Is MAX1044 a fragile device ?

fuzzo · April 04, 2013, 09:51:19 AM

Hi,

Do you have any experiences with damaged MAX1044 (and equivalent) ? I bought a malekko 600D (broken otherwise I wouldn't buy it) and the max1044 was fried (and the NE570 as well) . I put a other one and fry again (after few days ) but I've to admit that power supply is the mess (the cable is weirdly broken and make short-cut sometimes)

Is the IC fragile in terms of short-cut , voltages ?

the strange thing in the malekko , that DC convert seems to have any protection to avoid this kind of thing (with other strange thing too)

midwayfair · April 04, 2013, 10:04:31 AM

Yes, they die if you feed them 12v for sure, and sometimes as low as 10v. If there isn't already one in there, stick a 9.1V or 10V zener from the +9v source to ground and you'll have a faux regulator -- anything above those voltages will be conducted to ground, protecting the MAX1044.

>(broken otherwise I wouldn't buy it)
Dunno why you have to specify this, it's a great delay when it's working. The B was better, and the 616 is my favorite analog delay ever (even over a 3005 memory man).

Govmnt_Lacky · April 04, 2013, 10:06:13 AM

I believe the MAX1044 only has a maximum input voltage of 10VDC. That is actually pretty low when talking about using effects pedals that sometimes run on non-regulated wall warts.

Also, the MAX1044 can only supply about 20mA of current when used as a voltage doubler. That is also fairly low when we are not talking about simple fuzz, OD, and distortion pedals.

All of this can be found on the datasheet.

Paul Marossy · April 04, 2013, 10:14:43 AM

Most new alkaline 9V batteries I have measured measure about 9.5V - kind of cutting it close with a MAX1044...

thelonious · April 04, 2013, 11:06:41 AM

I've had good experiences with the TC1044SEPA and TC1044SCPA. Max input voltage is 12V on those. Also see this thread: http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=78684.0

fuzzo · April 04, 2013, 12:43:12 PM

QuoteYes, they die if you feed them 12v for sure, and sometimes as low as 10v. If there isn't already one in there, stick a 9.1V or 10V zener from the +9v source to ground and you'll have a faux regulator -- anything above those voltages will be conducted to ground, protecting the MAX1044.

May I have killed it with 9V5 ? my one spot is rated at 9V5 (as few other power supply by the way) , if it is what it killed it , that IC seems really picky

QuoteAlso, the MAX1044 can only supply about 20mA of current when used as a voltage doubler. That is also fairly low when we are not talking about simple fuzz, OD, and distortion pedals.

actually I thought about that , tried to find this information in the datasheet with no succes, I should learn to read i think....Anyway the MAX1044 is the Malekko seems to feed only the TL074 , the other ICs work with 9V/0V.

Quote>(broken otherwise I wouldn't buy it)
Dunno why you have to specify this, it's a great delay when it's working. The B was better, and the 616 is my favorite analog delay ever (even over a 3005 memory man).

it wasn't really nice to put it that way . Don't get me wrong this pedal sounds really nice ! but I was really surprised to see how poor the quality was for a 250euros delay pedal. The front panel is just a sticker , the paint has cracks all over (just a spray paint) . Dunno I was expecting something better for 250euros (price that I din't pay obviously ).

the only reason I see for the death of the IC is its voltage sensibility in my case

midwayfair · April 04, 2013, 01:41:04 PM

Quote from: fuzzo on April 04, 2013, 12:43:12 PM
it wasn't really nice to put it that way . Don't get me wrong this pedal sounds really nice ! but I was really surprised to see how poor the quality was for a 250euros delay pedal. The front panel is just a sticker , the paint has cracks all over (just a spray paint) . Dunno I was expecting something better for 250euros (price that I din't pay obviously ).

Huh! I didn't know that. The newer ones are very high quality. I expect they got much better in a hurry!

You could probably clip pin 1 of an LT1054 and use it in place of the MAX. I think. You have to check if pins 1 and 8 are already connected (if they are, you need to clip the pin). The 1054 is much more robust. If you blow that with a one-spot ... well, I'd start looking elsewhere.

You might consider contacting Malekko. They might have some advice at least.

Govmnt_Lacky · April 04, 2013, 01:49:39 PM

Quote from: midwayfair on April 04, 2013, 01:41:04 PM
You could probably clip pin 1 of an LT1054 and use it in place of the MAX. I think. You have to check if pins 1 and 8 are already connected (if they are, you need to clip the pin). The 1054 is much more robust. If you blow that with a one-spot ... well, I'd start looking elsewhere.

Just remember that the LT1054 DOES NOT have the frequency doubling capability exactly like the MAX1044. The oscillator frequency can be changed... just not in the same way as the MAX1044

trjones1 · April 04, 2013, 05:32:19 PM

The TC1044 is the functional equivalent of the MAX, is cheaper and has a max input voltage of 12V. They're available at Mouser.

chromesphere · April 04, 2013, 06:54:34 PM

Ive killed so many max1044's. I just cant buy them anymore...I think the current handling of the max might be an issue as well. I cant recall exactly, but i seem to remember it was much lower then LT and TC.

You will know when your max is gone too btw. Heres a simple test. Touch the top of the IC. Leave your finger there for about 3 seconds. Look at your finger and if it has 'max1044' imprinted on it, its burnt out.

Paul

Arcane Analog · April 04, 2013, 07:04:33 PM

Quote from: trjones1 on April 04, 2013, 05:32:19 PM
The TC1044 is the functional equivalent of the MAX, is cheaper and has a max input voltage of 12V. They're available at Mouser.

+1

I would not recommend using a MAX1044 for stomp boxes. If you approach 9.5V you are pushing it.

RandomGlitch · April 04, 2013, 11:05:58 PM

I've used a 555 as a voltage inverter (on a fuzz face) with no problems. The voltage drops a bit (a couple of volts) but that doesn't seem to be a problem with fuzzes.

I think 555 can take a bit more voltage so is more robust (so far anyway).

paulyy · April 05, 2013, 02:07:30 AM

THEY SUCK

. I kept burnning thru them when I built my filter,sample,hold pedal. I cant remember what Im using now but the max1044 is a waste of time.

ggedamed · April 05, 2013, 04:21:47 AM

Gentlemen, I've found that, while a MAX1044 dies the instant you subject it to higher voltage than what the datasheet says, it happens only in a negative voltage converter circuit.

I had some samples from Maxim and I put two of them in a distortion+cabsim circuit and one in an EQ pedal. In the EQ MAX1044 is in a negative voltage converter circuit (figure 8 from the datasheet) while in the distortion pedal is in a voltage doubler (for the cabsim)/trippler (for the distortion) circuit (figure 9 in the datasheet).
I noticed before that the MAX1044s from the distortion pedal survived even when I mistakenly supplied 18V from a DIY PSU with multiple unmarked (

, I know) outputs. So I purposefully connected them to 18V to see if they were some kind of super MAX1044s or there was something in the circuit. Sure enough, the chip died in the EQ pedal, but not in the distortion pedal. I didn't keep the voltage more than 4 seconds because the voltage output at the trippler increased beyond 50V and I was not sure all the parts were rated that high.

Anyone got a simillar experience?

Scruffie · April 05, 2013, 04:57:03 AM

Quote from: ggedamed on April 05, 2013, 04:21:47 AM
Gentlemen, I've found that, while a MAX1044 dies the instant you subject it to higher voltage than what the datasheet says, it happens only in a negative voltage converter circuit.

I had some samples from Maxim and I put two of them in a distortion+cabsim circuit and one in an EQ pedal. In the EQ MAX1044 is in a negative voltage converter circuit (figure 8 from the datasheet) while in the distortion pedal is in a voltage doubler (for the cabsim)/trippler (for the distortion) circuit (figure 9 in the datasheet).
I noticed before that the MAX1044s from the distortion pedal survived even when I mistakenly supplied 18V from a DIY PSU with multiple unmarked (, I know) outputs. So I purposefully connected them to 18V to see if they were some kind of super MAX1044s or there was something in the circuit. Sure enough, the chip died in the EQ pedal, but not in the distortion pedal. I didn't keep the voltage more than 4 seconds because the voltage output at the trippler increased beyond 50V and I was not sure all the parts are rated that high.

Anyone got a simillar experience?

Interesting, Frequency Central was using the MAX1044 in his Murder One amps at 12V for years with no issues so that does show that 10V wont kill them in all situations.

You guys have made me worry about the MAX1044 i've used in a pedal now... damn it.

darron · April 05, 2013, 05:05:52 AM

it's a prick just to keep those chips going...

chromesphere · April 05, 2013, 07:28:44 AM

From my experience so far (from memory), the max's that have miraculously combusted have been in an FSH, and I built 5 germanium boosters (rangemasters) which is negative 9 volt out. Took me a while to work out what was wrong with the pedal. 5 died. So that's a pos ground circuit and a high current circuit. Oh, wait, the fsh has negative output as well doesn't? Maybe it is negative output that kills them?
Paul

darron · April 05, 2013, 07:30:24 AM

the slightest glimpse of too much current kills them immediately.

effection · April 05, 2013, 07:47:55 AM

From my experience, and to allude to the now late, great, Roger Ebert, I hate hate hate the MAX1044.

A lot of people prefer the ICL7660S

ggedamed · April 05, 2013, 01:07:03 PM

OK, I made a clip testing it at 18V:

News:

Is MAX1044 a fragile device ?