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Each symbol shows a part number and a part value or type. R1 denotes two things. First, the R signifies a resistor. Even
though the schematic symbol itself is unique to a resistor, it is helpful to denote the part type. This is also a somewhat
standardized format: R for resistor, C for capacitor, Q for transistor, VR for variable resistor, etc. The number part is just a
sequential counter that makes it easy to cross reference against a parts list. The number also makes it easier to talk about
schematics. (Its a lot easier to say change the R1 value to 500K for more bass than to say change the first resistor that
is connected from the input to the ground, before the first capacitor, for more bass.)
Connections: The connections between components are shown by lines. That is easy enoughanywhere there is a line, you are
reading that there is a conductor (a wire or the copper trace on a PCB). Where the connectors cross over can be kind of tricky
because there is no real standardized way of showing it. Is it just crossing over with no connection, or is it connected? The
following diagram shows the three most commonly used connection representations:
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Power
Your stompbox circuits will mostly use a very simple power scheme: a battery or AC/DC adaptor that provides a positive voltage and a
negative voltage. The positive side of your power supply goes to the part of the schematic that shows power input, and the negative
side goes to ground. In the case of bi-polar supplies, that is not the case, but such a supply is not that common so we cover that
separately.
Referring to our simplified schematic form again:
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Switching
Another confusing aspect can be the switching arrangement. For example, when you look at the schematic in Figure 1.1, there is no
on/off switch for the power, nor is there any switching for bypassing the effects. As with input and outputs, the design of power
switching and bypass switching is usually assumed. In other words, we assume that when we build an actual pedal from the schematic,
we will use the standard 9 volt battery clip wired to the standard 2.1mm DC jack, all in a standard way.
Because this power scheme hardly ever changes, there is no real reason to repeat it on each and every schematic. Similarly with bypass
switching: the ubiquity of 3PDT true-bypass switching is such that it doesnt make sense to draw it out in every schematic.
So how do you translate the shorthand of schematics to the real world of switching and power? Well cover that a little later when we
talk about the Stompbox Harness.
Schematic Symbols
So now that we have the general lay of the land for schematics, lets delve into the mysteries of the symbols themselves. By and large,
symbols are fairly standardized. However there are exceptions that are introduced to cover the huge array of component types. In this
section, well cover the most commonly used symbols and point out any variations you might see.
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code is:
A single letter, A for audio/log, B for linear
A Numeric value, i.e. 10K
So a 100k linear taper would be B100K. A 1k audio taper would be A1K. Finally, potentiometers and sometimes trimmers) will have an
additional label that denotes their function. So in Figure 4.1 we can see that the VR1 potentiometer controls the volume.
Capacitors
Capacitors appear on schematics using one of two basic symbols: parallel lines or a straight line and a curved line. In the case of
parallel lines, the type is unpolarized, so for our purposes that will mean ceramic or film capacitor. When the symbol is a straight line
and a curved line, the capacitor is polarized and the straight line side represents the positive side. Polarity may also be indicated by a +
symbol.
Diodes
Diodes are polarity sensitive, and the cathode side is indicated by a colored band.
Transistors
Transistors almost always have three legs, and the pin outs (i.e. which leg is the Base, which is the Collector, and which is the Emitter)
can be confusing. One of the most common reasons a transistor-based circuit wont work for you is that you inserted the transistor
wrong. So it is important to look at the pinout for the specific device.
Integrated Circuits
Integrated Circuits (known as chips in the vernacular) are even more amazing the transistors, because inside, they contain hundreds or
thousands, or even millions of transistors. ICs are roughly divided into linear and logic types. Linear types include operational
amplifiers, and logic types include counters, logic gates, etc.
Because integrated circuits come in some many configurations, youll find there are several representations for them. The most
common IC used in stompbox circuits is the operational amplifier or opamp. This has a pretty standard pin out and configuration across
types so it has its own schematic symbol.
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The good news is that schematics are not all that abstract. In fact, in most cases you could lay out your physical components in an
arrangement pretty much the same as the schematic and then connect wires just like in the schematic. While that makes sense, it is
not really practical. There are much easier ways to do it.
On the Breadboard
Probably the easiest way to transfer the conceptual schematic to a physical dimension is to use a breadboard. Breadboards also have
the advantage of non-permanenceunlike solder you can undo mistakes easily and experiment with different values. Most breadboards
are conveniently organized in a way very conducive to stompbox hacking. Take a look at the following diagram:
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Non-Breadboard Reality
Once you have traced a schematic, tried it out and want a more permanent solution, there are various options. This section outlines
some of the more common board techniques.
Perfboard
There are various types of perfboard and the term itself loosely covers a lot of different designs. The most common type is
pad-per-hole. It looks like this:
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Veroboard
Veroboard (also known as stripboard) is a specialized form of perfboard. It is a name-brand product that arranges holes along a
connected bus. To form circuits, you make small cuts in the bus trace to match the schematic you are working on.
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Resources
Thanks to google, the world really is at your doorstep. Here are some useful places to go as you work with schematics, layouts, and
boards.
What
Great gallery of layouts
including pad per hole,
veroboard, and PCB designs
Bancikas DIY Layout
Creator Software
Layout Library for DIY
Layout Creator
General Guitar Gadgets:
Lots of projects and layouts
Where
www.aronnelson.com/gallery/main.php
www.storm-software.co.yu/diy/index.php?project=software
www.storm-software.co.yu/diy/index.php?project=layouts
www.generalguitargadgets.com
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Runoffgroove: Lots of
projects and layouts
Tonepad: Lots of projects
and layouts
DIY Stompboxes: THE forum
for diy stompbox stuff
PCB Layout for Musical
Effects: R.G. Keen's
comprehensive book on
doing layouts right.
http://www.co-bw.com/DIY_Schematic_To_Project.htm
www.runoffgroove.com
www.tonepad.com
www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum
www.smallbearelec.com/Detail.bok?no=679
Conclusion
I hope that this short article has cleared up some of the mysteries of schematics for you. Of course there are a thousand more details,
variations and confusions as you start learning to read schematics and transfer them to the real world. But hopefully you have a basic
understanding of how they work, and how they map to the real world.
As always, I love to hear feedback, corrections, and even the occasional flame. Pop me an email at dano/ at / beavisaudio.com
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