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DIY Stompboxes => Building your own stompbox => Topic started by: james on April 12, 2004, 03:38:39 AM

Title: griton
Post by: james on April 12, 2004, 03:38:39 AM
Hi,

I'm building the TS-808 from tonepad, and I'm having some problems.
So far, the circuit isn't working. I think it may have to do with the caps. Does it matter which way  I orient the .22 tantalums? I have the 47uf, and the 10uf placed with the negative terminals toward ground.
I've checked a couple of schematics, but there aren't any polar markings for some of the electro's. Any help will be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

James
Title: griton
Post by: crawler486 on April 12, 2004, 04:19:55 AM
i think caps having less than 1uf doesnt have any polarity
Title: griton
Post by: Peter Snowberg on April 12, 2004, 04:47:22 AM
Tantalums really hate polarity reversal with a passion. Be really careful to get them in the right way. One test with the wrong polarity and they can get toasted.

If your circuit is using only a +9V supply, you can assume that the negative terminal of any polarized cap will be the one pointing toward ground.

Sorry I can't get to the schematic right now thanks to some inbred idiot named "GUETTO BRASNET". I don't know which I despise more.... the goober that hacked Tonepad, or MacroSloth for making software with so many security holes. :(

Take care,
-Peter
Title: griton
Post by: brett on April 12, 2004, 06:30:00 AM
Hi.  As Peter said, Tantalums get easily cooked by reversing the polarity.  If your tant before the tone section went short-circuit, you'd lose all your signal to earth.

I suggest you replace the 0.22 caps with MKT or greencaps.  The sound difference is inaudible (to me at least).  

If you want to re-try your tants, they both have the + to the left as shown on the Tonepad layout.

Hope that helps.
Title: griton
Post by: james on April 12, 2004, 10:11:40 AM
Thank You!!!