Soldering Stereo Jack

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on June 15, 2011 at 3:06pm

You need to solder the black wire from the piezo to the ground on the jack. Actually I don't think it really matters if you wire it backwards or not, but I always to red to positive and black to ground anyway.

 

If you look at the jack, you will be able to see which prong leads the the arm that the tip of the jack that the tip of the plug will press against. The black wire will be connected to the prong that leads to the sleeve that the shaft of the plug will touch. The other prong on the jack will not be used.

 

Does that make sense?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by David "Dr. Dave" Davies on June 16, 2011 at 11:01am

I'm not sure.  The jack seems to have two possible points of attachment.  There are two prongs extending from the shaft, one shorter than the other.  I will try to upload a picture.

Dan Sleep said:

You need to solder the black wire from the piezo to the ground on the jack. Actually I don't think it really matters if you wire it backwards or not, but I always to red to positive and black to ground anyway.

 

If you look at the jack, you will be able to see which prong leads the the arm that the tip of the jack that the tip of the plug will press against. The black wire will be connected to the prong that leads to the sleeve that the shaft of the plug will touch. The other prong on the jack will not be used.

 

Does that make sense?

Attachments:

• jack.jpg, 3 KB

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on June 16, 2011 at 11:09am

Gotcha, I may have some of those long jacks somewhere. I can't remember which of the prongs to use, but I do remember that one of them is shorter than the other.

 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on June 16, 2011 at 11:11am

From the Stewart Macdonald web site:

 

"The short terminal is positive, the mid-length terminal is the "ring" (for stereo output, or for battery switching in mono wiring), and the long arm on the side is ground."

 

So, red to the short one, and black to the long arm.

 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by MBliss on June 16, 2011 at 1:41pm

The pictures too small for me to be able to see, but I would plug in an instrument cord and see where the tip connection hits. If you cant see it, use an ohmmeter or continuity tester on the other end of the cord to the plug terminals to determine which is connected, OR plug the other end of the cord into an amp and experiment with temporary connections until it works.

As far as I am concerned, continuity is irrelevent with a piezo, swap the black and red all you want. Tell people switching it gives it extra mojo or something.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by David "Dr. Dave" Davies on June 16, 2011 at 6:24pm

Thanks to everyone.  I think I've got it now.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by David "Dr. Dave" Davies on August 1, 2011 at 11:09am

Thanks for all the help.  All done and they work well.  I've learned a lot from my mistakes.  I will try to upload photos.

• ▶ Reply