Welcome To the Hoffman Amplifiers Forum

September 06, 2025, 05:08:50 pm
guest image
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
-User Name
-Password



Hoffman Amps Forum image Author Topic: Notched Rotary tone controls, Break before make correct?  (Read 3214 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline dwp

  • Level 3
  • ***
  • Posts: 644
  • am addicted to iron........
Hoffman Amps Forum image
Notched Rotary tone controls, Break before make correct?
« on: July 14, 2010, 06:12:24 pm »
Hey I just realized I have to specify make before break, or break before make on my rotary tone control scheme at my EF86 channel. So I'm stitching the contacts together with 5M resistors, 6 different degree of caps.
Question: Do I want to stay away from make before break?

I cannot tell by looking, and I would rather not un-solder my previous build to see what I put in there. I don't hear an in-between tone when switching, wouldn't that be the case if I had make before break installed?

Orrr, if I did go make before break, could I eliminate the 5M resistors?

Thanks in advance, dwp

Offline PRR

  • Level 5
  • *******
  • Posts: 17082
  • Maine USA
Hoffman Amps Forum image
Re: Notched Rotary tone controls, Break before make correct?
« Reply #1 on: July 14, 2010, 06:19:24 pm »
It isn't very critical unless you are going to switch on-air glitchlessly.

It DOES depend on the exact configuration. Many networks go "open", no-signal, if you linger between clicks. Other networks get upset if two legs are connected at once.

Use make before break and use the bleed resistors.

Offline Rev D

  • Level 2
  • **
  • Posts: 112
Hoffman Amps Forum image
Re: Notched Rotary tone controls, Break before make correct?
« Reply #2 on: July 15, 2010, 01:26:40 am »
 Thanks for that question and answer as well. I'm doing the same thing and bought the make before break and was just hoping it was right. Thanks again.

Regards,

RD

Offline sluckey

  • Level 5
  • *******
  • Posts: 5075
    • Sluckey Amps
Hoffman Amps Forum image
Re: Notched Rotary tone controls, Break before make correct?
« Reply #3 on: July 15, 2010, 07:56:31 am »
Quote
Hey I just realized I have to specify make before break, or break before make on my rotary tone control scheme at my EF86 channel. So I'm stitching the contacts together with 5M resistors, 6 different degree of caps.
Question: Do I want to stay away from make before break?
I added that same style EF86 with switched coupling caps to my Lightning build. I used a make before break switch for the sole purpose of eliminating those 5meg 'anti-pop' resistors. Makes wiring much easier and neater.

Quote
I cannot tell by looking, and I would rather not un-solder my previous build to see what I put in there. I don't hear an in-between tone when switching, wouldn't that be the case if I had make before break installed?
I don't notice any in-between tone changes when switching, but my ears are pretty numb to subtile changes. The easiest way to tell if you have a make before break switch when you can't see the wiper and actual contacts is with your ohm meter. Connect the leads to any two adjacent contacts and slowly operate the switch. If you get continuity while switching, then you have a make before break.

Quote
Orrr, if I did go make before break, could I eliminate the 5M resistors?
Absolutely. Make before break is perfect for this circuit. I just don't see any reason to use a break before make switch in this application, especially since the switches cost the same.
A schematic, layout, and hi-rez pics are very useful for troubleshooting your amp. Don't wait to be asked. JUST DO IT!

 


Choose a link from the
Hoffman Amplifiers parts catalog
Mobile Device
Catalog Link
Yard Sale
Discontinued
Misc. Hardware
What's New Board Building
 Parts
Amp trim
Handles
Lamps
Diodes
Hoffman Turret
 Boards
Channel
Switching
Resistors Fender Eyelet
 Boards
Screws/Nuts
Washers
Jacks/Plugs
Connectors
Misc Eyelet
Boards
Tools
Capacitors Custom Boards
Tubes
Valves
Pots
Knobs
Fuses/Cords Chassis
Tube
Sockets
Switches Wire
Cable


Handy Links
Tube Amp Library
Tube Amp
Schematics library
Design a custom Eyelet or
Turret Board
DIY Layout Creator
File analyzer program
DIY Layout Creator
File library
Transformer Wiring
Diagrams
Hoffmanamps
Facebook page
Hoffman Amplifiers
Discount Program


password