Killswitch Installation

Rkphilpot

Hi all
Looking for help from the oracle's of The Fretboard again.

I'd like to install a three way switch (Gibson style) on my strat as a Killswitch.
How does the wiring work, I'd like it to be on when the switch is down and off when the switch is middle and up. On as in it makes noise when it's on.

I've read so many conflicting pages of advice. Any diagrams, crude as you like, will be a big help. I'm reasonably competent with a soldering iron, I've already changed pickups and put a spst coil tap in.

Thanks all 

ICBM

Easy - a kill switch needs to be wired to short hot to ground, not to make an open circuit (or you get hum when it's open), so the contacts which are open when the switch is down are the ones to use - one to hot, one to ground, doesn't matter which way round.

elstoof

Here’s the Buckethead sig wiring diagram, shows two different kill switches in the circuit 

Just imagine an extra pole on the killswitch which you leave unconnected (if you’re using a 3 pole switch instead of arcade style buttons in the diagram)

Rkphilpot

Thank you 

roberty

I got a couple of these and really like them



https://m.aliexpress.com/item/1005004004390841.html?spm=a2g0n.order_detail.order_detail_item.3.fe44f19cjym1j0

Going to drill out the pickguard and replace the volume knob nearest the bridge on my bitsa

Just infodumping for the benefit anyone searching 'killswitch'. As you were : )

Good luck

Sporky

I quite like the thing of removing the latch from a push-push pot and using that. 

ICBM

Sporky said:

I quite like the thing of removing the latch from a push-push pot and using that. 

I’ve got a CTS one with a broken latch that rather than trying to fix, I’m keeping to do exactly that with when the opportunity arises…

elstoof

I’ve got some Sanwa arcade buttons ready to fit if i ever finish the next build, super light action 

roberty

They look cool @elstoof ;

elstoof

They’re the same ones Buckethead uses, straight off a street fighter arcade cabinet. Some in a couple of sizes and loads of colours, cheap as chips

Rkphilpot

Hey everyone, so I've routed the body and the switch has arrived but I'm still unsure (sorry).
This is the switch. What terminals should I wire?

https://flic.kr/p/2oE7s1n

elstoof

Running a wire from each of the hot and the ground of the output socket to here should do the trick

You might also need to wire a short length from the ground to the big pin on the other side to avoid any buzz from touching the metal of the switch, depends what you’re mounting the switch onto

ICBM

For the easiest wiring I would connect the middle two - the ‘V’ - and the switch frame - the thick lug at the other end - to ground, and the single one on the side which is ‘up’ when holding the guitar to hot.

Rkphilpot

Thanks people 
I'm going to try it tomorrow 

Rkphilpot

Just wanted to pop on here and say thanks, it worked a treat, all ready to rock now! 

elstoof

Good stuff