Power problems

giggsy

I got a Zoom GFX-5 from the States, and it came with a 9V 300mA American plug. I tried the pedal out with batteries and it worked great. I got one of those international convertors from Clicks, went home, plugged everything in - great, it came on, so I turned it off and did some work. When I went to play later I turned it on and nothing... went back to the batteries again and played no problem. I borrowed another convertor as I thought maybe I'd blown the new one, but that didnt work either. So then I figured that maybe I had broken/blown the original plug, so I bought an adapter from HiFi Corp that you can change between 6V, 9V, 12V etc. Got home, readdy to play.... and you guessed it - no power. >☹

So... is that the power supply gone then? Did I blow that cos of the change in current/voltage/whatever? And any idea how/where I can get it fixed?

FenderBender

Giggsy wrote So... is that the power supply gone then?

The American one, definitely. The SA one, maybe. The pedal, more than likely.

Giggsy wrote Did I blow that cos of the change in current/voltage/whatever? And any idea how/where I can get it fixed?

Putting an American 120V power supply on our local 230V would have fried it pretty quickly. The fact that the pedal did not power up with replacement supply could mean that the pedal was damaged when the US power supply expired, or the replacement supply is connected incorrectly or pushing out the wrong voltage (confirm with a multimeter). Also, did you check that the 9V plug is wired centre pin to 0V?

Giggsy, do yourself a favour and throw that switchable supply away. They are worse than horrendous!
See this post for the reasons: http://www.guitarforum.co.za/guitar-gear/cheap-%27wall-wart%27-power-supplies/

giggsy

Graeme Parfett wrote Giggsy, do yourself a favour and throw that switchable supply away. They are worse than horrendous!

I'll do better than that... I'll return it and get my money back!

But thanks for the input Graeme, really appreciate it. If its fried, do you reckon it would be easily fixed (so that when I buy one of those mean well adapters it could work?)

giggsy

New problem.... received my Digitech RP350 10 mins ago, and no batteries.... it just runs off power. On the back it says 9V 1.3A and it came with a Harman Pro Group power adapter (the two square prong American plug). That says:
Input: 120V 60Hz 18 W
Output: 9V 1.3A

How can I make this work?

makepeace

You'd need a step down transformer.. 230v to 120v. Will most likely be cheaper to buy a 230v input supply.

Seeing as you've fried the Zoom's supply, you'll have to try and find a 230v-9v 300mA supply for it. As Graeme says, those cheap switchable supplies are bad.. Way hummy.

A budget solution that i discovered while raiding my parents house is to get one of those surge protected supplies used for dsl routers. Mine is 9v, rated at 1A. I would assume they are all similar. It's very quiet, and I'm sure you could pick up a pseudo replacement for less than R150? Make sure that you have your polarities on the plug right as well..

I think you're in the green re your pedal, as you say it still works with batteries?

giggsy

Thanks makepeace - I'll go out later and look for a stepdown transformer - hopefully that works as its no fun havoing a new pedal and not being ablt to use it.

And yeah, luckily the Zoom still works off batteries, but I'm tired of recharging batteries all the time!

FenderBender

This will work for both pedals: http://www.mantech.co.za/ProductInfo.aspx?Item=72M1110

I see Mantech has dropped the price to R80, so it's a bargain!

You'll need to change the polarity of the plug and make up a daisy chain for use with more than one pedal.

giggsy

Graeme Parfett wrote This will work for both pedals: http://www.mantech.co.za/ProductInfo.aspx?Item=72M1110

I see Mantech has dropped the price to R80, so it's a bargain!

You'll need to change the polarity of the plug and make up a daisy chain for use with more than one pedal.

Thanks Graeme - I'll order one ASAP!

But now... and this has me completely flumoxed... I went looking for a step down transformer today for the Digitech, but the place I had thought would have one was closed, so I popped into my local music shop 'just to check'. I can get a Digitech power supply from the agents in CT for R400 including postage (so the Mantech one would be my first choice!!!) but the guy gave me a 9.6V 300mA plug, the same make as what I got with Digitech, to try out with the Zoom as it apparently works with Boss pedals. I said okay to humour him , even though I was 100% sure that I'd fried the power supply of the Zoom, and it would give me an excuse to go back there and buy a few other things in a couple days when I return it. But it works 100%... not complaining though!

FenderBender

Great that it works!

That is first class service from your local shop and you don't have to worry about changing the 9V plug.
In your case, you were lucky that only the Ameri can Digitech supply popped, without killing the pedal.

giggsy

Graeme Parfett wrote In your case, you were lucky that only the American Digitech supply popped, without killing the pedal.

Yeah, I figured that was what happened. +1 though - I've ordered my Mantech plug - thanks!

giggsy

AAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH! >☹ ☹ :'( >☹ ☹ :'( >☹ ☹ :'(

I just got the Mantech plug, got really excited that I could eventually try out my new pedal, but, and it seems like there always is a but... the plug point doesnt fit eith the Digitech... The 9V output is too big (or the new plugs input is too small). This is driving me insane.

Can I cut off the end of the American one that I got that fits and attach it to the new plug???

FenderBender

Giggsy wrote Can I cut off the end of the American one that I got that fits and attach it to the new plug???

Some manufacturers purposely use different size plugs so that you have to use their power supply. You can cut the plug off your blown american power supply, but make sure that you wire it centre negative or you'll damage the pedal!

giggsy

Graeme Parfett wrote
Giggsy wrote Can I cut off the end of the American one that I got that fits and attach it to the new plug???
Some manufacturers purposely use different size plugs so that you have to use their power supply. You can cut the plug off your blown american power supply, but make sure that you wire it centre negative or you'll damage the pedal!

Thanks Graeme... and thanks for the patience. Can I ask another stupid question? How do I wire it centre negative?

FenderBender

Giggsy wrote How do I wire it centre negative?

The best way to check for correct polarity (especially when joining the leads of a molded plug that you can't see inside) is to use a multimeter. If you don't have one, cut the plug off the american supply and take a pic, so that I can see the cable that is attached.
We can take it from there ?

EDIT: Without applying any power, does the mantech plug fit the zoom pedal?

giggsy

Okay, no multimeter, so here are the pics:

The cut off input from the American plug

The Mantech plug

The back of the unit

Again... I really appreciate you putting up with this!

FenderBender

Ok the digitech is looking for a 9V AC supply. We can worry about that shortly.
My previous question: Does the mantech plug fit the zoom pedal? Don't power anything, just check if it fits ?

giggsy

Graeme Parfett wrote My previous question: Does the mantech plug fit the zoom pedal? Don't power anything, just check if it fits ?

Yip! Hoping thats a good thing!

FenderBender

That's good news. So the Zoom is powerable by an ordinary boss power supply.
I suggest we use the mantech supply for the Zoom. But!!! The polarity of the plug must be changed or you'll be crying!

There are several ways to reverse the polarity:
1. For a neat job, you could (as I do) open the mantech supply, desolder the leads from the board and resolder the other way around.
2. Or just cut the mantech plug off and reverse the leads, making sure that there are no shorts on the connection you make.
3. Or get another 2.1mm DC plug and stick that on.

giggsy

Cool, I'll do that this evening (will go with option 1) And the Digitech?

FenderBender

Giggsy wrote And the Digitech?

I'll look around for a supplier of wall wart type 9V transformers in your area and post a link later.
Fortunately, the cut off plug can be go any way around for AC ?