Hard drive power supply question

O · August 21, 2007, 10:57:52 PM

My office is throwing out 5 SCSi external CD-Rom/Hard drive enclosures with an integrated power supply. I took one apart and there is a board approx. 1.5inches x 5inches long. The power board plugs into the SCSI HD/CD Rom and provides 12v and 5v.

Is it possible to use this as a power supply for a multi-pedal box?

I can take pictures if needed, I just thought I would ask here first.

Thanks!

O · August 22, 2007, 11:40:41 AM

Bump for the morning crowd...

bancika · August 22, 2007, 02:11:35 PM

Why not...

O · August 22, 2007, 05:08:06 PM

Quote from: bancika on August 22, 2007, 02:11:35 PM
Why not...

Don't want to kill my uber-tone machine

bancika · August 22, 2007, 05:25:56 PM

HD is probably more sensitive...

petemoore · August 22, 2007, 06:06:38 PM

Is it possible to use this as a power supply for a multi-pedal box?
Well,., I read they can be noisy, as in not regulated or partially regulated..something to the effect of less than smooth DC power.

aron · August 22, 2007, 06:10:43 PM

12V can be regulated down to 9V with a voltage regulator.

Should work!

O · August 22, 2007, 06:39:44 PM

If I regulate it, can I still have 12v & 9v? I want to run some pedals at 12v.

aron · August 22, 2007, 07:15:18 PM

Yes.

bancika · August 23, 2007, 08:24:29 AM

but unregulated 12V. Don't worry about that too much. Put largish electrolyte (1000uF) so it smooths out the ripple if there's any and that should kill the noise (most of it)

O · August 23, 2007, 01:59:05 PM

I don't have it in front of me, but I remember a huge electro sitting already on the board. I'll take some pics tonight and see if I can trace it.

Mark Hammer · August 23, 2007, 02:30:31 PM

Computer power supplies are virtually always switching supplies. Some folks have noted that, once in a while, some digital pedals don't play nice with some switching supplies. Alternatively, ONE pedal with play nice but two won't. My guess is that if you take the 12v output and regulate it down to 9v, that secondary regulation should enable all pedals to play nicely with each other.

This is a use for power supplies I have pondered at great length, since lord knows I have enough of those little blighters sitting in the garage...and the basement...and the workshop.

O · August 23, 2007, 04:39:07 PM

Mark, the pedal I'm building will house 6 DIY pedals. Do you still think it would cause some sort of problem?

Mark Hammer · August 23, 2007, 04:43:03 PM

Not off hand.

The key thing to be aware of is the possibility of heterodyning of anything clocked.

O · August 23, 2007, 04:48:42 PM

Hmm... looks like I'll just have to plug it in and hope for the best. I'm only adding a comp, booster, od, dist, cabinet emu, and an eq, so I don't think they would "act up"

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Hard drive power supply question