Wall warts idea

[kpatz]

I would expect a decent quality switching supply will work as well as a linear one.

One idea I've had for wall warts is to develop/build one larger power supply that can take the place of wall warts for multiple items. Especially items that run at the same voltage, could share a supply if it provides enough current. Say, you have more than one of the same piece of gear (2+ synths, or drum machines, etc) that use the same type of wall wart, they could be powered more efficiently from a shared power supply.

[golden beers]

swtich modes are cheap which is why they get used allot. cheapy ones have a shorter life-span and are generally considered to be not good. this is what i've heard, i'm no expert.

[jbartee]

The only way to know is to try one and see. Different switching PSU's will behave differently, but probably the biggest factor will be the actual gear. Depending on how power is handled by the synth, a switching PSU could definitely introduce noise. I'd imagine DSI is using a very nice switching PSU, coupled with heavy power filtering in the synths themselves (probably at least a large reservoir cap in their somewhere). Your mileage may vary.

Personally I avoid switching PSU's like the plague, especially on older gear and gear that I've built.

[oldgearguy]

Originally Posted by rockmanrock

I've been doing a new set up of my equipment lately and I'm looking at all these wall wart PSUs I've got. Despite owning a ton of them, it looks like I'm short of a few DC ones with sufficient milliamp outputs for some bits of equipment so I'm going to buy a few more.

Looking at what's for sale now, it looks like switch-mode PSUs are quite cheap and noticing that my Evolver uses a 12V one which doesn't get hot and is compact in size, my question is - are they a suitable replacement for the old toasty (inefficient) linear ones? I have seen it mentioned that switch mode PSUs can generate noise but DSI seem to be using them, and all these little chargers we get with our phones and other gadgets seem to be using them. If they're that good I'm tempted to swap all my linear ones.

Here's one idea

It's mainly for guitar pedal boards, but it might work for some gear like 606's, 303's, Oberheim PERF/X stuff, etc. Only 9v and 18v though.

[pr0gr4m]

This is what we all need/want. Unfortunately it never came to be. I'm would imagine that if someone could come up with the tech to do it and the manufacturing to make a device like this, it would sell like hotcakes.

I can only guess that the reason these were never made is because they either couldn't hit a price point that would make it worth replacing wall warts or perhaps there were problems that they could not overcome.

[rockmanrock]

Originally Posted by oldgearguy

Here's one idea

It's mainly for guitar pedal boards, but it might work for some gear like 606's, 303's, Oberheim PERF/X stuff, etc. Only 9v and 18v though.

I did consider products like that but I think synths and other rack stuff needs a bit more juice, only 250ma per port.

That Mpathx one looks rather swanky, but it does chew up another rack space. I've got my extension sockets mounted to the side of my Ikea Rast racks, works quite well.

Just had my Evolver on for a bit as a test, that switch mode PSU is warmer than I expected! I've seen some 1000mA ones for cheap on Ebay though, think I'll buy a couple and see how it goes.