novelty RCA plug indicator

General discussion area for tube amps.

Moderators: pompeiisneaks, Colossal

maxkracht
Posts: 898
Joined: Tue Dec 10, 2019 7:18 pm
Location: Iowa, USA

Re: novelty RCA plug indicator

Post by maxkracht »

Made a pcb that is friction fit into a standard fender jewel. Probably needs another revision to clean things up, but works fine. Happy to share files if anyone is interested. Not that much of a pain to solder but hard to make out the lines on the diodes. I forgot the Tayda clear 5mm leds sometimes have the flat on the wrong side. Pulling that out and flipping was a pain...
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
User avatar
dorrisant
Posts: 2769
Joined: Tue Sep 21, 2010 1:27 pm
Location: Somewhere between a river and a cornfield
Contact:

Re: novelty RCA plug indicator

Post by dorrisant »

Did you create this with Kicad?
"Education is what you're left with after you have forgotten what you have learned" - Enzo
maxkracht
Posts: 898
Joined: Tue Dec 10, 2019 7:18 pm
Location: Iowa, USA

Re: novelty RCA plug indicator

Post by maxkracht »

dorrisant wrote: Tue Mar 25, 2025 4:01 am Did you create this with Kicad?
Ancient version of eagle. here's the oshpark link $1. for 3 boards or $2 with rush service

https://oshpark.com/shared_projects/TraSnxng
https://oshpark.com/shared_projects/U0qTsLlf

V1 is tested but I didn't like the clearances around the edge and the center hole was too small for the flashing smd led to fit. I don't plan to use V1 in a metal jewel for this reason. V2 is untested, probably harder to solder, but previous issues should be fixed.

I'm using 1/2w thick film 0805 resistors, because I had them, but regular 1/8w are probably fine.
Diodes are SOD-323, i'm using 1n4148 but lots of other options
cap is a 50v .47uf 0805, anything over .1uf should work, but sometimes the flash gets glitchy on the lower end of that
flashing led is also 0805, not sure where this one is from but I have some more coming from Tayda to test. Guessing they're all the same.
sluckey
Posts: 3431
Joined: Sun Jul 22, 2007 7:48 pm
Location: Mobile, AL
Contact:

Re: novelty RCA plug indicator

Post by sluckey »

You guys know about these bulbs, right? LED replacement for GE-44 or GE-47 fits the standard Fender lamp assembly.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B094QSS1FG/
maxkracht
Posts: 898
Joined: Tue Dec 10, 2019 7:18 pm
Location: Iowa, USA

Re: novelty RCA plug indicator

Post by maxkracht »

sluckey wrote: Tue Mar 25, 2025 4:19 pm You guys know about these bulbs, right?
Yes, antique electronic supply also sells something similar. The ones I made flash while the amp is warming up then go solid once it is warm.
User avatar
martin manning
Posts: 14058
Joined: Sun Jul 06, 2008 12:43 am
Location: 39°06' N 84°30' W

Re: novelty RCA plug indicator

Post by martin manning »

Max are there schematics for these? Curious to see how it works.
maxkracht
Posts: 898
Joined: Tue Dec 10, 2019 7:18 pm
Location: Iowa, USA

Re: novelty RCA plug indicator

Post by maxkracht »

martin manning wrote: Tue Mar 25, 2025 5:18 pm Max are there schematics for these? Curious to see how it works.
Same as the schematic on the previous page, drawn on a legal pad.
User avatar
martin manning
Posts: 14058
Joined: Sun Jul 06, 2008 12:43 am
Location: 39°06' N 84°30' W

Re: novelty RCA plug indicator

Post by martin manning »

So the steady LED is a SMD, which illuminates the 5mm flashing LED body through the center hole in the board?
maxkracht
Posts: 898
Joined: Tue Dec 10, 2019 7:18 pm
Location: Iowa, USA

Re: novelty RCA plug indicator

Post by maxkracht »

martin manning wrote: Tue Mar 25, 2025 6:49 pm So the steady LED is a SMD, which illuminates the 5mm flashing LED body through the center hole in the board?
Same idea, but the SMD is flashing. Other way would work but I figured the main indicator LED shouln't be obscured. I don't think shining through another led creates much of a shadow, but better safe.

New flashing leds just came in the mail, I think the lens is slightly smaller than the other ones I had but should still fit in the revised board design.

https://www.taydaelectronics.com/led-sm ... clear.html (photo on tayda is incorrect)


also got some c clips in the mail. 14mm ID fit perfectly on a fender jewel
maxkracht
Posts: 898
Joined: Tue Dec 10, 2019 7:18 pm
Location: Iowa, USA

Re: novelty RCA plug indicator

Post by maxkracht »



Heres some closeups of the board while playing with a standby switch. Standby has 220k or something across it, so the solid led glows a bit more than it would normally running on 3v.
maxkracht
Posts: 898
Joined: Tue Dec 10, 2019 7:18 pm
Location: Iowa, USA

Re: novelty RCA plug indicator

Post by maxkracht »

Final revision, just added a little extension on the solder pad to make soldering the 5mm led a bit easier. Clearance around the side is good enough, screen print is a bit more legible, and the center hole is a friction fit for the flashing smd leds from tayda.

https://oshpark.com/shared_projects/nj5OHV4X
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Post Reply