RG Keen Neutron question

[aishabag23]

Greetings,

I've just etched the RG Keen Neutron PCB. I'd like to run it with a dual-voltage AC power supply. Can anyone suggest a good one I can buy?

Thanks a bunch for any help 

[slashandburn]

Is there any obvious advantage to using the dual supply over the charge pump that I'm not seeing?  Unless you have other pedals that use a dual supply , would it not make more sense to get a 7760 and power it with normal0 9vdc rather than a power supply that is only really useful for one specific pedal?

[digi2t]

I have to agree with slash on that one. The original Foxx guitar synth used a pair of 9v batteries to derive the bipolar power. I used a MAX1044 in my clone. Works just fine. Just get yourself a good quality 9vdc power supply that doesn't stray over 10vdc (the absolute limit of the 1044). The Dunlop wall warts are perfect, that's what I use.

[aishabag23]

I'll give that a go, then. Thanks for the advice!

[alparent]

Look at other 1044. The MAX1044 is good for 10v max (a bit close for 9v devices)
I use the TC1044, good up to 12v

http://www.taydaelectronics.com/ic-integrated-circuits/voltage-regulators/tc1044scpa-tc1044-voltage-regulator-ic.html

[Mark Hammer]

Alternatively, use a 9V1 protection zener to ground on the input from the wallwart to the pedal, so that variations in line voltage don't result in dangerous surges for the charge pump.

[aishabag23]

Thanks for all these great suggestions.

[pinkjimiphoton]

as a gigging working guitarist dealing with real world power supplies in sh*t bars with filthy a/c that's seriously prone to being anywhere but where the wall line voltage should be, i can only say this from my own personal experience.
charge pumps work freekin great. as long as they don't go UNDER their rated voltage too much.
when they do, they tend to make all kinds of gremlins and ghosts in the machine happen, like annoying high pitched squeals that change with the power fluctuations.
i think in such case perhaps having a dedicated supply may be a better choice in that a typical daisy chained situation can exacerbate the voltage fluctuations you may encounter.
like, when i'm sharing a power outlet with my keyboard guy, and he's pumping, i can hear all kindsa changes to my guitar tone. a lot of my stuff does run with charge pumps. but i found if i ran stuff with dedicated 18v taps on my power supplies i have built into my board, i seem to get a lot less noise than i do in the couple of pedals i do still use CP's in. the ubiquitous klone thingy comes to mind.

to see what i mean worst case scenario, take any pt2399 type circuit for delay and brown it out. around 5 v stuff can get pretty interesting, and very very noisy,

i have a clone theory board still scruff came up with awaiting population one day... i am gonna most def run it with the higher voltage tap instead of the charge pump. i think you sometimes need a bit more "oomph" than a 1044 or whatever can supply, and they definitely seem to run titer, cleaner and more predictably. jmo, ymmv

charge pumps are indeed amazing useful and great.. but remember , your lab or studio is gonna likely not have the kinda problems you can encounter in a live situation with bog grade power.

peace out

[aishabag23]

Jimi, this is exactly why I was asking about recommendations for a good, regulated, dedicated AC power supply. I've had similar experiences as you have had regarding weird power issues during my years of touring... Especially overseas in this one electronic band I was in, where we had a ton of effects and gear to plug in (I had about ten surges plugged into one step-down transformer, hahaha). I've learned to just go ahead and use the dedicated power supplies for my gear whenever possible. Still, I'm grateful to learn about charge pumps as well. Its certainly seems to be a more efficient solution most of the time... Unless all your effects are analog, mostly bucket brigade stuff like mine are. 

[pinkjimiphoton]

analog bbd's most especially i like with a dedicated and well filtered power supply.
charge pumps work great with many applications... but it all comes down to the power source.
peace!