Rockdudes Optical hihat controller attempt (Build log)

[rockdude]

Last week I received Jman:s optical hihat pcb. It's a blue nice looking pcb. I've finally found some time to start building it.
This is how the pcb looks:


I think I've put everything at the right places. I just don't know why there are three holes where the C1 is supposed to be? I'm electronically challenged so please bear with me on this one Jman My guess would be skip the middle hole and use the two others.

[jman 31]

It's just for different size caps. They vary so much I usually make them to fit more than one type. Just use the two holes that work the best. Just not the two that are connected by a trace!

By the way, the components will mount on the other side of the board!

[rockdude]

Thanks for the quick reply Jman.

Just not the two that are connected by a trace!

That would've been too embarrassing

By the way, the components will mount on the other side of the board!

Hmm so I did put them on the wrong side?

[jman 31]

Won't really hurt anything (them being on the wrong side) as long as you have the led and the phototransistor on in the correct holes. You shouldn't have any problem with it.

[jman 31]

Look at your package or the data sheets. If you are using a Infra-red led, it will probably be the dark one. If that is the case then you should have them the other way around. Look at the PCB layout I gave you as if you were looking at it from the all blue side of the PCB.

[rockdude]

I think it looks better this way. I like to see the traces and I think this would make it fit better on my hihat the way I'm planning to put it.

Thanks for the nice price, fast delivery and excellent support!

(The dark one is the phototransistor)

[jman 31]

OK then disregard my last post. Just make sure you have the emitter and collector sides right.

[Ken Forgettable]

I like to see the traces and I think this would make it fit better on my hihat the way I'm planning to put it.

... but make sure the component leads have solder connecting them to the traces - or it will not work

[rockdude]

I'll do my best when soldering it
Is it just to plug it in when done and the LED will light up or do I have to put any jumpers at pedal polarity or impedance or anything else to make it work?

[jman 31]

I'll do my best when soldering it
Is it just to plug it in when done and the LED will light up or do I have to put any jumpers at pedal polarity or impedance or anything else to make it work?

Set you impedance jumper for low impedance and your polarity jumper should be right when the LED lights up. It won't hurt anything to have it on the wrong one.