wandering between the lugs of the 3pdt switch... so sometimes there was sound when effect ON, sometimes no sound in bypass... it was driving me crazy... I would check for continuity between the 3PDT lugs when a problem occurs: if there's a problem when everything is bypassed, it's definitely related to either one of the 3PDTs or jacks.

good luck on this one!

[alltrax74]

Ok so I finally got it to work normally.
The bottom right corner lug of the center 3pdt was not well soldered.
Actually it was very hard to see, I controled all my solders under a wen and the joint was nice and shiny, but the solid wire was not welded
I pulled hard on all of them and this one stayed in my hand

[Freppo]

Great you got it working!
Those things happen all the time.

What kind of enclosure is that and where did you get it?
I've been looking around for something big..

/ Fredrik

[alltrax74]

It's a DD style, I got it from Musikding

[Vince]

Are you in the UK. Freppo? if so, some big boxes here

http://www.jprelec.co.uk/store.asp/c=528/Eddystone-IP54-Diecast-Aluminium-Boxes