A Strange Power Issue

FruitarGeek

Today I modded my first ever pedal. I got the kit from Monte Allums and hacked away at my GE-7. How'd it go? ??? Surprisingly well for a newbie, I tested the pedal after each component and it worked fine. I had a few issues towards the end where some cables snapped off but I found the source and soldered them back on (gotta love the practicality of soldering gear).

However, I have now hit literally the final bump before I can call this pedal completed. All components are on, all cables are intact, but the issue is when I seal everything up and put the back plate on with the screws and try power it up, it wont and I notice my Boss adapter's green LED starts blinking on the fritz.

However, as soon as I take the plate off, everything works hunky dory, LED on both the pedal and adapter are stable and there is sound. I thought it was the plate, but its not. As soon as pressure is exerted downwards on the PCB board something obviously touches something and his causing my Pedal not to function. Now I am rather lost at this point cause I can't tell what the problem is. Please give me some tips to try. I got so far, I would hate for my first ever modding experience to end in such a way.

Bob-Dubery

Two things come to my mind
1) There are some leads not trimmed short enough and they short on the cover plate
2) There are some leads not trimmed short enough, or not insulated, or running very close to each other and when you screw the box together they move and touch each other.

Go back and methodically check everything you soldered (it's most likely something you've added or changed) and look for leads that haven't been properly trimmed or insulated or that are running too close to each other for comfort.

AlanRatcliffe

Also make sure you don't have a wire trapped between board and casing. If it's causing problems with your PSU, pay careful attention to the power socket and wires from the battery compartment.

FruitarGeek

Okay. So Ive taken both of your ideas.

@Bob, with leads are you referring to the metal 'spokes' that the capacitors/resistors have on the underside of the PCB. If so, I will admit I have cut them as short as I can, but I am missing my proper Wire cutter so they are not properly cut, but none of them seem to be touching each other, and aside from that, Most if not all BOSS pedals are equipped with that plastic sheat you put on before the metal casing, so there is no way they can touch the case.

@Alan, once again I took your suggestion, I insulated the cables by the power input with masking tape (not sure if that does the job), however when I push down on the board it still messes up. And there are no cables trapped anywhere.

Just to give you guys more info, there were 3 cables that snapped off accidentally, 2 of them were from the Power input (blue and red one) and one gray one that was connected from the Input Jack Ground to the PCB. I connected all 3 of these tho. Another observation I made was when I push the bottom part of the PCB (The side away from the power) it freaks out my power more easier as in I need less force to push as opposed to higher up.

I'm not sure if this pic will help, But the area closest to where it has the BOSS logo seems to be the trouble area.

FruitarGeek

I have figured out the problem. The big chip (which was a mod) to the right of the BOSS logo was touching the metal chasis when I closed the pedal.

Now what I did to sort the problem out was simply put a bit of tissue paper directly underneath it, and Whaalaa, no more flashing LED. Now Im not sure tissue is the best remedy for such a job, I definately wouldn't want it slipping out at bad moments. Are there other solutions you fella's can suggest.

Thanks for your help. I really appreciate the thought put into helping me ?