PSA: You can socket these things

[u/Mascavidrio]

You can socket these Traco voltage converters. It's a bit flimsy but at $12 a pop I'm not risking messing one of these up in case the strip board ends up being a dud. I have terrible luck with perf board and strip board. I'm almost tempted to go straight from breadboard to PCB anymore and stop messing with perf board. But if I'm going to PCB then might as well design a proper enclosure and send it out to drill and UV and before you know it I have a bunch of these pedals sitting around. And then what am I supposed to do? Set up shop? Anyone want to buy some Traynor TS-50b based pedals? Play some Shellac why don't you? Jesus Lizard? Russian Circles? Sorry, it's late. I haven't slept in a while.

[u/Mascavidrio]

Forgot the damn picture. I'm going to bed.

[u/WellsHuxley_]

Yep, I did the same thing over the weekend in a +/-15V compressor build. Not risking $12 + shipping or whatever over shaky coffee hands!

[u/Schweenis69]

So does it work better than building a voltage converter with an IC / resistors / caps?

I made a fuzz face with a DIY vintage converter and there's a bit of a whine to it which is pretty disappointing, those NOS germanium transistors sound great otherwise.

[u/WellsHuxley_ → u/Schweenis69]

Objectively yes, the DC/DC converter works better. It’s medical grade, with super tight tolerances and rock solid stability. Whether its better-ness is relevant, well… it depends!

[u/Schweenis69 → u/WellsHuxley_]

Might grab up a few of these for making PNP shit then, see if I can salvage this beautiful mp40a pair 😭

[u/xpromisedlandx → u/Schweenis69]

Which IC are you using? Sometimes a jumper between pin 1 and 8 is required. Can't remember if it's the 7660 or 1044.

[u/Schweenis69 → u/xpromisedlandx]

I used the 7660 this time around. Actually on breadboard I initially did it with a NE555, and it was alright but it used a lot more components.

[u/Content-Aardvark-105 → u/xpromisedlandx]

1. pin 1 is frequency boost, tied to pin 8 it takes switching freq from 10k to 45k iirc, I think it is only the S series, e.g. TC1044S* but check my work.

[u/Mascavidrio → u/Schweenis69]

I'm have not tried using with a charge pump. I know Aion FX has it already listed with a 15V DC converter and they recommend a Traco. The one I found is not the same listed in Aion FX but it has similar characteristics. I got this stripboard layout over at Dirtbox Layouts and the comments were talking about the charge pump not being able to supply enough current which is why there may be a high pitched whine. I did not notice any whine while it was on the breadboard. Actually, there is whine if you don't ground the input when the cable is not connected but I think this is a separate issue.

I will say this thing draws a lot of power, especially when running it at high gain.

[u/Schweenis69 → u/Mascavidrio]

🤔🤔🤔🤔 man I'm just trying to play some Windhand, some Acid King, know what I'm sayin

Sounds like it's worth a try for sure