Why Didn't I Think of This Dept.?

[newey]

This seems like an obvious idea, but it's the first one I've seen:

Sanyo Pedal Juice 9V Power Supply

It's a rechargeable Li-On battery pack that sits on your pedal board and powers your pedals for up to 50 hours before recharging. Recharges in 3.5 hrs.

No more lugging around an AC adapter and connecting cords, no more hunting for an outlet. Your pedalboard is completely portable! And, no AC noise, either.

It's a little pricey at $150(USD), but it sounds like a good idea- eliminates buying 9V batteries and eliminates cords, wallwarts, etc.

[flateric]

This is one of those "Why didn't someone think of it before" no-brainer products that makes great sense - apart from the price tag.
Come on guys - $150 for a 9v rechargeable pack, that's a little steep isn't it?
+1 for Sanyo, now we need to wait for 3 or 4 other companies to bring out cheaper models.

[Yew]

Hmmm.. It wouldnt be to hard to make.....

[jcgss77]

Yep. All DIY'ers slap themselves in the head...



And make one for $20.

[flateric]

...and post up details of how I can do it....

[jcgss77]

All you really need is a schematic for a charger, which Google will find that for you, a suitable power supply(high amperage for fast charging times), a decent 9v battery, eBay will probably be the best place to get that. While you are at it, might as well get a second one just in case, and if you have an active guitar/bass, maybe one for that too? Why not do up the whole rig? I am sure there are lots of places to get a pcb layout for a charger online if you etch, otherwise I think that parts count is pretty low for perfboard building. Just build a simple box with a battery mount and leads for each stompbox. Easy! I can post a schem later after I get my amp laid out.


EDIT: Upon further review, if you have a lot of effects, or use tube pedals, you will DEFINITELY need at least 2 batteries. It says that it will power 500mA for 5 hours. I know my effects use more than that with just 2 pedals.

[4real]

It's an interesting idea but with quite a few limitations...

EDIT: Upon further review, if you have a lot of effects, or use tube pedals, you will DEFINITELY need at least 2 batteries. It says that it will power 500mA for 5 hours. I know my effects use more than that with just 2 pedals.

That isn't that good a performance as you really need that power and consistency of supply for things like digital pedals that draw a lot...such as a digital delay....many other more simple effects can run happily on conventional rechargable 9v batts.

I have a feeling that adequate batteries in Li-on wil be surprisingly expensive...especially considering teh cost of thos in mobile phone and their longevity and performance.

One thing to consider trying is chaining such batteries or from cameras to the required voltage and current and using a simple regulator circuit to ensure that the supply is consistent with draw...if you can get such things cheap. Use the 'phone charger' pack to recharge the things...

The convenience is appealing, one less power lead on the stage perhaps...but the 'risks' of it failing at a bad moment, the expense and ongoing costs (recharging takes power $ and the batteries don't last and you would need charged spares for a professional gig) seems to outweigh the inconvenience.

I always though 'rack mounting' all your pedals and using a switch box to select them was the ultimate solution...get them off the floor say on top of the amp where you can play with them...mount a circuit breaker powerboard to the back of the amp and plug everything into this for protection.

One day perhaps someone might make a 'wireless' pedal board to control the functions to eliminate leads to the floor to control it perhaps.

[ijustwannastrat]

Well, my biggest problem with pedals+batteries is that I have to use a screwdriver to undo the back, or something else always happens...

Why not just make something that 9V's can easily be accessed in, and put a lead from that to the pedal? Do something like 2 9V's per output, then have a switch to switch between parallel and series (yea, I can't believe I just thought of that) for 18V vs. longer lasting 9V. I actually think I would buy a product like that for a pedalboard...

[jcgss77]

That would also be easy to make ijws. Add 2 battery snaps to your board near each pedal, run them to a foot switch, and the switch output to the power input. Done!

I do like to plug in my effects, no chance of the batteries running out then. But I also like the idea of not running the AC to them, saving the extra noise.

[sbgodofmetal]

why not just try this.... remove the 9v batt snap and solder in its place a large type rc batt plug (2 piece set under $4@ radioshack) and running it with a 9.6v rechargable ni-cad or ni-mh rc batt, which ever you prefer also available @ radioshack from $3-$40 total price pending on batt selection $6-$45 before tax's problem solved for far less than $150 it will perform just the same though you may not get 50 hours exactly but the function & results are the same (rechargability, extended life, w/$$$aved)

[newey]

Awhile back, we discussed using the batteries from all the old cellphones we have lying in various drawers. Most of these are in the 3V range and stacking three in series would give close to 9V. The cellphone wall wart(s) could be used to charge these (w/ some overcharge protection outboard of the wart).

Most of these batteries will still have life left in them, and no cost at all.

[sbgodofmetal]

that wouldn't take much to make a new terminal from scratch using the old phone as a charger, assuming the old phone will still charge the battery