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DIY Stompboxes => Building your own stompbox => Topic started by: Alpha579 on May 23, 2004, 01:17:09 AM

Title: Wallwarts?
Post by: Alpha579 on May 23, 2004, 01:17:09 AM
Hey,
Where do you guys get your wallwarts? and they usually pump out 12v @1.5a dont they?
Thanx
Alex
Title: secret, secret, secret, secret!
Post by: guitarhacknoise on May 23, 2004, 04:11:02 AM
hey, check out the salvation army! (or local equivilant!) mine has a bin dedicated to power supply needs, a vast array of all types, pick an choose! :shock:
Title: Re: Wallwarts?
Post by: slajeune on May 23, 2004, 05:32:56 AM
If you have a surplus electronic store close to your house, that's usually a good cheap place to get them.  Radio Shack also sells them (a bit more expensive).  They are not all 12V 1.5A.  You have to check to make sure that they can supply the given current requirement.  Some are as low as 150mA, so check before you buy (it's clearly written on the little sticker how much current it can supply).

Cheers,
Steph.

Quote from: Alpha579Hey,
Where do you guys get your wallwarts? and they usually pump out 12v @1.5a dont they?
Thanx
Alex
Title: Wallwarts?
Post by: R.G. on May 23, 2004, 09:43:01 AM
Wall warts don't have any "usually". They are all over the map. They are even not consistently AC or DC.

Always read the voltage and current ratings on the wart and match them to what you need.

Be aware that the "regulation" of all small transformers, wall warts included, is poor. "Regulation" as it's applied to transformers means the change in output voltage from no load to full specified load. Since transformers have no active means of regulating voltage, the term simply means the percentage of voltage drop caused by wiring resistance over the load current range.

So why am I nattering about regulation? When a wall wart says "12V @ 1.5A" that means "this transformer will provide *at least* 12V when you pull out a current of 1.5A. It will be more than that at lesser loads."

A wall wart typically has about 10-20% regulation. That means that at no load, you may see a voltage that's 20% higher than the specified voltage under load.
Title: Wallwarts?
Post by: Mark F on May 23, 2004, 09:56:01 PM
Check Garage/yard sales. I picked up a basket full, aprox. 20 for &2.00. How's that for value? And there are different voltages & current ratings. I see them at these sales quite frequently. Good Luck!
Title: Wallwarts?
Post by: loki on May 24, 2004, 09:43:08 AM
If you need a wallwart I really suggest you to buy the Godlyke Powerall.
I have it and it's awesome! don't know how much it actually pumps (haven't measured it) but it can handle 1.7 Ampere, so you can power a LOT of pedals with it (I currently have 14 pedals connected)....
and then it's digital.... doesn't have a transformer which means no hum, no hiss, no heat.... and the most important thing... it's designed specifically for effects pedals
I really recommend it, it costs around 40$, and you have included a 5-plug daisy chain with regular 5.5 x 2.1 plugs, 2 inverted polarity 5.5 x 2.1 adapters, 2 inverted polarity adapters to use with old DOD pedals, 1 inverted polarity adapter to use with Line 6 modelers, and 2 battery snap adapters....
you can check it here:
http://www.godlyke.com/product.asp?item=102
bye!