Powering a pedal with 1.5 or 3v ?

[warioblast]

Hi,
I want to build some '60 fuzz like the maestro. How do you power those effects with one or two 1.5v batteries ? On the sites I order my components from, I only see 9v batteries snaps. Are there any snaps for the AA batteries ?
Cheers,
Fabrice

[Bernardduur]

And is there a way to make 3V? I want to power my "radio" with 3V

[hank reynolds 3rd]

where are you based ??
I just did a quick search at mouser...
http://www.mouser.com//index.cfm?handler=displayproduct&lstdispproductid=815540

I've seen them in most decent hardware/electrical shops too...the ones that take 2 'AA' sized batteries will give you 3v

[Quackzed]

I think most effects need at least 9v...most circuits are designed for 9v -to deliver a particular amount of voltage to transistors so they work in the desired manner.If you were to build a schematic designed around a 9v battery,and used instead a 1.5 volt battery, most circuits would not work at all.
    However, i've found fuzz pedals to be pretty versitile. You may be able to adjust a simple fuzz face circuit to work with 6v or less(4 AA batteries)...And there are probably other circuts that would "work" with 6v (probably with bad side effects) unless the circuit were originally designed to use 6v or 3v ....
    Best results are had when using 9v batteries for 9v circuits..(using 12v can add headroom to distortion circuits if all their components are rated to handle 12v!)
    Some onboard jfet buffers use lower than 9v... a simple buffer circut with a few "tweaks" could get you some distortion but it might not be what your looking for...
    you could also try the "smash drive" that uses a 386 chip that might be very distorted at 3v ...some opamp circuits use 4.5v(3 AA bateries in series)

And is there a way to make 3V? I want to power my "radio" with 3V

2 AA batteries will make 3v. you can just hook them up in series( -   ----I____>I____>-----   +)          for(1.5v +1.5v=3.v)

[warioblast]

where are you based ??
I just did a quick search at mouser...
http://www.mouser.com//index.cfm?handler=displayproduct&lstdispproductid=815540

I've seen them in most decent hardware/electrical shops too...the ones that take 2 'AA' sized batteries will give you 3v

I'm from France and order my parts from Germany (Banzai & Musikding). I'll try to find them on other european websites to make it easier. (I'll be glad if someone knows some good places )
Thanks for the tip Hank  

[Bernardduur]

Woops... I mean how to get 3V from a 9V PSU?

[warioblast]

Woops... I mean how to get 3V from a 9V PSU?

Stop hijacking my topic, will you. 
you can look at the voltage divider http://www.diystompboxes.com/analogalchemy/emh/emh.html
or do a search for "voltage regulator"

[Bernardduur]

Woops... I mean how to get 3V from a 9V PSU?

Stop hijacking my topic, will you. 
you can look at the voltage divider http://www.diystompboxes.com/analogalchemy/emh/emh.html
or do a search for "voltage regulator"

OK, OK, I will start my own thread

Btw, a voltage divider does not work (already tried that, duh!) and I can's find a 3V voltage regulator

[amz-fx]

Btw, a voltage divider does not work (already tried that, duh!) and I can's find a 3V voltage regulator

NJM78L03A is a 3.3v 100ma voltage regulator...

-Jack

[Bernardduur]

Oh, thanks man! I was searching for it such a long time!

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

Probably easier to find, is the LM317 adjustable regulator, which (with a 9v input) goes from 6v out down to 1.2V .

[Sir H C]

The Maestro Fuzz Tone started as a 3 volt (2 AA batteries) fuzz, then went to 1.5 volt, and then 9 volts (versions FZ-1, FZ-1A, and FZ-1B respectively).  Here in the States Radio Shack sells the plugs for such batteries, or you can get an old toy that uses AA or AAA batteries and scavenge the battery compartment for your pedal. 

[Quackzed]

cool! I didn't know maestro was 3 or 1.5 volts originally.
with just a AA, you could put a fuzz right in your guitar... if that was your main distortion sound, it would be great to have a toggle on/off right on your guitar!
Hmmm...ill have to breadboard one...
is there a schem for the 1.5 volt version?... 

[pyrop]

Hi, the CMOS DRIVE might be one to look at! It runs at 3v & it says that it has been tested at 1.5v.
I don't know how much of a fuzz it is as it says it's an OD/Distortion.
Here's the schem http://www.geocities.com/tpe123/folkurban/fuzz/snippets.html it's about 1/4 of the way down

pyrop

[Hal]

there are lots of low supply op-amps out there.  Just remmeber that low supply = low headroom (volume before distortion)

[Peter Snowberg]

Microchip makes opamps that will fry if you feed them with a supply over 5V.

It might be worth mentioning that those early low voltage effects used Ge transistors with their inherently lower Vf.

[smnm]

is there a schem for the 1.5 volt version?... 

http://www.geofex.com/FX_images/fz1sch.gif

this combines the 1st 2 variations on the Maestro Fuzztone, which is little confusing to me, but clearif you look hard enough.

I have an original FZ1-A, but the sound is not great, low sustain - search the archives for much discussion of the sound. Most people don't seem to like it. Works best with a hot pickup.

Simon

[warioblast]

The Maestro Fuzz Tone started as a 3 volt (2 AA batteries) fuzz, then went to 1.5 volt, and then 9 volts (versions FZ-1, FZ-1A, and FZ-1B respectively).  Here in the States Radio Shack sells the plugs for such batteries, or you can get an old toy that uses AA or AAA batteries and scavenge the battery compartment for your pedal. 

You forgot the FZ-1S 

[amz-fx]

Low voltage boosters:

http://www.muzique.com/lab/main.htm

regards, Jack