Blasted pedalboard hum!!!

[ronjoe1]

Hi all,

First off, thanks to anyone that reads this and tries to offer any help.

I've just started building my pedalboard in the past few weeks and I've ran across what appears to be a ground hum. I'll give you a run down of the setup:

Gibson Les paul Classic>Line 6 G50 Wireless>Budda Wah>TC Polytune>Mojo Hand Rook (overdrive)>Mojo Hand Recoil (delay)>ISP Decimator>Marshall TSL122 combo.

I am also running a Line 6 POD XT Live in the effects loop of the amp (don't judge, it's temporary as I build up the pedal inventory to take over, ha ha)

I'm powering the pedals with a Voodoo Labs Pedal Power 2.

Also, in an effort to make things neater and easier to setup at shows, I drilled holes in the board (a pedaltrain pro). I installed permanent output jacks, to keep the board completely self contained. one for output to the amp, another two for effects send and return. The ground appears to happen when I plug directly into these and when I give power to the Voodoo labs (if I unplug, the hum goes away). If I bypass these and connect the amp directly to the ISP, it works fine.

I want to be able to use the jacks I installed. I'm not sure if I'm missing something...so, reaching out for some assistance.

Thanks again for reading.

 

[StandingWave]

Are the signal grounds on your new jacks connected to the PT-Pro? If so, you might try isolating them. Just a guess....

 

[ronjoe1]

They are only grounded to the cable that is soldered to them. Should I run a wire from the ground onto the PT Pro?

A friend mentioned that last night...

 

[StandingWave]

How are the jacks mounted to the PT-Pro? If they are metal and mounted directly to the board, then your grounds are not isolated. Regardless, which ever way it is now, try it the other way. IOW, if the signal ground doesn't contact the PT-Pro, jumper them together and see what happens. This stuff can be magic. It sounds like you have a ground loop and know where it's located, so you're most of the way there.

 

[ronjoe1]

Cool, I'll give it a shot.

Also, what is thr "one more pedal"?

 

[StandingWave]

Also, what is thr "one more pedal"?

This time? Or next time?

 

[ronjoe1]

ha ha...I feel that way also. There's always something else.

 

[Arzachel]

your pedal power leads are worth looking at you could have an earth loop between the direct pedals and the ones in the effects loop, if your using dc bricks ect try to separate the grounds for example if the brick has say 2 banks of 5 outputs each bank will most likely have a common ground so keep your effects loop to one and avoid mixing across same if you have 2 bricks separate the looped and direct pedals

i notice you have the polytune are you using the dc out from it ?

 

[ronjoe1]

The Pedal Power is brand new...I'll try adding in one pedal at a time also. The effects loop is not powered by the Pedal power either, it has it's own adapter.

Also, not powering anything from the polytune...yet. It had crossed my mind.

 

[tazzboy]

The Pedal Power is brand new...I'll try adding in one pedal at a time also. The effects loop is not powered by the Pedal power either, it has it's own adapter.

Also, not powering anything from the polytune...yet. It had crossed my mind.

Plus one on doing that. That will determine where your problem is.

 

[ronjoe1]

Any recommendations on the appropriate wire to use to ground the jacks? Also, should the three jacks on the back be grounded to one screw or three separate screws?

 

[ronjoe1]

Ok, I believe the problem lies with the pedal power II being "grounded" to the board, via the mounting screws. Opinions on drilling the hole for the in/out jacks a little larger and lining them with rubber grommets and then placing the jacks back in. this way, the jacks are completely isolated from the board itself???

Questions is...where the hell do I find these grommets.

 

[StandingWave]

I would isolate the signal from the board, not the power.

 

[ronjoe1]

That's what I was planning on doing. Using rubber grommets in the holes that I drilled for the jacks. What do you think about isolating the power supply too, maybe use some strong double sided tape to mount it instead of the screws?

 

[StandingWave]

You could try it, can't hurt anything.

 

[ronjoe1]

Grommets found at lowes...that place sure is handy. I will post pics later...if all goes well and if anyone is interested.

 

[CheopisIV]

Sorry, didn't have time to read the whole thread yet, but have you isolated the hum to your board specifically?

1) First rule out dirty power from your wall; try different outlets in different rooms (bedrooms are always on isolated circuits by code in Canda, might be the same where you live.)

2) Failing that, try different power bars if you use them. I have some that are terrible and some that are great.

 

[ronjoe1]

All went well, thanks for the input I actually use a monster power conditioner for most items. The pedals are powered from the pedal power II though... Which is also plugged into the Monster.

Isolating the jacks for the board using rubber grommets seemed to urge the hum. I'll post pics later.

 

[StandingWave]

A ha!