| Author |
Topic: Cell phone power supply / Stroboflip Tuner? |
Jerry Roller
From:
Van Buren, Arkansas USA
|
Posted 8 Jul 2016 11:02 pm |
|
I am wondering if I can use a cell phone power supply with the Stroboflip if I put the proper plug on the power supply. If appears to be the correct voltage. Does someone have the answer for me. I would like to hear from an electronics tech or someone who knows for certain. I don't want to ruin a tuner.
Thanks,
Jerry
_________________
http://www.littleoprey.org/ |
|
|
 |
Scott Duckworth
From:
Etowah, TN Western Foothills of the Smokies
|
Posted 9 Jul 2016 3:06 am
|
|
Make sure the milliamp rating is sufficient. Anything above what the tuner needs is OK.
_________________
Amateur Radio Operator NA4IT (Extra)
http://www.qsl.net/na4it
I may, in fact, be nuts. However, I am screwed onto the right bolt... Jesus! |
|
|
|
Howard Parker
From:
Maryland
|
Posted 9 Jul 2016 6:08 am
|
|
No, No & No! There is no compatibly between a typical phone charger and the Flip. Most (if not all) cell chargers are designed for lithium ion batteries. Different animals all together.
If you want a power supply for the Strobo Flip get the proper one used from the forum or call Peterson. They can't be that expensive.
h
-edit- Tutorial on USB battery charging. |
|
|
|
ajm
From:
Los Angeles
|
Posted 10 Jul 2016 8:13 am
|
|
A couple of comments/questions.
Is this a StroboFlip or a StroboClip? The Petersen web site appears to be a little confusing with regards to the exact terminology.
Is there a jack on the tuner for an external power adapter? I couldn't tell from several photos or the manual. This may be the ultimate determining factor for the whole topic. If there isn't a jack, then we may not go much farther.
A quick Google search turned up nothing on the battery life for this device.
I'm no expert, but there may be a difference between a cell phone power supply versus a cell phone charger.
We don't know exactly what supply/charger you are trying to adapt.
In summation, *could* it be done? Maybe, but we need more information.
If there actually is a jack for an external adapter, I'd agree with another poster. Just spend a few bucks and get one dedicated for the tuner. That way, it will always go with the rest of your gear, and you'll always have it when you need it. It won't be left at home charging up a cell phone while you're at a gig. |
|
|
|
Howard Parker
From:
Maryland
|
Posted 10 Jul 2016 8:51 am
|
|
There is a power supply available for the Strobo Flip which does have provisions for an external power source.
h |
|
|
|
Jerry Roller
From:
Van Buren, Arkansas USA
|
Posted 10 Jul 2016 9:55 am
|
|
I have 4 Strobo-flip tuners and I have 2 of the power supplies that came with them. I have several phone chargers and they are around 4 volts. My Grandson left batteries in his too long and a small battery leakage cause problems. The phone chargers are very small while the Strobo-flip supply is pretty large. It looked like a good idea but it appears to me frow what you guys are telling me it is not a good idea to pursue. Perhaps an external battery holder would be a good idea since I could plug it into the power supply jack but would not have to have an electrical outlet to plug into the wall or strip?
Jerry
_________________
http://www.littleoprey.org/ |
|
|
|
Howard Parker
From:
Maryland
|
Posted 10 Jul 2016 10:04 am
|
|
I never considered using my Peterson supply or any external supply for that matter.
I get 6-9 months out of the batteries with daily use and get ample warning (dimming) before the unit powers down. Three fresh AA's and away I go.
Do your units use batteries quickly?
Although with four tuners I suppose that's a few batteries to change if they all go at the same time. 
h |
|
|
|
Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
|
Posted 10 Jul 2016 10:16 am
|
|
| Howard Parker wrote: |
I never considered using my Peterson supply or any external supply for that matter.
I get 6-9 months out of the batteries with daily use and get ample warning (dimming) before the unit powers down. Three fresh AA's and away I go.
Do your units use batteries quickly?
Although with four tuners I suppose that's a few batteries to change if they all go at the same time.
h |
But it lights up real purty when using the AC adapter.
I use batteries too. I carry the adapter just in case my batteries start to flake out, which has happened a couple of times.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
|
|
|
Howard Parker
From:
Maryland
|
Posted 10 Jul 2016 10:22 am
|
|
| Richard Sinkler wrote: |
But it lights up real purty when using the AC adapter. |
I forgot about that!!! 
h |
|
|
|
Bob Sykes
From:
North Carolina
|
Posted 10 Jul 2016 12:12 pm
|
|
Jerry,
Power supply needs to be 5v, 2A (or more), with a center-positive plug of the correct size. Correct size means the right diameter outer barrel, as well as the center hole being the right size.
If the above doesnt make sense, you may need tech help.
Your adapter(s) that are physically smaĺler are likey also insufficient current. I wouldnt try an adapter without verifying all of the above parameters. They should be printed on the power supply.
Take a look at the picture here. Is this what your working supplies look like?
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=194894&sid=4932632d472fb85f80aa49bb185916b5
Hope this helps,
Bob
_________________
Carters Starter, D10 8+7, SD10, Chandler RH-2, Rogue RLS-1
ISO Sustainus Ad Infinitum |
|
|
|
Ken Pippus
From:
Langford, BC, Canada
|
Posted 10 Jul 2016 12:19 pm
|
|
I agree with Howard. Those batteries will last a long time if you remember to turn off the tuner.
When using the Peterson AC adapter, I found the tuner developed a little "shake" on the display, which I thought was probably 60 Hz. Anyone else see that? |
|
|
|
Bob Sykes
From:
North Carolina
|
Posted 10 Jul 2016 12:21 pm
|
|
There is some other potentally useful info about substituting power supplies in general in the thread referenced above.
_________________
Carters Starter, D10 8+7, SD10, Chandler RH-2, Rogue RLS-1
ISO Sustainus Ad Infinitum |
|
|
|
Edward Rhea
From:
Medford Oklahoma, USA
|
Posted 10 Jul 2016 2:06 pm
|
|
| I'd be tempted to send it to Peterson, have'em recondition the tuner...surely, they've seen this very thing, on more than one occasion? Besides, what's the chance they'll ever reissue this wonderful model? |
|
|
|
Howard Parker
From:
Maryland
|
Posted 10 Jul 2016 2:37 pm
|
|
Agreed,
Call Peterson. Their customer service is really the best!!
I'm skeptical about an external battery pack because of the current draw used by the neat lights when the external supply is used. There may be additional circuitry/functionality enabled as well.
I'll defer to the Peterson folks.
Just call them 708-388-3311
h
_________________
Howard Parker
03\' Carter D-10
70\'s Dekley D-10
52\' Fender Custom
Many guitars by Paul Beard
Listowner Resoguit-L |
|
|
|
Carl Mesrobian
From:
Salem, Massachusetts, USA
|
Posted 10 Jul 2016 6:22 pm
|
|
| Jerry Roller wrote: |
I have 4 Strobo-flip tuners and I have 2 of the power supplies that came with them. I have several phone chargers and they are around 4 volts. My Grandson left batteries in his too long and a small battery leakage cause problems. The phone chargers are very small while the Strobo-flip supply is pretty large. It looked like a good idea but it appears to me frow what you guys are telling me it is not a good idea to pursue. Perhaps an external battery holder would be a good idea since I could plug it into the power supply jack but would not have to have an electrical outlet to plug into the wall or strip?
Jerry |
Problems, as in corrosion? to remove alkaline, wipe or brush powder out, and then swab with a vinegar moistened Q tip.
_________________
--carl
"The better it gets, the fewer of us know it." Ray Brown |
|
|
|
ajm
From:
Los Angeles
|
Posted 10 Jul 2016 7:19 pm
|
|
Just to clear up any confusion (mostly my own).....
From their website it appears that Peterson no longer makes the StroboFLIP. They do make the StroboCLIP.
Since the original post was for the Flip.....
The support section of the site has a manual for the Flip. It does not list a current draw requirement for the unit.
The power requirements for the unit are 5 vdc at an unspecified current.
Bob Sykes: I assume that you assumed that the current requirements are 2A because that is what is on your adapter? I'd be surprised if the current draw is even half of that. The average off the shelf AA battery is rated for less than 1 AH. If someone has a Flip, it may say on it what the current draw is. Otherwise, someone may need to do a little science project to measure the current draw.
If you use an adapter that is not the one sold by Peterson, BE CAREFUL. The manual shows the wiring as being center/tip positive. This is backwards from most Boss type effects. Granted, they are usually 9 vdc and not 5 vdc. But it's worth noting that the Flip polarity could end up being backwards from your adapter, and that would not be a good thing. |
|
|
|
Michael Maddex
From:
Northern New Mexico, USA
|
Posted 11 Jul 2016 6:59 am
|
|
| ajm wrote: |
Just to clear up any confusion (mostly my own).....
The average off the shelf AA battery is rated for less than 1 AH. ... |
Just for the record, and to prevent the further dissemination of misinformation, the typical capacity for a AA battery is in the neighborhood of 2 Amp-Hours, usually expressed as 2000 mAh.
More here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AA_battery
and here: http://www.techlib.com/reference/batteries.html
Amps is amps, volts is volts, polarity is polarity and if all these are known, then safe substitutions for power supplies and battery chargers are usually easily made. OTOH, these items usually should not be expensive and so finding the 'correct' replacement should always be considered first.
HTH. As usual, YMMV.
_________________
"For every expert, there is an equal and opposite expert." -- Arthur C. Clarke |
|
|
|
Scott Duckworth
From:
Etowah, TN Western Foothills of the Smokies
|
Posted 11 Jul 2016 7:13 am
|
|
I might add that some power supplies have the regulation circuit built in, some do not. In the case of factory units for devices that do not have built in regulation, the regulation circuit is in the device.
_________________
Amateur Radio Operator NA4IT (Extra)
http://www.qsl.net/na4it
I may, in fact, be nuts. However, I am screwed onto the right bolt... Jesus! |
|
|
|
Sue Haslam
From:
Peterson Strobe Tuners, Illinois, USA
|
Posted 13 Jul 2016 1:10 pm
|
|
Hi to all,
The StroboFlip requires 200 mA of current. The rating on the power supply is how much the power supply has available. The tuner only uses what is needed.
I was recently contacted by another customer asking the same question so I decided to buy an adapter cable and give it a try for myself. I found this cable works, but the plug end is not quite long enough for the input jack, so the connection is intermittent. I haven't been able to locate one with a longer barrel.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/USB-2-0-Male-to-5V-DC-Power-Elbow-Plug-5-5mm-2-1mm-Barrel-Connector-Cable-Cord-/391350006272?hash=item5b1e473200:g:KQkAAOSwMmBVyBMU
Most cell phone charger adapters will have enough current available.
Best regards,
Sue
708.388.3311 x143
_________________
Sue Haslam
Peterson Strobe Tuners |
|
|
|
Jerry Roller
From:
Van Buren, Arkansas USA
|
Posted 13 Jul 2016 3:40 pm
|
|
Sue, I knew you would chime in if you saw the thread. I am not being a tight wad, I just have a large number of those cell phone chargers serving no purpose. I have 4 Strobo-flips but only 2 chargers for them. I leave one at Church and would like a power supply on it so I would not have to worry about batteries. One tuner has a contact problem in the battery holding area because we allowed some batteries leaked. Thanks for your efforts and please let me know if you find a way to use the small, handy power supply.
Thanks,
Jerry
_________________
http://www.littleoprey.org/ |
|
|
|
Sue Haslam
From:
Peterson Strobe Tuners, Illinois, USA
|
Posted 14 Jul 2016 5:34 am
|
|
Hi Jerry,
 Of course you're not being a 'tight wad'! I understand completely. I too have many of the small USB adapters laying around. If I find a different cable I'll be sure to let you know. But so far, they all look to be the same barrel length.
Best regards,
Sue
_________________
Sue Haslam
Peterson Strobe Tuners |
|
|
|
Jerry Roller
From:
Van Buren, Arkansas USA
|
Posted 14 Jul 2016 8:05 am
|
|
Sue, I think the barrel is molded into the rubber part of the jack. Is it possible to cut a small amount of the rubber away to expose a little more of the barrel?
Jerry
_________________
http://www.littleoprey.org/ |
|
|
|
