3-way mini toggle switch buzzing...

[Reichbaum]

So I had my first experience installing new humbuckers and wiring a couple mini toggle switches. I have a 4-conductor humbucker going to an on-on-on switch for series-coil-parallel, and then that switch going to a phase reverse on-on switch. When the 3-way is on one of the ends (not sure if it's series or parallel) it buzzes like crazy when I touch the toggle. Any idea what could cause this, and what I can do to fix it? In the other two positions there's no noise (apart from some hum in the single coil mode).

Thank you!!!

 

[Artie]

Re: 3-way mini toggle switch buzzing...

Two things off the top of my head:

1. I assume one of your positions is "split". That mode, of course, is not humbucking.

2. On your phase switch, (polarity actually), you didn't isolate the bare wire from the green wire. Bare always goes to ground. Green and black are what get reversed. (I'm assuming Duncan color code.)

 

[Reichbaum]

Re: 3-way mini toggle switch buzzing...

Thanks Artie,

1) This noise only happens in one of the three positions, and it's not the split position.
2) I used this diagram https://www.seymourduncan.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/WD_H_link_ph_ssp.pdf which has the green and bare going to the same pole on the on-on-on switch, and then I used spare wire from my old humbucker to connect that switch to the phase switch.

Do you think maybe the ground wire from the phase switch wasn't grounded correctly? I soldered it onto the three way toggle, but maybe I should have soldered it better, or to a volupe pot?

 

[Artie]

Re: 3-way mini toggle switch buzzing...

That diagram has a serious "typo". The bare wire should go straight to ground. It shouldn't connect to any switch terminal. I would've hoped SD would have fixed this by now. I think you're the second person this week to be messed up by that.

 

[Reichbaum]

Re: 3-way mini toggle switch buzzing...

Oh jeez... that's not good haha. Thanks for pointing that out! Will the side of the 3-way pickup selector work for grounding?

 

[Reichbaum]

Re: 3-way mini toggle switch buzzing...

Looks like this diagram is wrong too https://www.seymourduncan.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/WD_Pushpull_minitoggle_3.pdf

 

[Artie]

Re: 3-way mini toggle switch buzzing...

Oh jeez... that's not good haha. Thanks for pointing that out! Will the side of the 3-way pickup selector work for grounding?

You can, but be careful. Many of those switches can't tolerate a lot of heat on the side. You're better off using one of those little solder washer things. I'll see if I can find a link.

Looks like this diagram is wrong too https://www.seymourduncan.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/WD_Pushpull_minitoggle_3.pdf

That one is less wrong. Since ground on that one only goes to ground, there's no harm there. But as a good practice, you should just take bare to ground.

This kinda thing:

 

[Reichbaum]

Re: 3-way mini toggle switch buzzing...

Ah thanks for that tip! Where would I put that washer?

 

[Artie]

Re: 3-way mini toggle switch buzzing...

Just in between the switch and body, so that it's bolted tight to the switch. That way you don't risk "toasting" the switch.

 

[Reichbaum]

Re: 3-way mini toggle switch buzzing...

One more question... (sorry) What kind of wire should i buy to use for the extra wires that go between poles on the switches and in between switches?

 

[Artie]

Re: 3-way mini toggle switch buzzing...

I like 24 gauge stranded. 22 is ok too. You want as small as possible while still being large enough to comfortably work with. Guitar current is microscopic.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: 3-way mini toggle switch buzzing...

It also helps to ground the mini toggle like you would any other component.