freestompboxes.org

Hi all!

I want to build an echo base (http://musicpcb.com/pcbs/echo-base-delay/), and i'm having a bit of trouble finding some parts from distributors in europe.

First: the PCB is from the US, and i guess there's not much to do about that
Second: i have only seen the PT2399 available from smallbearelec, again in the US. (http://www.smallbearelec.com/Detail.bok?no=263)

My issue here is that for every order i recieve from US i have to pay 25%VAT (not really a problem), but i'll also have to pay a handling fee, which is around $35. That way the pt2399 alone is going to cost me about $40 plus shipping to Denmark. The PCB will be another $53 plus shipping.
Are there any european distributors who carry the PT2399?

Third: I don't know a whole lot about IC's yet. Are the following 4066 chips suitable for use in the Echo Base, and are some characteristics more important than others here?
http://dk.farnell.com/nxp/74hc4066n/ic- ... /dp/380957
http://dk.farnell.com/fairchild-semicon ... dp/1014045
http://dk.farnell.com/texas-instruments ... dp/1106112
http://dk.farnell.com/on-semiconductor/ ... dp/9664700
Also, the bill of material says "bilateral switch", and the 4066's readily availabe here says CMOS. Does that make a difference?

Fourth: How about this one for the 7805: http://dk.farnell.com/fairchild-semicon ... dp/1102157

Fifth: Transistors:
Farnell lists BC548 as a readily available alternative to a 2N5089. Acceptable?
I already have a bunch of MPSA18's lying around. Can i use them instead of both 2N5089 and BC560?

Anything else should be piece of cake Thanks in advance guys!

/grrrunge

www.newtone-online.nl
www.banzaieffects.com
www.diymusikding.de

to name a few

You could always ask taylor if he is willing to put the ic with package.

I've used banzaimusic.de and musikding.de several times. They have all you need. If they should happen to be out of stock or something like that PM me and we can work something out. I think I have all you need for this build in my parts drawers. I live in DK too.

edit: I don't have the pcb. I do have a verolayout though...

Banzai will do it, also doctor tweek in the uk has the parts and ic
If neither of these work out let me know I have about five pt2399 in my parts bin...

banzaimusic.com has quite high shipping cost.
uk-electronic.de and musikding.de are cheaper. And quicker... And both smaller shops give better support (both at the forum of musikding.de...)

btw: the PT2399 is MUCH cheaper at taydaelectronics.com

Do you have to pay VAT in denmark for small invoice amounts? In germany, we don´t have to pay import sales tax for everything below 20€ (including shipping cost) and no duty for everything below 150€.

@reneshelle: Do you have a vero layout for the new version of the Echo Base?

I don't remember where I downloaded the vero. It's not mine. I've searched around to see if I could find it again, but did not find it. It looks a bit like this one

http://www.aronnelson.com/gallery/main. ... e.JPG.html

I don't know who made it, but all credits go to that person. Gila Crisis? - Is that a person?

I'm posting the vero here, but I will remove it if the person who did the layout wants me to.

I have not build it.

That´s the old version with the noisy input and output buffers...

reneshelle wrote:I don't remember where I downloaded the vero. It's not mine. I've searched around to see if I could find it again, but did not find it. It looks a bit like this one

http://www.aronnelson.com/gallery/main. ... e.JPG.html

I don't know who made it, but all credits go to that person. Gila Crisis? - Is that a person?

I'm posting the vero here, but I will remove it if the person who did the layout wants me to.

I have not build it.

Thanks! I'm not sure my vero-skills are that good, so i'm gonna get a buddy of mine to send me a PCB from the US. I suppose that's gonna save me some troubleshooting-time, and leave me with more time playing...

roseblood11 wrote:That´s the old version with the noisy input and output buffers...

Ok. The one I linked to is just the same without the tails option then I guess...

I got this in a PM from mictester - i hope it's okay i repost it here without the trade proposals.

mictester wrote:Subject: Sourcing parts for Echo Base in Europe/Denmark

grrrunge wrote:http://dk.farnell.com/fairchild-semicon ... dp/1014045

This is the one to use. The 74HC version is limited to 5 V operation, and costs more. The 74HC is much faster, but this isn't appropriate for audio work.

grrrunge wrote:Fourth: How about this one for the 7805: http://dk.farnell.com/fairchild-semicon ... dp/1102157

That will be fine.

grrrunge wrote:Fifth: Transistors:
Farnell lists BC548 as a readily available alternative to a 2N5089. Acceptable?

Yes.

grrrunge wrote: I already have a bunch of MPSA18's lying around. Can i use them instead of both 2N5089 and BC560?

You'll get a very slight increase in noise, but you probably won't notice it.

Wooo... Ordered the pcb's this friday, and today i got a notice from Taylor saying the boards have shipped out... I'm looking forward to this!

7805 are big, they go up to 1A but you donr need that much
try to get a 78L05, they are TO92 package (like a standard transistor)

cpm wrote:7805 are big, they go up to 1A but you donr need that much
try to get a 78L05, they are TO92 package (like a standard transistor)

yeah, but aren't the 7805 the ones that are thought to be on the board, or do they have the same distance between the legs?

You can bend the legs of the L-version...

grrrunge wrote:

cpm wrote:7805 are big, they go up to 1A but you donr need that much
try to get a 78L05, they are TO92 package (like a standard transistor)

yeah, but aren't the 7805 the ones that are thought to be on the board, or do they have the same distance between the legs?

The 7805 was probably used because the board designer had plenty of them. The 78L05 will fit into the 7805 holes - you'll just have to spread it's legs a bit!

Useful trick with the 7805 - the tab is connected to the centre pin (ground), so if you bend the whole regulator flat to the board, you can use the hole in the 7805 tab to screw the board to the case...

mictester wrote: Useful trick with the 7805 - the tab is connected to the centre pin (ground), so if you bend the whole regulator flat to the board, you can use the hole in the 7805 tab to screw the board to the case...

...and use the enclosure as a heat sink if needed
but dont rely on it as the only support for the board to not stress solder joints

I don't understand why you have to pay VAT on chips bought from the USA. Is it because they are imported to the EU? Unless you are a business, you will pay VAT on chips bought in the EU. The rules have changed recently and are very complicated.

uncleboko wrote:I don't understand why you have to pay VAT on chips bought from the USA. Is it because they are imported to the EU? Unless you are a business, you will pay VAT on chips bought in the EU. The rules have changed recently and are very complicated.

Just spoken to HMRC in the UK, it seems that the shippers pay the VAT on entry which is then passed on to the purchaser.

Why not have a holiday in the Channel Islands and have the chips sent to your hotel there - no VAT!!!

uncleboko wrote:I don't understand why you have to pay VAT on chips bought from the USA. Is it because they are imported to the EU? Unless you are a business, you will pay VAT on chips bought in the EU. The rules have changed recently and are very complicated.

To avoid putting british businesses at a massive disadvantage.

The reason you don't pay VAT importing from within the EU is that all EU countries have their own VAT equivalent and it's not inkeeping with the "common marketplace" to make buyers pay twice for importing within the EU.