Home › Forums › Help/Technical Questions › Running a Tube Zipper on 12V AC 250mA power supply

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  • May 5, 2009 at 5:13 pm #78182
    fikus
    Member

    I have a pedalboard power supply (Harley Benton Power Plant) that has a 12V AC (250mA) output.

    Does anyone know if this is sufficient for the tube zipper? I know most efffect pedals ship with overated power supplies so I was wondering about my Tube Zipper (the tube zipper ships with 1000mA).

    May 5, 2009 at 5:24 pm #96385
    The EH Man
    Moderator

    I don’t think that would supply enough current for the tube filaments, let alone the entire circuit.

    May 5, 2009 at 6:08 pm #96386
    fikus
    Member

    Thanks for the info. I am just looking to streamline my pedalboard’s power supply arangement.

    Do you think I can I get away with 500mA?

    May 5, 2009 at 6:12 pm #96387
    The EH Man
    Moderator
    Quote:
    Thanks for the info. I am just looking to streamline my pedalboard’s power supply arangement.

    Do you think I can I get away with 500mA?

    Possibly. If you or a friend can measure the current draw with the EH adapter you’ll know for sure.

    May 5, 2009 at 6:32 pm #96389
    B.Daws
    Participant

    The problem with the power supply with all the tube pedals is it has a very strange plug which I doubt you have, so regardless of the current you can supply it you probably will have to get the EH plug anyways. I guess you could hard wire some time of plug but who knows.

    May 5, 2009 at 7:19 pm #96398
    The EH Man
    Moderator
    Quote:
    The problem with the power supply with all the tube pedals is it has a very strange plug which I doubt you have, so regardless of the current you can supply it you probably will have to get the EH plug anyways. I guess you could hard wire some time of plug but who knows.

    You can buy the plugs by themselves easily at Mouser. I don’t remember what they are but they used to be called Norelco plugs. My Schaller amp uses them.

    I think this is them: http://www.mouser.com/Search/ProductDetail.aspx?qs=sGAEpiMZZMtVoztFdqDXO/EZGjj4hkYQ

    May 5, 2009 at 9:09 pm #96408
    fikus
    Member

    Thanks for the link. There is a company called BURKEY that will make up the cable. They also sell a power supply that will do the Tube Zipper (The Flatliner), but it’s too big for my board.

    May 6, 2009 at 9:16 am #96414
    fikus
    Member

    Can anyone tell me how to measure how many mA’s the TUBE ZIPPER draws?

    I have a digital multimeter but no idea how to measure the draw on an AC pedal.

    May 6, 2009 at 10:53 am #96416
    The EH Man
    Moderator

    http://www.electronics-radio.com/articles/test-methods/meters/how-to-measure-current.php

    May 6, 2009 at 2:03 pm #96423
    fikus
    Member

    I found that article too. I was hoping for more “Tube Zipper” specific direction (I shoulda went to electric shop). I’m not sure where to put the probes…

    May 6, 2009 at 2:05 pm #96424
    The EH Man
    Moderator

    The easiest way is going to be open it up, unsolder a wire from the jack, and place the meter in series as described in the article.

    May 6, 2009 at 2:07 pm #96425
    fikus
    Member

    OK that helps. Thanks.

    May 12, 2014 at 7:50 pm #119964
    czymaupy
    Participant

    TZ need 1A at start & about 720mA for normal work.

    May 13, 2014 at 6:57 am #119966
    fikus
    Member
    Quote:
    TZ need 1A at start & about 720mA for normal work.

    Thanks for the info. I just started using a Cioks AC10 power supply. It has 12V AC / 800mA. Not quite enough for start up.

    My Zipper just started acting sick. The envelope filter doesn’t work and the output has dropped a lot. Everything cranked up is still less than unity. I was going to replace the tubes but maybe it was my Cioks AC10 that was the problem…

    May 13, 2014 at 5:35 pm #119967
    czymaupy
    Participant
    Quote:
    My Zipper just started acting sick. The envelope filter doesn’t work and the output has dropped a lot. Everything cranked up is still less than unity. I was going to replace the tubes but maybe it was my Cioks AC10 that was the problem…

    I had the same issue. It’s not tubes problem – probably are OK. In my case problem was LM324N chip (4xAmp). Cost about 1PLN = 0,25€ and few wires inside TZ. U can replace Chip by yourself – on IN/OUT side of motherboard U can find 14pin socket with LM324.

    TZ is fully analog guitar FX – very easy electric circuit but U need make attention – on board U can find about 260V AC – risky for your heart :)

    LM324 Datasheet:
    http://www.engineersgarage.com/sites/default/files/LM324_1.jpg?1281349133

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