Wiring a 10k resistor into a latching footswitch (FIXED!)

[Mincer]

OK, this is a weird one. I have a Line 6 HX Effects, which can use 2 expression pedals. I am using 1 specially made Ernie Ball with a 10k pot. This pedal has one of those strange 'kick switches' on the side of the pedal, basically an on/off latching footswitch usually used to switch channels on an amp or something.
So I got an idea to use it as my 'Expression Pedal #2', if just as an on/off switch...maybe for a leslie sound, as I can specify min/max values on the effects pedal itself. Problem is, that it won't recognize the on/off at all, as it needs to see a 10k resistor in series (I tried, and this was confirmed by Line 6). Their idea was to just wire the resistor in series with one side of the switch. Then it should work.

Well, Ernie Ball pedals are notoriously difficult to work on, and from what I can see, the switch is hardwired to a small PC board. So I don't think that will be possible. Could I just modify a guitar cable (just a TS one) to have the resistor in series with one of the leads?

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Wiring a 10k resistor into a latching footswitch

Re: Wiring a 10k resistor into a latching footswitch

a picture of the innards and I would be better able to help
but yes if Line6 said "in series" then in series it need be

 

[devastone]

Re: Wiring a 10k resistor into a latching footswitch

Re: Wiring a 10k resistor into a latching footswitch

I agree with ehdwuld about needing a picture of the pedal. But to answer your last question, yes, and it doesn't even have to be a good cable.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Wiring a 10k resistor into a latching footswitch

Re: Wiring a 10k resistor into a latching footswitch

It isn't easy to get a pic of this...you can see the switch on the top of the pedal, and the clever lever system to push the actual switch. This is why I was thinking that this wasn't gonna be that easy.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Wiring a 10k resistor into a latching footswitch

Re: Wiring a 10k resistor into a latching footswitch

you use a patch cable to connect it, correct?

put the resistor in the cable

 

[Mincer]

Re: Wiring a 10k resistor into a latching footswitch

Re: Wiring a 10k resistor into a latching footswitch

Yeah, a regular TS patch cable. My first thought was just to wire one into a patch cable, which seems to be the easiest thing. So to do that, I am guessing that it doesn't matter if the resistor is in series with the tip or sleeve, right?

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Wiring a 10k resistor into a latching footswitch

Re: Wiring a 10k resistor into a latching footswitch

That sounds right to me
Whichever is easier

That way you dont jank up a good pedal

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Wiring a 10k resistor into a latching footswitch

Re: Wiring a 10k resistor into a latching footswitch

I would just wire the resistor inside a female-male jack so I could still use any cable.

 

[Jacew]

Re: Wiring a 10k resistor into a latching footswitch

Re: Wiring a 10k resistor into a latching footswitch

I would just wire the resistor inside a female-male jack so I could still use any cable.

This sounds better to me. EB construction has the connector PCB in a separate block, that can be removed when removing two screws on bottom of pedal. So it shouldn't be that hard to modify.

 

[devastone]

Re: Wiring a 10k resistor into a latching footswitch

Re: Wiring a 10k resistor into a latching footswitch

It would be hard to modify that switch/pcb definitely easier to put it in a cable or male/female thingy. Cable still might be easier, not sure what the guts of those adapters look like, unless you are talking about a M/F cable.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Wiring a 10k resistor into a latching footswitch

Re: Wiring a 10k resistor into a latching footswitch

resistor in cable is super easy
adding a separate m/f cable is just an unnecessary extra step
just be sure to mark the expression cable to make sure you you can keep track of it

 

[Mincer]

Re: Wiring a 10k resistor into a latching footswitch

Re: Wiring a 10k resistor into a latching footswitch

Great ideas. I think I have enough small patch cables here to start with..I found a few 10k resistors last night digging through stuff. I am going to try this today.

 

[devastone]

Re: Wiring a 10k resistor into a latching footswitch

Re: Wiring a 10k resistor into a latching footswitch

Let us know how it works!

 

[Mincer]

Re: Wiring a 10k resistor into a latching footswitch

Re: Wiring a 10k resistor into a latching footswitch

It didn't.
I wired up a momentary switch with a 10k resistor, as and tried the cable with a 10k resistor, too. For some reason, and I think this is a 'unit software' issue, that they need to be constantly monitoring the distance between 0-10k for it to work.
I tried another experiment. I wired up 2 TS cables to each expression pedal jack, going to 1 pedal with a switch to switch between them. It really didn't work. When I switched from #1 to #2, it 'forgot' where #1 was and defaulted to 0. When I switch back, I have to go toe the heel down position of the exp pedal to 'catch' the 0 position to start working.

This does work on my Fractal, but not my HX Effects.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Wiring a 10k resistor into a latching footswitch

Re: Wiring a 10k resistor into a latching footswitch

Did they say resistor or pot
A pot is a variable resistor
Maybe they just misspoke

Most of the cheap pedals I have seen
That do volume/expression
Have a 10 k pot that is used for the expression

 

[devastone]

Re: Wiring a 10k resistor into a latching footswitch

Re: Wiring a 10k resistor into a latching footswitch

going from 0 to 10K ohms should make it think it is either fully open or fully closed, not sure which is which though. I don't understand why it wouldn't work, I doubt the software is looking for a gradual change, it's just monitoring an A/D converter that is reading the resistance.

Wait, were you going between 0 ohms and 10K ohms or between an open circuit (infinite ohms) and 10K ohms, the first one should work, the 2nd would only do something at 10K. At least that's my best guess.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Wiring a 10k resistor into a latching footswitch

Re: Wiring a 10k resistor into a latching footswitch

Normally, it is using an expression pedal with a 10k pot. That works. But wiring just a simple on/off switch with a fixed resistor isn't working. I just wired the resistor either in series with a cable, or on the switch. Neither worked. Well, I could get it to switch once...like say the parameter is on 0, I could click the switch once and it would go to 10, but then it would stay there with successive clicks. So I am guessing the software is looking for something else.

 

[devastone]

Re: Wiring a 10k resistor into a latching footswitch

Re: Wiring a 10k resistor into a latching footswitch

An expression pedal goes between 0 ohms and 10K ohms. If it is an on/off switch, you are going between 10K and an open circuit. Since it wants to see 10K and 0 ohms, put the switch and resistor in parallel, so when the switch is closed it bypasses the resistor, when the switch is open the signal is going through the 10K resistor.

It also makes it easier to add to a cable, you don't need to remove either of the conductors from the jack, just put a 10K resistor across the connectors. It can be a really small resistor too, 1/8W or smaller, there won't be much current at all going through it.

Sorry, just realized this after reading what you tried.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Wiring a 10k resistor into a latching footswitch

Re: Wiring a 10k resistor into a latching footswitch

An expression pedal goes between 0 ohms and 10K ohms. If it is an on/off switch, you are going between 10K and an open circuit. Since it wants to see 10K and 0 ohms, put the switch and resistor in parallel, so when the switch is closed it bypasses the resistor, when the switch is open the signal is going through the 10K resistor.

It also makes it easier to add to a cable, you don't need to remove either of the conductors from the jack, just put a 10K resistor across the connectors. It can be a really small resistor too, 1/8W or smaller, there won't be much current at all going through it.

Sorry, just realized this reading after reading what you tried.

Haha, yeah. I had 1/4 watt resistors here. But I am guessing the software doesn't know what to do when the resistor is out of the circuit. Which I think is why I was able to switch it from 0 to 100% just once, and it didn't know what to do.

 

[devastone]

Re: Wiring a 10k resistor into a latching footswitch

Re: Wiring a 10k resistor into a latching footswitch

Haha, yeah. I had 1/4 watt resistors here. But I am guessing the software doesn't know what to do when the resistor is out of the circuit. Which I think is why I was able to switch it from 0 to 100% just once, and it didn't know what to do.

'xactly. And I mentioned a small resistor just because it would be easier to fit into the connector shell. If you can fit a 1/4W, that will work fine size doesn't matter in this case.