Battery PSUs

Si_

anyone using a battery based psu?  Just looking to power a small pedal board for jams and open mic nights where I don’t have to worry about power cables, I can just plug and go. 

Danny1969

You could buy a standard power bank which outputs 5V and use a 5 to 9V adapter like this 



The output might be noisy though and require additional filtering 

Si_

Hmmm Interesting. I have a good power bank already, would that power say 6-8 pedals?

Danny1969

Depends on the current draw of the pedals .... drive pedals use tiny currents in general but some digital stuff can require an amp or more. 
Basically you want a buck convertor with an output of 9V that's happy suppling enough current when it's input is 5V ... because a buck convertors max driving current is when the input voltage is close to it's rated output voltage 

https://coolcomponents.co.uk/products/2-5-9v-fine-adjust-step-up-step-down-voltage-regulator-s9v11ma ... 

You can use more one for more current

ICBM

Si_ said:

anyone using a battery based psu?  Just looking to power a small pedal board for jams and open mic nights where I don’t have to worry about power cables, I can just plug and go. 

Just put batteries in the individual pedals, and use dummy plugs in the power jacks to turn the batteries off when you're not using it.

Si_

Some of my smaller pedals don't take batteries.

Danny1969

Actually if I was doing this I would use a standard Tamiya 9.6V recharchable battery as they are cheap and easily available and the charger with the correct plug is only about a tenner





Then cut the end of this and connect the positive to the sleeve of the normal pedal power loom 

sgosden

Isn't this what the pedal train volto was made for?

Keefy

I installed a cheap 9V battery box on the underside of my Pedaltrain Nano. I can also use a standard 9V adaptor if I like.

ecc83

There is a review of a USB to 9V converter for pedals in the current edition of Sound on Sound. It is a bit pricey but can take a 4,200mA/hr Lithium battery as well.

If you are handy with the soldering kit, Aimtec 5-10V DV-DC converters are only a few pound and you can buy 5v 'phone' back up batts pretty cheaply now.

Or! Get to Maplins PDQ and buy a rake of AA re-chargeables, the 6 batt packs, PP3 clip leads and power plugs. An evening's work and you would have a very clean power setup.

Dave.

Keefy

ecc83 said:

...

Or! Get to Maplins PDQ and buy a rake of AA re-chargeables, the 6 batt packs, PP3 clip leads and power plugs. An evening's work and you would have a very clean power setup.

Dave.

Bear in mind that rechargeable AA batteries have a nominal voltage of 1.2V, and can be charged to about 1.35V max. A pack of 6 will thus give you a working voltage of about 7V to 8V. You would be better off with an 8-battery pack, where 8 rechargeables will give you a nominal voltage of 9.6V. This is fine for 9V pedals, as alkaline PP3s start out at about 9.6V anyway.

timmysoft

I’ve been using the volto2 for the past few months, can’t really fault it!! 

terada

timmysoft said:

I’ve been using the volto2 for the past few months, can’t really fault it!! 

how long do you find it lasts between charges with the pedals you use?

skunkwerx

Could you buy a switched 9v battery holder like this: 

(biggest link in the fucking world)

https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/401033385949?chn=ps&dispItem=1&adgroupid=52137191441&rlsatarget=pla-380309512451&abcId=1129946&adtype=pla&merchantid=9341754&poi=&googleloc=9044947&device=m&campaignid=974961043&crdt=0&ul_ref=http%253A%252F%252Frover.ebay.com%252Frover%252F1%252F710-134428-41853-0%252F2%253Fmpre%253Dhttps%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.ebay.co.uk%25252Fi%25252F401033385949%25253Fchn%25253Dps%252526dispItem%25253D1%2526itemid%253D401033385949%2526targetid%253D380309512451%2526device%253Dm%2526adtype%253Dpla%2526googleloc%253D9044947%2526poi%253D%2526campaignid%253D974961043%2526adgroupid%253D52137191441%2526rlsatarget%253Dpla-380309512451%2526abcId%253D1129946%2526merchantid%253D9341754%2526gclid%253DEAIaIQobChMIsY-C9qea2gIVir_tCh1klgZkEAQYBCABEgJVhfD_BwE%2526srcrot%253D710-134428-41853-0%2526rvr_id%253D1486355228015

Then buy a 9v centre negative 2.1mm barrel pedal cable like this:
https://www.gak.co.uk/en/voodoo-labs-pedal-power-cable-21mm-barrel-ra-61/99947?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxvycnaia2gIV6pPtCh2zWwYuEAQYAiABEgJIBfD_BwE

Then cut one end of the cable off, and connect it to the battery holders wires. 

Basically made a small and clean power solution for any pedal, but also gives you the ability to run any that are too small to have batteries, off of batteries! 


That should work and be safe right?
I’m no electric wizard though so my simple thoughts here could literally be bullshit! 

I’ve been thinking about doing this for a bright onion mini looper, as its currently using a spot on my zuma just for its freaking led to light up.

timmysoft

terada said:

timmysoft said:

I’ve been using the volto2 for the past few months, can’t really fault it!! 

how long do you find it lasts between charges with the pedals you use?

I haven’t had to recharge it yet, 6 rehearsals, 2 recording sessions and some time writing at home and it’s still on two bars of power