Rechargeable Battery/Power Banks?

[ian_dissonance]

Is anyone running their 2A or higher modeler or pedal off a power bank? Not really looking for one of those huge multi-out pedalboard options, just something that can power a Boss GT1K or GX-100 for an hour when outlets are scarce or changeovers are tight.

 

[Mongillo19]

@mbenigni I feel like you had a setup for this with the QC?

 

[Sascha Franck]

Interested as well. From all I seem to remember, @mbenigni used a "normal" powerbank and an upcharger. Let's hope he'll jump in.

 

[ragingplatypi]

I did it for a hot minute with a myVolts cable and a properly spec’d power bank from amazon. Unfortunately it was just unreliable enough that I just carry an extension cord and power strip now. I wound up using the myVolts cable with a wall outlet connection and it crapped out after 6 months, so maybe I just had a bad one. Here’s the power bank I used

Amazon.com

 

[laxu]

I did it for a hot minute with a myVolts cable and a properly spec’d power bank from amazon. Unfortunately it was just unreliable enough that I just carry an extension cord and power strip now. I wound up using the myVolts cable with a wall outlet connection and it crapped out after 6 months, so maybe I just had a bad one. Here’s the power bank I used

Amazon.com

Was it the MyVolts that was unreliable, or did it simply not last well enough on a powerbank?

 

[Sascha Franck]

Fwiw, I'm having an eye on the "Harley Benton PowerPlant PowerBank+ mk2".
But the max. output vor each outlet is 500mA. Would be fine for my HX Stomp board and only require a single current doubler. For more demanding devices you'd need 3 - and I'm not sure I'd like to put much trust into such a cascading.
The unit itself has plenty of overall battery juice on tap (25,000 mAh) and comes with 8 isolated outs, can as well be charged during usage, so it could just serve as a normal PSU.

 

[ian_dissonance]

Thanks for the leads! I’m not knowledgeable enough on how power works, I guess. I see these “PD” USB-C batteries that supposedly put out 9V/3A but that seems too easy, so I’m guessing a specific device has to be connected for it to work that way?

 

[laxu]

Thanks for the leads! I’m not knowledgeable enough on how power works, I guess. I see these “PD” USB-C batteries that supposedly put out 9V/3A but that seems too easy, so I’m guessing a specific device has to be connected for it to work that way?

PD is just short for USB-C Power Delivery. It depends on both powerbank and connected devices what output and charging speeds are supported.

With chargers and powerbanks you might have specific ports that provide the max output, and having multiple ports connected will usually limit these capabilities.

 

[ian_dissonance]

PD is just short for USB-C Power Delivery. It depends on both powerbank and connected devices what output and charging speeds are supported.

With chargers and powerbanks you might have specific ports that provide the max output, and having multiple ports connected will usually limit these capabilities.

So if there’s a power bank with a USB-C port rated for 9V-18V/3A-5A and I have a USB-C to barrel plug cable with matching +\- pins to my pedal it SHOULD work? Like the variable output only going to draw what it needs?

 

[Chocol8]

So if there’s a power bank with a USB-C port rated for 9V-18V/3A-5A and I have a USB-C to barrel plug cable with matching +\- pins to my pedal it SHOULD work? Like the variable output only going to draw what it needs?

Not in my experience. I think the pd from the power bank requires a pd compliant device on the other end to negotiate voltage and to keep it delivering power. Otherwise I think you get 5v or nothing.

 

[Chocol8]

Something like this, but I haven't tried it yet...

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/529MPedalPwr--mission-engineering-inc-529m-ultra-compact-usb-pedalboard-power-converter?mrkgadid=&mrkgcl=28&mrkgen=&mrkgbflag=&mrkgcat=&acctid=21700000001645388&dskeywordid=92700082000222292&lid=92700082000222292&ds_s_kwgid=58700008893940689&ds_s_inventory_feed_id=97700000007215323&dsproductgroupid=2420073318681&product_id=529MPedalPwr&prodctry=US&prodlang=en&channel=online&storeid=&device=t&network=g&matchtype=&adpos=largenumber&locationid=1017161&creative=752357373320&targetid=pla-2420073318681&campaignid=21453452330&awsearchcpc=1&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21453452330&gbraid=0AAAAAD_RQYlxaaYTbBJ_aaOkDGazKygUC

 

[Sascha Franck]

Something like this, but I haven't tried it yet...

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/529MPedalPwr--mission-engineering-inc-529m-ultra-compact-usb-pedalboard-power-converter?mrkgadid=&mrkgcl=28&mrkgen=&mrkgbflag=&mrkgcat=&acctid=21700000001645388&dskeywordid=92700082000222292&lid=92700082000222292&ds_s_kwgid=58700008893940689&ds_s_inventory_feed_id=97700000007215323&dsproductgroupid=2420073318681&product_id=529MPedalPwr&prodctry=US&prodlang=en&channel=online&storeid=&device=t&network=g&matchtype=&adpos=largenumber&locationid=1017161&creative=752357373320&targetid=pla-2420073318681&campaignid=21453452330&awsearchcpc=1&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21453452330&gbraid=0AAAAAD_RQYlxaaYTbBJ_aaOkDGazKygUC

Hm, even in the specs it doesn't say anything about the maximum capacity. Given the size, I can't imagine this to have more than 10,000mAh, possibly even less.

 

[Chocol8]

Hm, even in the specs it doesn't say anything about the maximum capacity. Given the size, I can't imagine this to have more than 10,000mAh, possibly even less.

It has 0. That's the device you plug the battery in to, it negotiates with the battery and then outputs to a traditional barrel connector for your pedals.

 

[ian_dissonance]

Ok, thanks for all the information everyone!

 

[laxu]

So if there’s a power bank with a USB-C port rated for 9V-18V/3A-5A and I have a USB-C to barrel plug cable with matching +\- pins to my pedal it SHOULD work? Like the variable output only going to draw what it needs?

You need something like the Mission Engineering product @Chocol8 linked.

USB PD works by the two devices basically negotiating "I can deliver this much power", "Ok, I can handle this much" type of thing.

For a simpler example, a charger with USB-C PD ports would negotiate with a laptop with a USB-C port:

• Charger: "I can deliver 100W - max 20V, 5A. How fast can you charge?"
• Laptop: "I can do 45W - 15V, 3A."
• Charger: "Ok, giving you 45W."

 

[Intimo]

Somewhat pricey but worth it - battery lasts 6 hrs + depending if you remember to hit the shut off switch.

Cioks 4 >

Cioks Doubler Cable >

Battery >

USB Switch >

 

[ian_dissonance]

I found this, and I already have a PD compatible battery. I’ll let you know how it goes! https://www.songbirdfx.com/products/birdcord-pd9v/

 

[sashimi]

I did it for a hot minute with a myVolts cable and a properly spec’d power bank from amazon. Unfortunately it was just unreliable enough that I just carry an extension cord and power strip now. I wound up using the myVolts cable with a wall outlet connection and it crapped out after 6 months, so maybe I just had a bad one. Here’s the power bank I used

Amazon.com

I had a myvolts cable for my hx stomp crap out on me after a few months too.

I contacted myvolts and they sent me a new one but now I’m skeptical of its reliability.

 

[laxu]

Somewhat pricey but worth it - battery lasts 6 hrs + depending if you remember to hit the shut off switch.

Cioks 4 >

Cioks Doubler Cable >

Battery >

USB Switch >

View attachment 47546View attachment 47547

What size Temple Audio board is this?

 

[Chocol8]

I found this, and I already have a PD compatible battery. I’ll let you know how it goes! https://www.songbirdfx.com/products/birdcord-pd9v/

I didn't try that brand but I did try a couple of other cheap cable options with limited success.

I forgot to mention, maybe not ideal for your setup with only one device, but there are power banks with AC outlets now for $60 give or take on Amazon. You could plug a regular power supply into one of those and power an entire board for less than the Mission device, which is why I haven't tried the Mission.