kayDUB
So I have a 9V DC brick power supply which is rated 450mA, how many pedals can I daisy chain on it safely?
It has 5 outputs on it, but I'm pretty sure I can power more pedals on it ???
Thanks
Kevin
AlanRatcliffe
It boils down to the requirements of your pedals. If you look at their power specs (often on the bottom of the pedal or next to the power jack), you'll see what the current draw is in milliamps. Add these all together, and you have what your requirements are. Overdrive distortion pedals are usually under 10ma, analog modulation pedals like chorus are usually 15-25ma, and digital pedals are usually over 100ma (sometimes well over, which is why they drain batteries so fast).
Your biggest problem with daisy chaining pedals on the same PSU is not usually the current needed. It's usually that one or two don't play nice and you pick up ground loop hum or have one that uses a positive ground rail (Yamaha, some of the Tech21 stuff) that shorts out the PSU, so these problematic pedals usually need a dedicated PSU or batteries.
kayDUB
Thanks for the info Allan... I'll check out the current the individual pedals draw.
I don't think I'll have a problem with a positive ground pedal, my pedals are boss, maxon and fulldrive.
Ground loop hum is something that I don't quite understand; i read some articles, but they didn't help much... :?
As far as I could tell, the only way to eliminate it is to split the effects on different circuits, I presume that would mean two power supplies... The two power supplies can be plugged into the same wall socket though?
AlanRatcliffe
I'll explain ground loops later, but you can lift (disconnect) the earth in the audio cable connecting two pedals to solve it. Or use two supplies as you mentioned.
JoeyBones
My nephew and I use the Visual Sound 1Spot wall wart. It handles his 7 stompboxes (BOSS, IBANEZ, MArshall) + Weaping Daemon with no issues. We've run up to 11 pedals with no issues. The only thing I could see that was an issue with running too many pedals was my delay pedals tend to get weak and even cut out.
I'm running my DD-5, CH-1, SD-2, TSD-DX, Planet Waves Pedal Tuner, Weaping Daemon and my Visual Volume pedal of it. I'm gonna be adding a Line6 Tap Tremolo (As soon as it arrives), Boss DD-20 (Soon as I build a bigger pedal board) and possibly a digitech whammy.
I know Music Connection in Randburg stocked them at one stage. We bought ours of ebay.
cain
The visual sound 1spot is prolly the best daisy chain you can get. There is no stock in south africa unfortunately. What make do you have ? You should be able to couple more than five. But be carefull, daisy chaining tends to produce noise when its done on supplies not ment to do it.
AlanRatcliffe
The better PSUs have multi-tapped transformers and separate rectification and smoothing for each output. I built one years ago, as you couldn't get anything aside from the Boss PSAs then.
JoeyBones
Checkoput the Diago Powerstation. A bit expensive, but they gaurantee no noise (I have to hear it to belive it)
Here are the specs from their site :
Output:
9V DC @ 3,000 mA (25W)
Input:
90-264VAC @ 50-60Hz
Efficiency:
~80%
Line Regulation:
±0.5% max
Load Regulation:
±1% max
Mains Cable Inlet:
2m Figure 8 Lead IEC320-C8
Output Barrel:
2.1 x 5.5 x 12mm female barrel, centre -ve
Dimensions:
93mm(L) x 58mm(W) x 33mm(D)
Protection:
Short circuit, overload and over voltage protection
Operating Temperature:
0°C to +40°C
Storage Temperature:
-40°C to +85°C
Approval:
CE, UL, cUL, TUV, CB, BSMI, RoHS and WEEE
Weight:
~200g
cain
I dont believe it. Certain makes of pedals behave differently. I used another power supply for a Boss OD-3 and it gave me noise and it didnt do it on my TS-808. Its weird, allot of people use the visual sound one. But im not too confident on it, if you can the DC bricks will always work best. You get an array of then T-Rex fueltank, Dunlop powerbrick, the Carlmartin big jim.
BTW If you have a boss TU-2 Tuner. Its kinda a multi pedal power supply. You just use the boss power supply and the TU-2 Has another output, and boss has a daisy chain cable fits in there and powers your other pedals. You can also get a Al cheepo 5 way power brick like mine, it cost me R250. It works like a bomb and powers 5 devices, each seperate at 500ma.
kayDUB
@joey: what's a bit expensive?
I have some sort of DC powerbrick, its big, grey, ugly and takes up a lot of room! Cost around R300.
It has 5 seperate outputs jacks. Its rated 450 mA, does this mean per output or total? Its quiet when I run 5 pedals.... only time it makes a noise is with the OD-1, but I think there's something wrong with the OD-1's power jack.
Its seems like you don't get that many types of power supplies in SA.
cain
Can you send me a screenshot of that ?
I might order me a 1spot of ebay/amazon, ill let you know then i can order 2 and you can maby pay me for the other. Then we share the shipping ? Amazon puts 3 items in one shipment.
JoeyBones
The guy I bought mine of used to live in CT. I'll check if I can find the ebay store name. I took 2 and he gave me a discount.
kayDUB
check the pick of my old board for the PSU:
http://www.pichost.co.za/v/wVE9xubqwDvoxb1j6sznWCtvR2Lq1EuaSmSLK3xT
...speaking of small and crammed boards... ? I still have to finish the new board I made, its a monster! ;D
That sounds good Francis, depends how much tho, getting married in Oct so on a toight budget. ?
I noticed now that the brick says 9V Total 450mA, i presume that means all outputs together power 450mA....
Garth-S
WOW.. thats really crammed ?
cain
Ok Kaydub, i have that brick. Its 450ma to every output as far as i know, theres 2 models or something. Its weird that your one boss pedal makes noise. Why dont you get a bigger pedal board ? A 1 Spot costs about R250 so its not too bad.
JoeyBones
My buddy is building custom pedal boards. Let me know if you want one. They are basically flight cases, aluminum and wood or full aluminum.
cain
Send me some photos ? I have a warwick ( the big one and its getting to crowded!
kayDUB
@Francis: cool... its not so weird that the od makes a noise, its 26 years old! it runs fine off a battery.. I think the power socket is loose or something (its a scratchy noise). R250 bargain. What would the shipping be? Let me know when you wana order it and I'll scrape some cash together! ? is it a UK plug?
I am busy with a new board, still have to mount the pedals, wire everything and paint it! I'll post a thread sometime...
cain
Kaydub, shipping will be something like $20 but we just share it. The end price should be something like R300. Andy mcgibbons is importing them, but ive been waiting 9 months for one cos the shipment never comes.
JoeyBones
I'm still waiting for stuff I bough last November. Word of advice, the cheapest shipping option is just that "Cheap". With USPS the cheapest option doesn't give you tracking or insurance. Trust me, it's worth taking a slightly more expensive option and having peace of mind.
