Power Question

[kyle31]

If I were to out two circuits into one box could I power them both with one battery and DC jack?

Both circuits will run at 9v.

I'm thinking just run another 9v+ from the DC jack to the second circuit?

I'm pretty sure it's ok but i'm just trying to make sure while i'm still in planning stages.

[Mark Hammer]

Certainly one DC jack, assuming they both have negative ground.

As for one battery, that would depend on what effects.  Most analog effects draw between 5 and 10ma of current.  Some draw less than 5ma, but others as much as 20ma each, and if you try and stuff two of those into a box with true bypass switches and status LEDs for each, you can be drawing up to 40-45ma from a single 9v battery.  Not much battery life there.  Keep in mind that the circuit is still powered even if you bypass it (although if an LED is off then power consumption is reduced a bit).

The other thing is the extent to which power draw from the one circuit will have an impact on the power available for the other, as well as potential spikes or other noise along the power lines.  Multiple effects can often coexist with each other when sharing the same power lines, but occasionally they need a little help to avoid one causing audible interference with the other over the shared power lines.  Happily, there are precautions you can take to make that workable.

[kyle31]

Thanks for the reply.

The two circuits are a tubescreamer and an amz style mini boost.

I'm basically trying to build an 'everything i'd ever want in a tubescremer' pedal.

I'm definitely going to have a DC jack. I just like having a battery in there in case i kick out the DC power cable or my power supply should go down or something. It will be run through the dc jack 99.9% of the time.