Powering pedals via RC battery pack?

Willybomb · April 17, 2011, 08:29:39 AM

Gudday all. I'm currently putting together a new pedalboard for my daughter based around a couple of cheap leftover pedals I had lying around. Unlike my last board, they're all 9v and there will only be 4-5 of them. After seeing the ads for the Sanyo Pedaljuice around I'm thinking that a suitably ghetto version would be to use a 9.6v RC battery pack such as this: http://www.batteryspace.com/airsoftgunbattery96v4200mahnimhbattery06acompactsmartcharger.aspx

Basically I'm trying to make a basic grab-and-gig board with the (imo) essentials - tuner, OD (as a boost), dirt (in this case a Berry GDI-21), chorus, and maybe a reverb later and trying to get away from extension leads and wall warts.

Any opinions on the idea?

Thanks,
Willy.

petemoore · April 17, 2011, 08:51:08 AM

I had fine experiences with various batteries suppling DC current, most effects use little compared to digital or amplifier.
Inexpenisve RC power storage cells considered large reserve of DC~9v, ripple and ground free !
Was quick, simple, sure-fire [observe/check polarity] method to excellent supply, I also use batteries to compare-test power supply goodness.

Hides-His-Eyes · April 17, 2011, 08:55:59 AM

It's an excellent idea and I don't know why it isn't more common. If I ever get in a gigging band again I'm going to do something similar.

Most of the complication in the Sanyo is that when plugged in it has to charge the battery. However, just putting a power pack in an enclosure or with an adapter cable is perfectly sensible and then you can just remove it to charge it.

Chorus and reverb might draw a reasonable amount of current; I'd aim for 1500-2000mAH to be well in the "safe zone" for a two hour gig.

The nice thing about using one battery like that is you can turn it off without unplugging all the input jacks. I'd put it in an enclosure with the brightest LED you can find and a big ol' DPDT switch. Don't want it draining accidentally.

Better yet, put TWO in an enclosure and have a "battery A/OFF/battery B" switch using an on/off/on switch so that there's something to flick to in an emergency!

Willybomb · April 17, 2011, 09:37:22 AM

All good ideas. I was certainly thinking about the stompswitch/LED thing and as far as play time goes... I was thinking about wiring 2 in parallel maybe.

sbgodofmetal · April 18, 2011, 08:19:35 PM

hello willibomb i've been planning on doing this myself and i'd recommend the 9.6v rc batteries and as long as the batteries mah number is higher than the collective mah amount from the pedals you'll only really need one rc battery. now here's an idea for you to try, make a power chain cord and wire the rc connector to the end that would normally go to the brick converter of a commercial pedal power supply unit.

sbgodofmetal · April 18, 2011, 08:28:20 PM

hides his eyes idea about a separate enclosure with switching between batteries is also a good idea just so you know radio shack carries these type batteries from around $3-$50, and the 2 pack of 1male/1female rc connectors are usually under $2 a pack as well.

good luck.

sbgodofmetal · April 18, 2011, 08:34:51 PM

just a thought, on the battery enclosure have 3 LEDS 1 shows power is on and the other 2 can be used to show which battery is in use

Hides-His-Eyes · April 19, 2011, 06:15:39 AM

Quote from: sbgodofmetal on April 18, 2011, 08:28:20 PM
hides his eyes idea about a separate enclosure with switching between batteries is also a good idea just so you know radio shack carries these type batteries from around $3-$50, and the 2 pack of 1male/1female rc connectors are usually under $2 a pack as well.

good luck.

They're much cheaper than that on ebay, so please you

sbgodofmetal · April 19, 2011, 09:16:23 AM

i can't shop online as of yet, so i personally wouldn't have known about that, so thanks for posting it.

zombiwoof · April 19, 2011, 06:18:20 PM

Quote from: Hides-His-Eyes on April 17, 2011, 08:55:59 AM
It's an excellent idea and I don't know why it isn't more common. If I ever get in a gigging band again I'm going to do something similar.

Most of the complication in the Sanyo is that when plugged in it has to charge the battery. However, just putting a power pack in an enclosure or with an adapter cable is perfectly sensible and then you can just remove it to charge it.

Chorus and reverb might draw a reasonable amount of current; I'd aim for 1500-2000mAH to be well in the "safe zone" for a two hour gig.

The nice thing about using one battery like that is you can turn it off without unplugging all the input jacks. I'd put it in an enclosure with the brightest LED you can find and a big ol' DPDT switch. Don't want it draining accidentally.

Better yet, put TWO in an enclosure and have a "battery A/OFF/battery B" switch using an on/off/on switch so that there's something to flick to in an emergency!

I don't understand your "complication" of the Sanyo, you just charge it up between uses. It works for hours on a charge, and I seem to remember it supplies something like 2000 ma, enough to run several pedals. Could you explain?. I'm thinking of buying one.

Al

Hides-His-Eyes · April 19, 2011, 08:22:32 PM

I meant complication in the design, not the use. It's a complex design involving charge pumps and presumably charging regulation and logic. So not easy to directly DIY. Hence me discussing the alternatives.

If you want to just buy one, that's not complicated.

Willybomb · May 31, 2011, 07:05:38 PM

Well, it wasn't that hard to implement, but I somehow managed to reverse the polarity on the tamiya plug on the daisychain (after checking with the multimeter!) and blow the Arion tuner and the Berry GDI-21. The two Livingstone pedals survived and still work though after swapping the wires. The battery is just the cheapest 9.6v 3800mah I could find on ebay (~AUD$20 including charger).

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

I'd like to get a bit more complex with it (enclosure, leds, backup battery), but for now it's working fine.

Willy.

R.G. · May 31, 2011, 07:47:31 PM

Quote from: zombiwoof on April 19, 2011, 06:18:20 PM
I don't understand your "complication" of the Sanyo, you just charge it up between uses. It works for hours on a charge, and I seem to remember it supplies something like 2000 ma, enough to run several pedals. Could you explain?. I'm thinking of buying one.

One major complication of the Sanyo thing is that it's EXPENSIVE for what it does.

I like the first version of this idea I messed with: get two power packs for a cordless drill/driver and one charger. Cut the handle off the drill driver to get the battery plug/receptacle part and put this on your pedalboard facing up. Arrange the stuff below the receptacle to make 9V for your board. Now charge up one pack, plug it in, and put the second pack in the charger. Play. When the first battery is exhausted, swap packs. It works GREAT for drill/drivers, and should be great for pedals.

I can't believe Sanyo wanted so much money for it.

zombiwoof · June 01, 2011, 01:54:59 AM

Quote from: Hides-His-Eyes on April 19, 2011, 08:22:32 PM
I meant complication in the design, not the use. It's a complex design involving charge pumps and presumably charging regulation and logic. So not easy to directly DIY. Hence me discussing the alternatives.

If you want to just buy one, that's not complicated.

I misunderstood, didn't realize you were looking at it from a DIY angle.
Thanks for the clarification.

Al

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Powering pedals via RC battery pack?