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DIY Stompboxes => Building your own stompbox => Topic started by: Luke on January 28, 2004, 08:52:56 AM

Title: quick, dumb question
Post by: Luke on January 28, 2004, 08:52:56 AM
Hi guys,
I am trying to de-bug my fuzz face, and have a very stupid question. I am debugging using the 'beeping' function of my DMM. I have all beeps (thus current) until I get to my first cap. It beeps on the negative side (where my signal is comng in) but not on the other side. Should I hear a beep on the + side of the cap? Maybe I have a bad cap? I am doing the boutique fuzz face, neg ground (from ggg)
please help!
Cheers,
Luke
Title: quick, dumb question
Post by: Marcos - Munky on January 28, 2004, 09:08:35 AM
I think this can be a bad cap or bad solder connection. Try to use a audio probe (take a look in geofex.com), this will let you know where you are loosing the signal.
Title: quick, dumb question
Post by: Luke on January 28, 2004, 09:35:13 AM
thanks Munky,
I am not being arogant, but I am postive its not a dry solder :D . I am always careful to make sure the solder is ok- (and I just re-soldered  the connection after your advice) :lol: it didnt work :cry:  
thanks though- I will try to make an audio probe soon.
thanks man,
Luke
Title: Re: quick, dumb question
Post by: spongebob on January 28, 2004, 09:38:25 AM
Quote from: LukeShould I hear a beep on the + side of the cap? Maybe I have a bad cap?

No. The capacitor blocks DC, and I think that's what the multimeter is using in "beep" mode.
Title: Caps...
Post by: petemoore on January 28, 2004, 09:56:48 AM
Best way I've found to test caps is use em in an audio signal path and see if 'sound' goes through.
 My DMM has no real way to check caps AFAIK.
 I never really had a cap problem per se'...as far as a faulty component.
Title: quick, dumb question
Post by: Marcos - Munky on January 28, 2004, 01:06:45 PM
Maybe the problem isn't in the cap. I suggest to you resolder all the solder points, if this don't work, try the audio probe or change the cap for one with any value, just to check if the circuit work with another cap. If the circuit work, just change the cap for one with the same value or one that sounds cool for you. You don't need to remove the cap to test the circuit with another cap, just connect a cap in the wires of the soldered cap, but if both caps are working you will get the sum of both values I think.
Title: quick, dumb question
Post by: smoguzbenjamin on January 28, 2004, 01:23:10 PM
The beep mode does test for continuity, you know that right ;) If there ain't a direct connection without resistance it won't beep ;)
Title: quick, dumb question
Post by: aron on January 28, 2004, 03:42:11 PM
You cannot test a cap with the continuity feature. The continuity feature of most meters will only beep when there is very low resistance.

See this link for more details:

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/captest.htm#cttcm

again, thanks to R.G. for finding this great link.
Title: quick, dumb question
Post by: Alpha579 on January 28, 2004, 10:39:31 PM
as someone above said, its most likely the beeper reads DC, and capacitors Block DC.
Title: quick, dumb question
Post by: Luke on January 28, 2004, 10:45:55 PM
thanks guys,
thats what I origionally thought.
I will bugger around with this circuit for another few hours, then, if its not going, make it the PNP positive ground. I have read that alot of people seem to have probs with the negative ground circuit. i am SURE that I have perfed it correctly- re tested every joint. Granted, this is my first time using Ge, but I am used to the circiut going first try!
Arghh!
but thanks for the adviceand info!
Luke