I built a DIY guitar pedal that runs on a 9V battery, but I'm currently using a cumbersome power supply with crocodile clips. I noticed that most USB chargers only output 5V. Is there a way to convert that to 9V? Are there any important details or limitations I should be aware of?
1 Answer
You can definitely boost that 5V to 9V, but make sure to consider how much power your pedal needs. Most wall chargers output about 5W (5V at 1A), which means if you boost it to 9V, you'll lose some efficiency, so you're only going to get around 500mA. Make sure that’s enough for your pedal's needs!
I think the LM386 chip inside your pedal should work with that power level. I read it can operate at as low as 4V, but I feel you might lose some of that distortion magic. Sticking to 9V sounds like a solid plan!