EBS DynaVerb eating batteries...

JazznFunk · #1 03-24-2010, 11:22 AM

So I've had my DynaVerb for about 2 months and have used it on 3 gigs and a modest amount of time in the studio. I love it, but it's become a bear to keep 'fed' properly. In that time it's already gone through 2 9V batteries and makes a horrible racket when the batteries start dying... the sort of sound that a guitar amp makes when it's banged and the reverb coils start shaking. When it first happened I thought I had a blown speaker in my cab with all the racket and distortion. I have an EBS power supply on the way for it to hopefully remedy the situation, but I guess my question is whether or not it's normal for this pedal to eat batteries like this. I'm assuming that the batteries are engaged even if the pedal is not activated since they're dying so quickly. Anyone else have this experience?

lowfreq33 · #2 03-24-2010, 11:27 AM

Are you leaving it plugged in? Most pedals turn on when a plug is inserted into the input jack.

Nerotic · #3 03-24-2010, 11:27 AM

You do remember to to unplug the input jack when not using pedal, right?

Low_blow · #4 03-24-2010, 03:14 PM

Most digital pedals do eat batteries very quickly. For example, the popular Digitech Bass Synth Wah does so. It's written in the technical specifications list that Dynaverb requires 80mA 9 V power supply. Most non-digital pedals (such as compressors, overdrives, analog choruses, etc.) require only 15-20 mA. As for me, I run my Dynaverb through MXR DC Brick power supply.

lowfreq33 · #5 03-24-2010, 03:17 PM

True. My Line 6 Tonecore pedals will eat a battery in about 10 minutes. I don't know why they even bother to include the option.

JazznFunk · #6 03-24-2010, 03:28 PM

Well, I don't have the option of unplugging it while on a gig, which I assume everyone else here knows. That said, I unplug it when it's not in use otherwise. It's not an always-on effect of course. I usually get 2 gigs or so out of a 9v battery, which amounts to perhaps 8 or 9 hours of use. The responses I've received confirmed my suspicion... it just eats 9V batteries quickly.

JazznFunk · #7 03-24-2010, 10:01 PM

So I got the EBS power supply and there is a definite drop in voltage compared to the battery. The LED on the front dims considerably when I go to the battery, and the noise and distortion starts. Looks like this is a pedal that indeed ALWAYS needs the power supply.