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I am beginning a combo build that includes a Rototone for clipping diode pair switching. Can I mount the Rototone Board face up with the pins of the switch protruding through the eyelets (solder pads) and retain the 1-2-3-4 order of switching in a clockwise direction (from left to right) as seen on the pedal face? I get this impression when reading the instructions, but want to double check before I start soldering. The components would be mounted on the face of the board – toward the bottom plate of the enclosure. The board and components would be mounted like this drawing borrowed from the instructions with the bottom of the switch abutting the other side of the PCB:
Pins from the switch would be sticking up through the board face, where the “circle” is connecting each eyelet for the pins from the switch.
This build has been trying my patience. I just did the final collection of all the components and a B50K pot came up missing when looking through my parts box and several other places, and is nowhere to be found. I checked my component purchase receipts for the past year or so and there is a B50K that was purchased for this build, but I absolutely can’t find it. Fortunately the rummaging through all the parts in my possession produced a 12mm PCB mount B50K Pot (obtained for a side mount bias pot a few years ago) so I am going to modify it and use it as my 50K pot in the build. No point of trying to buy a 50K pot for like a buck and change and then pay five dollars shipping for it.
If you mount the rotary switch on the FRONT of the ROTOTONE board, then CW rotation of the switch will proceed from 1-4. If you mount the switch on the BACK of the board, CW rotation will activate 4-1. The components can be mounted on either side.
What is considered the front and back of the board? Is the front of the board the side with the “circle” connecting the eyelets for the switch pins? If so, would the bottom of the switch need to be mounted abutting the face of the board with the “circle” on it so that there is 1-4 left-right (clockwise) rotation on the face of the pedal?
The FRONT of the board looks like the photo you posted above. The A is on the left of the B.
You can mount the board in any orientation. When viewed from the front of the enclosure, the position of the knob with a pointer will show the positions from 1 to 4. It only requires you to orient the knob correctly. I hope that is clear. Just turn the switch fully CCW to set it to the “1” position and then mount the knob with its pointer aimed at “1” on your label.
Double checking before soldering.
FRONT of the board is resting on the Bottom of the base of the rotary switch, with A eyelet on the Right of B eyelet. I assume this is the correct orientation so that CW rotation of the switch as seen on the top of the enclosure will proceed from 1-4. A is Input to the board and B is Output from the board.
BACK of the board is resting on the bottom of the base of the rotary switch, with A eyelet on the Left of B eyelet. I assume this is the wrong orientation so that CW rotation of the switch as seen on the top of the enclosure will proceed from 4-1. A is Input to the board and B is Output from the board.
Please let me know if this is correct.
Nope. The FRONT of the board has the circle and A is on the LEFT of B. If you place the switch on the FRONT, CW rotation of the switch will sequence through 1 to 4.
To confirm, I suggest you solder the switch onto the FRONT of the board FIRST. The switch can only fit onto the board 2 ways because the pins in the center of the circle for A and B will only fit 2 ways. Once you have done that, turn the switch fully CCW. Use your meter set to measure continuity and probe the A pad on the bottom and use the other probe to test the round pads in the “1” box. This will confirm that the first position of the switch in the far CCW position will make contact with the pads in the “1” box. Now you can decide what components you wish to place in the “1” box.
I hope you understand this now. I really don’t know what else I can tell you.
Revisiting this one more time.
Here is where my confusion arose. The drawing in the instructions implies to me that the PCB can be mounted to the switch on either the Solder Side or the Silk Screen Side with the same CW 1-4 operation as below.
A photo in the instructions shows the switch mounted on top of the Silk Screen side.
However another photo in the instructions shows the switch mounted on the Solder Side of the PCB with a CW 1-4 operation (the Silk Screen Side is facing the camera). Not the greatest photo resolution, but the “circle” is clearly visible. This actually happens to be a Wilkie project.
I did find someone else’s project with the switch mounted onto the Silk Screen Side with the Solder Side facing the camera (although its the deluxe version).
This is where my confusion arose. So I was actually asking if the it matters if the switch is soldered onto the Silk Screen Side:
Or onto the Solder Side (as Wilkie’s pedal appears to show):
In order to maintain a CW 1-4 operation as viewed on the front of the pedal enclosure. Maybe the title and wording of my initial post may have been a little confusing or misleading.
As I stated earlier:
If you mount the rotary switch on the FRONT of the ROTOTONE board, then CW rotation of the switch will proceed from 1-4. If you mount the switch on the BACK of the board, CW rotation will activate 4-1. The components can be mounted on either side.
At the risk of further confusion , but with the desire to further clarify:
Let’s take this example. Mount the switch on the BACK of the ROTOTONE board. Now CW rotation of the switch will active the four zones on the board from zone 4 to zone 1.
BUT YOU CAN LABEL THE ENCLOSURE AS SWITCH POSITIONS 1 to 4.
I hope this helps.
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