PCBs
I’m all out of this PCB at this time. Not sure if I will be, making any more. I’m working on other projects.
This is PCB I developed to speed up the process of making effects pedals. It incorporates all of the standard wiring for the in/out jacks, DC power with a reverse polarity protection diode and stompswitch. It also provides a perfboard area for building your effect. It’s designed to drop into a “B” sized box and leave room for a 9V battery.
I found I was spending as much time wiring jacks and the stompswitch as I was soldering parts on the board. Having jacks and switches on wires also made it tough get an effect in and out of a box for modification and trouble shooting. I also found I was often putting projects into a larger box than necessary to accommodate all of the extra wiring.
The PCB streamlines the process of creating an effect. It fits into a standard “B” sized box leaving enough room for a 9V battery. Saves time and energy by providing all of the standard wiring. It makes the process of assembling boxes extremely easy, since the PCB and all the parts just drops in.
I have built many projects with PCB. Take a look at the projects on my site.
If you are interested in trying this out for yourself the boards are $4 each. Send me an email or post a comment here.
I get the jacks from Mouser.com. The part numbers are
DC Power Jacks Mouser P/N: 16pj031
1/4″ jacks Mouser P/N: 550-22302
Here’s some pictures:
Here’s a diagram showing the base setup with the template PCB. Not this is a view from the top as if you were holding the board up to the light and seeing a silhouette of the traces.
Boards measure 56 by 83mm.
Here’s how you might set up an indicator LED.
Here’s a link to a drilling template. Note this is a preliminary template. The last box I drilled was a little off. This could have been poor alignment of drill or template or other operator error. Be sure to drill holes a little smaller than they appear on the template and make adjustments with a round file or a hand reamer. This is what I do on every box.
16 Comments
Add your own1. Steve | August 19th, 2007 at 3:55 pm
Hi Mitchell.
The two pictures at the bottom don’t work. They both 404.
Cant wait to get going on my next build!
2. André | September 26th, 2007 at 1:47 pm
Hey Mitchell.
Can you tell me the measurements of that board? Inches, mm, whatever.
3. admin | September 28th, 2007 at 12:14 pm
The boards measure 56 by 83 mm. Or very close to that. Let me know if you have any more questions.
4. Tony Dinisi | October 10th, 2007 at 2:15 pm
how about a tonebender layout with a blend control?
5. Tony Dinisi | October 10th, 2007 at 2:31 pm
How about a tube sound fuzz layout?? thx Mitchell
6. admin | October 10th, 2007 at 2:35 pm
I have been thinking about building a Tonebender and Fuzz Face. I just haven’t had the time yet. I’ll some time after Oct.
7. admin | October 21st, 2007 at 5:54 pm
I have a layout for Frank Clarke’s Hot Harmonics. It’s half built at this point. So it is un-confirmed. I could post it if you want to give it a try. When I finish it I’ll definitely post it.
This project has been getting some traffic on the http://www.diystompboxes.com/ forum lately.
8. admin | October 25th, 2007 at 11:00 am
I’m down to about 30 PCBs.
9. Elliott Wiggintonn | March 7th, 2008 at 10:06 pm
Mouser lists the power jacks (P/N: 16pj031) as obsolete, but if you search for that part number it says that there is an RoHS version available.
10. admin | March 7th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
Mouser changes part numbers some times. It’s hard to keep up I’ll try and update things when I find some time. Usually they will suggest a compatible replacement.
11. Scott | March 30th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
Im somewhat new to effects building. How big are the pots you use in the effects that require three pots (like the Shiva Sonic pictured above), where do you get them from, (and if it is not too much trouble) do you have a part number for one? Thank you for sharing your time and information, your website has been helpful to me.
12. spud | June 17th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
Your idea for the template is great – I’ve wondered if there was an easier way, looks like you are on to something with this. Another thing would be to add at the top the connections for the pots (PCB type). That way you could eliminate their wires too. I have those kind of pots, I get them cheap from futurlec, slow shipping but good prices all around.
How may pcb’s do you have left?
spud
13. admin | November 17th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
I’m all out of PCBs. I don’t think I will be making any more.
14. potul | February 25th, 2010 at 11:27 am
Question: How do you build these PCBs? Are you etching them yourself or bulk ordering to some PCB prototyping company?
Regards
15. admin | February 25th, 2010 at 2:56 pm
I had these made by a company in China. I think this company is longer in business. So lately I’ve been using : http://www.goldphoenixpcb.biz/
16. potul | March 15th, 2010 at 3:02 am
Are you still selling them?…. I would love to try the concept, but not willing to build 100 pcbs now.
Regards
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