Stereo Jack Question

[Ofek Deitch]

Hi everybody,
I checked my stereo jack using my meter, and found out it beeps when I touch the ring and the tip.

Is that supposed to happen?
Is the jack broken or not?

Thanks!
Ofek

[artifus]

testing the sleeve and the tip of a mono jack cable connected to the stereo jack socket or testing the disconnected jack socket directly? some jack sockets are configured as switches whereby two lugs will be either connected or disconnected until a jack plug is inserted thereby making or breaking the mechanical connection inherent in the socket.

*edit* are you sure it is a stereo jack socket with terminals for tip, ring and sleeve? it could be a mono configured as a switch, hence the three lugs.

[Ofek Deitch]

Yes, I'm sure it's a stereo.
But I'll recheck we my meter without a cable in it, and with a cable in it.

[Ofek Deitch]

Here's an image of it:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/71945567@N02/6500907379/in/photostream

[Ofek Deitch]

Ok, so I've just checked again the jack.
I inserted a cable and checked the other end of it with my mete,r and when I touched the sleeve and the tip it beeped. (so they're connected).
What does this mean? Is the jack broken?

Thanks!
Ofek

[Ofek Deitch]

Here's an image of it: (The cables are not connected right now...)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/71945567@N02/6500907379/in/photostream
[/quote]

[artifus]

*hmmm*

[Ofek Deitch]

So, what your'e saying is that I shouldn't use this jack?

[artifus]

disconnect socket from circuit. multimeter beep between each lug. insert cable. multimeter beep between each lug. multimeter to other end of cable tip. beep each lug. multimeter to sleeve. beep each lug.

[Ofek Deitch]

I've tried before to connect this jack to the boost pedal I've built and I got no signal at all - not even in bypass. Then someone in this forum told me to connect the cable only with wires, by rolling the metal inside them with a pencil and create a sort kind of ring, and then put the cable inside it. He said to make two rings - one for the tip and one for the sleeve. And it worked!
Both the bypass and the boost.

So should I go get a new stereo jack and connect it instead of my broken one?

Thanks

[artifus]

a multimeter set to beep on continuity and a mono jack to jack cable ought to determine whether or not the socket is faulty.

*edit* are you sure that the tip isn't shorting to ground when a jack plug is inserted? sometimes those open chassis jacks get bent out of shape. if the socket tests out good i would look at my switch wiring. your multimeter beep is your friend.