Parting wall warts for Spyder Build & inventory (better than cheap, it's free)

[bluesman1218]

So I just used my last 12VAC transformer for another 9VDC Regulated PSU and I still want to build RG's Spyder. I bought 2 Weber transformers a few years ago for the original build, but they're so big that I couldn't build a Spyder sized for a pedalboard. What to do, what to do?

Well, I never throw out wall warts and I figured it's about time to put them to use. Using my Xacto saw to cut the shell open, I pulled apart one rated at 9VDC/300mA, which puts out 14.6VDC. It'll do just fine. I can either just add the voltage regulator and cap to the existing circuit, or I can just use the trannies with my own board. For reliability, I will likely go with option 2.

I have enough wall warts of various ratings to do all kinds of stuff AND free up room on my inventory shelf. Definitely building an adjustable PSU, maybe into one of the larger wall wart shells, very handy to test a circuit when the spec'd voltage regulator isn't on hand....

Here's the wall wart with 14.6V tranny, 1000uF/16v 'lytic and 4 - 1N4001 diodes:

[wavley]

Awesome, I was just considering something similar this weekend while staring at a tangled mess of broken wall warts.  I haven't cut into mine yet because house projects got in the way