john89@lemmy.ca to guitars@lemmy.worldEnglish · 3 days agoWhy do active pickups require 9v batteries instead of some other kind of battery like AA?message-squaremessage-square11fedilinkarrow-up11arrow-down10
arrow-up11arrow-down1message-squareWhy do active pickups require 9v batteries instead of some other kind of battery like AA?john89@lemmy.ca to guitars@lemmy.worldEnglish · 3 days agomessage-square11fedilink
minus-square9point6@lemmy.worldlinkfedilinkEnglisharrow-up0·edit-23 days agoSome of the components typically used (e.g. op-amps) in audio gear like pedals need at least 5-10V to work. If you used AA for those scenarios you’re either going to need a load of batteries or you’re gonna have a short battery life. 9V batteries are just a better fit for the use case basically and mean things like active pickups & pedals can be kept small
minus-squareMarvelicious@fedia.iolinkfedilinkarrow-up0·3 days agoHonestly, if I were designing active guitar gear, I might just try to push 24v phantom power and XLR cables. Have a little power box at the amp or pedalboard and ditch the onboard battery entirely. But I loathe alkaline batteries…
minus-squarejohn89@lemmy.caOPlinkfedilinkEnglisharrow-up0·3 days agoFascinating. I had no idea, but this is starting to make sense. Thank you.
Some of the components typically used (e.g. op-amps) in audio gear like pedals need at least 5-10V to work.
If you used AA for those scenarios you’re either going to need a load of batteries or you’re gonna have a short battery life.
9V batteries are just a better fit for the use case basically and mean things like active pickups & pedals can be kept small
Honestly, if I were designing active guitar gear, I might just try to push 24v phantom power and XLR cables. Have a little power box at the amp or pedalboard and ditch the onboard battery entirely.
But I loathe alkaline batteries…
Fascinating. I had no idea, but this is starting to make sense.
Thank you.