Mini Toggle Switches and Copper Lined Pickguard: Possible source of short?

P

Petros

New member
I've got a super-shielded strat with a copper tape lined pickguard underside and cavity. There are mini toggle switches that come up through the pickguard. When I press in on the top of the pickguard I notice sometimes the sound cuts out. I thought maybe the wiring or the switch housing was touching the copper shielding tape, so I placed some electrical tape in the spots that might be making contact. Problem persists. Sometimes it happens when I flip the switch, sometimes it happens when I press in on the pickguard.

I'm sure the copper tape on the underside of the pickguard is making contact with the copper tape inside the cavity, but if it was not so that wouldn't cause a short when I press in on the top of the pickguard.

Could it be that the threaded portion of the switches that come up through the pickguard are making contact with the copper shielding tape? I would think that the two are chassis ground (the switch housing and the copper tape), so I don't see why they can't make contact. I have no other wires connecting the mini toggle switch housing to ground, but I don't think I need it because there's no noise or hum.

If it didn't happen when I press in on the pickguard I would suspect a faulty mini toggle switch. Should I clear away the copper tape under the mini toggle switches?
 
Re: Mini Toggle Switches and Copper Lined Pickguard: Possible source of short?

The metal housing of the switches shouldn't have anything to do with that unless you wired it wrong.
 
Re: Mini Toggle Switches and Copper Lined Pickguard: Possible source of short?

Petros said:
I've got a super-shielded strat with a copper tape lined pickguard underside and cavity. There are mini toggle switches that come up through the pickguard. When I press in on the top of the pickguard I notice sometimes the sound cuts out. I thought maybe the wiring or the switch housing was touching the copper shielding tape, so I placed some electrical tape in the spots that might be making contact. Problem persists. Sometimes it happens when I flip the switch, sometimes it happens when I press in on the pickguard.

I'm sure the copper tape on the underside of the pickguard is making contact with the copper tape inside the cavity, but if it was not so that wouldn't cause a short when I press in on the top of the pickguard.

Could it be that the threaded portion of the switches that come up through the pickguard are making contact with the copper shielding tape? I would think that the two are chassis ground (the switch housing and the copper tape), so I don't see why they can't make contact. I have no other wires connecting the mini toggle switch housing to ground, but I don't think I need it because there's no noise or hum.

If it didn't happen when I press in on the pickguard I would suspect a faulty mini toggle switch. Should I clear away the copper tape under the mini toggle switches?
Click to expand...
No reason to remove copper above switch... This should be the only ground for the switch, otherwise you're encouraging ground loops.

If you are certain that no wires are shorting against shielding, then a faulty switch is suspect... Have run into this a few times with import 5 ways.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk
 
Re: Mini Toggle Switches and Copper Lined Pickguard: Possible source of short?

The switch housing should be fine touching the copper, as you said, both should be at chassis ground. It sounds like the hot/signal side of the wire from the output jack is getting grounded when you push on the pickguard, I would check where it is connected to the output volume pot and see if there are some loose strands or if the solder tab is really close to the shielding.
 
Re: Mini Toggle Switches and Copper Lined Pickguard: Possible source of short?

The switches are a red herring. You've got another wire somewhere making contact with the copper shield.
 
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