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Build help and troubleshooting => EQP501 Passive Equalizer => Topic started by: apok on April 26, 2021, 05:09:27 PM

Title: Signal gain increase when engaged
Post by: apok on April 26, 2021, 05:09:27 PM
Hi, 

I've built a EQP501 and I think that almost everything is working normal except for the gain level that increases a lot when the EQP501 is not on bypass mode. 

When on bypass mode it is the same volume/gain that I'm sending out. When it is engaged it gains some db, cant precise how much right now, but latter I'll let you know.


Is this the normal behaviour? What can I do to test/check for problems. 
I've already checked and reheat all the solders.
Title: Re: Signal gain increase when engaged
Post by: JPK on April 27, 2021, 09:14:01 AM
This is not normal. The gain of the unit, when all the pots are at 0 is defined by 
R5, R6, R7, R8, R12, R13, R25.
Check you have the correct resistors in these places.
Also check you didn't swap some pots.
Title: Re: Signal gain increase when engaged
Post by: apok on April 28, 2021, 11:03:30 AM
Thank you very much for the answer. 

After analysing the Resistors are good and in the right place. But I noticed that the "2K2 Lin" is switched with the "100K Log" :/ need to change those and I'll let you know if this solves the issue. 
Title: Re: Signal gain increase when engaged
Post by: apok on April 28, 2021, 06:16:24 PM
After changing the two swapped pots, the problem persists..

It gains some db, in bypass ok K20 it's around -6.5db and when active it goes around 3db .. it's a lot.
Title: Re: Signal gain increase when engaged
Post by: JPK on April 30, 2021, 03:27:43 PM
Send a 3VAC sine signal to the input and measure the AC voltage on:
TP1: 2VAC
TP3: 0.17VAC
TP2: 1.7VAC
Title: Re: Signal gain increase when engaged
Post by: apok on May 02, 2021, 09:28:19 PM
After testing I've seen different values ???

0V -> TP1 : 1,999
0V -> TP3 : 0,564
0V -> TP2 : 5,804
Title: Re: Signal gain increase when engaged
Post by: JPK on May 03, 2021, 10:22:33 AM
The issue is in the passive section :
Potentiometers P1...P5, R10, R24, R25.
Title: Re: Signal gain increase when engaged
Post by: apok on May 04, 2021, 12:58:43 PM
The pots P1... P5 and the resistors R10, R24 and R25 that you mentioned are right and the ones from assembly guide.

Is there any possibility that this can be the Film Capacitors?
Title: Re: Signal gain increase when engaged
Post by: JPK on May 05, 2021, 10:14:48 AM

Quote
Is there any possibility that this can be the Film Capacitors?
No.

With the module unplugged, all pots at 0, 

- what resistance do you measure between TP1 and TP3 (?10k)?
- what resistance do you measure between TP1 and 0V (?11k)?
- what resistance do you measure between TP3 and 0V (?1k)?
Title: Re: Signal gain increase when engaged
Post by: apok on May 17, 2021, 07:24:46 PM
Hi,

Answers inline

- what resistance do you measure between TP1 and TP3 (?10k)?
Yes

- what resistance do you measure between TP1 and 0V (?11k)?
No, ?15.7K

- what resistance do you measure between TP3 and 0V (?1k)?
No, ?4.6K

Title: Re: Signal gain increase when engaged
Post by: JPK on May 21, 2021, 11:38:48 AM
It looks like your P3 pot is not correct. It should be 1k.
Can you measure it, between the 2 side pins, in circuit, after disconnecting the front PCB from the main PCB and with Low frequency ATTEN pot on 10 ?
Title: Re: Signal gain increase when engaged
Post by: apok on May 21, 2021, 02:24:08 PM
It looks like your P3 pot is not correct. It should be 1k.
Can you measure it, between the 2 side pins, in circuit, after disconnecting the front PCB from the main PCB and with Low frequency ATTEN pot on 10 ?

I didn't get where to measure, can you please add some pics?

My pots pcb is like this:
http://imgur.com/a/7ZhfpTP (http://imgur.com/a/7ZhfpTP)
Title: Re: Signal gain increase when engaged
Post by: JPK on May 24, 2021, 09:06:15 AM
Measure between the circled pins with low frequency ATTEN pot on 10.

Title: Re: Signal gain increase when engaged
Post by: apok on May 25, 2021, 11:34:14 AM
The resistance is floating from 1 to 0.9
Title: Re: Signal gain increase when engaged
Post by: JPK on May 25, 2021, 05:49:18 PM

Quote
from 1 to 0.9
What unit? ohms, kilo-ohms, megaohms?

It should not be floating. Check the pot solder joints.
Check the resistances between the center pin and the side pins for 3 pot positions : min, center and max.
Title: Re: Signal gain increase when engaged
Post by: apok on May 26, 2021, 12:14:33 PM
I've made a new measurement today and it was 0.8 ohms 

The resistance for the others is like so:

Center and right:
Boost on minimum 0.6 ohm 
Boost on middle - 512.6 ohm 
Boost on max - 971 ohm 

Center and left:

Boost on minimum 0.2 ohm 
Boost on middle - 0.2 ohm 
Boost on max - 0.2 ohm 
Title: Re: Signal gain increase when engaged
Post by: JPK on May 26, 2021, 03:43:04 PM
Boost on minimum : you mean Attenuation on minimum, right? Because P3 sets the HF attenuation.
If so, then you have a short circuit between the center and left pins. Look for solder bridge on the pins or R24.
Title: Re: Signal gain increase when engaged
Post by: apok on May 27, 2021, 11:34:55 AM
Boost on minimum : you mean Attenuation on minimum, right? Because P3 sets the HF attenuation.
If so, then you have a short circuit between the center and left pins. Look for solder bridge on the pins or R24.
Maybe I misunderstood what you requested. 

So I measured on the P3 which is the Boost from the Low frequencies.. 

On this image https://www.soundskulptor.com/docs/eqp501-layout-01.pdf (https://www.soundskulptor.com/docs/eqp501-layout-01.pdf) the pots are supposed to be placed when front facing the pcb? If so then I have all the pots wrong.
Title: Re: Signal gain increase when engaged
Post by: JPK on May 28, 2021, 11:13:11 AM
On this picture, you can see the potentiometer shafts facing you.
Title: Re: Signal gain increase when engaged
Post by: apok on June 07, 2021, 10:48:19 PM
I've already solved the problem, it was on the op-amp don't know how but one of the resistor 5R6 that are there to protect the pcb did not burn before but now it have.. I've ordered one from you and it is ok, I guess..

Thanks for the help