1st build questions

[doctorzylo]

Hi, been reading for a while, first post.  I'm considering building the 'Regulated Power Supply" from General Guitar Gadgets to power my overdive, wah, etc. (4 pedals)
1. Is this a good choice & has anyone built one of these?
2. The General mentions a heat sink & thermal gel on the page but does not show them in the parts    list - are they necessary?
3. As this is my first build, I'm not sure if I should solder the flat pack transformer tight to the pcb or  leave clearance under it?
4. Last one - R.G. Keen's 'Pedalboard Power Supply' article on Geofex discusses Rbat.  Is there a consensus as to the ideal ohms/voltage ratio or does each stompbox have it's own sweet spot?

[jefe]

I would not recommend this as your first build. You'll be dealing with mains voltage, very VERY dangerous if you don't know what you're doing. You're much better off building a few 9 volt pedals first. 

[MohiZ]

I agree. Unless, of course, you already have some experience in electronics and soldering etc. It's very easy to make a mistake somewhere, I make mistakes all the time even though I've built lots already.  The difference is, on a nine volt battery there's not much danger.

EDIT: I don't wanna discourage you, so if you want to do it, then go ahead. The regulator can get hot, and that's what the heat sink and thermal paste are for. I haven't used them, but I've read that it's a good idea to use heat sinking.

[Tubebass]

My son built one of these for his brother, and it works fine with no heat sink. He used a 7809, TO-220 package regulator.

[Mark Hammer]

The requirement for heat sink depends on how much current you're going to draw.  If it's rated to deliver one amp, and you're using it to power a couple of effects that only want 10ma each, then the regulator will not be taxed very hard at all.  If you're using it to power a bunch of digital pedals that each want 150ma, then the regulator is starting to draw much more current and heat will result.  That's when the heat-sinking starts to become important, and thermal paste provides a means to assure that the heat sink does as good a job as it can.

[MikeH]

I'll agree with the above posters- a power supply project isn't a very safe first project.  Nor is it very rewarding, actually.  It's the kind of thing I've built out of necessity rather than fun.  I say go with something that you'll get use out of, and that will impress you band mates- 


And welcome to the forum!

[axg20202]

+1  For first builds I'd go for a couple of different flavours of disto box - more fun and rewarding to build and generally fairly easy projects. Don't be tempted to build modulation effects (flangers, phasers etc) until you have your basics down...

Another tip for a newb - don't be in a rush to box your first builds up in pretty containers.  You can waste a lot of time designing and prepping enclosures for circuits you don't actually like the sound of.  Can be a good learning experience anyway, but....

[Joe Hart]

Welcome to the forum! I would recommend just getting a 1-Spot or something. I mean, you'll put a lot of time and effort and money into something that you can buy very cheaply and will the one you build be any better? An effect that you build can be tailored to your exact tastes and you CANNOT buy that off the shelf. A power supply just delivers power to your pedals. Just my thought. And working with scary electricity is... well... scary!
-Joe Hart