Pedal Board Power Supply

[IanO]

Hi all,

I have been inspired to build a pedal board and am going to use a mains supply. My question to all the wise is...do I add up all the Ma ratings of each of the pedals and find a transformer that exceeds this figure? Every other time I've built one of these things I've just used batteries.

If this is not right then would you enlighten me please.

Cheers in advance

IanO

[gittarasaurus]

do I add up all the Ma ratings of each of the pedals and find a transformer that exceeds this figure?
IanO

that is mostly all there is to it.
make sure the pedals have the same power supply voltage and polarity
maybe keep your total mA ratings to about 80% or less, of the transformer's capacity


i use one transformer for my 5 main stomp boxes, all are the same polarity - korg, danelectro, (2) boss, ibanez
for the rest...
DOD uses different plug and voltage and polarity - i usually do a battery because i only have 2 DOD pedals and i don't use them much at this time. the Line 6 and the Digitech (Time Bender) each has it's own power adaptor and need 110v plug ins

i run a power cord to the pedals, then i use a plug strip with a switch for master power control and overload/surge protection. it covers my pedals, my rack, and my amps. flip one switch and everything is active, then plug in, turn on the amps, and play.

[corsair]

Mine all run off 2 Boss PSM-5 master switch/power supplies, because they're all Boss pedals; that's all you could get in NZ way back when!!

So... I'm no help at all really...

[Sgt. Vimes]

just bare in mind that the cheap chinese multi adapters are awful noise generators, fine if you like 50Hz drone all over your output!
my advice would be to go for a decent branded power brick. Dunlop make a good one, DC brick.

[corsair]

I've heard good things about the Godlyke range...

[IanO]

Cheers guys...I knew I could rely on you all. I've only got a couple a Boss pedals, a wah, 2 danelectros and a roland foot controller (that runs on a standard boss adaptor). Just got to build the thing now.
Thanks again for the help.

IanO

[colt933]

While I concur with the idea to 'get a good power brick', there is a pretty cheap and effective way to do it.

Get the '1 Spot' power supply from Visual Sound, their (or Boss') daisy chain/jumpers, and a Boss tuner pedal. Run the power from the 1 Spot to the Boss tuner pedal, and daisy chain to the rest.

The 1 Spot has WAY MORE power than the Boss 'wall wart'.

[Tripi]

I bought this one few months ago
Harley benton powerplant junior
http://www.thomann.de/fr/harley_benton_powerplant_junior.htm
which is cheap and no buzz
It is good for europeans buyers. I don't know if you can find it in America
Fabien

[Sgt. Vimes]

http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_powerplant_junior.htm#

+1 for the Harley Benton Powerplant jr, A customer of mine is using 2 of these to power 9 pedals inc digital delays, a few fuzz box/crunch/OD units and the usual reverbs and mod pedals..I was stunned to hear NO noise at all, not a jot!
apparently this is a "clone" of a Trex Fuel tank which is meant to be decent by all accounts.
so to counter my regulated  ZOOM psu running a cheap'n'nasty daisychain cable, I'm ordering this unit...updates as and when....if yer interested.

[punkyjam67]

Diago Powerstation every time for me - superb little PSU. Mine's running up to 8 pedals on my board, plus a light, without a whisper of noise

Diago Powerstation PSU

[Sgt. Vimes]

That's a lot of money for a daisy chain, using cheaper pedals (me ! ) tends to lead to more noise accumulating further down the chain as the signal passes through each pedal, well it has for me so far with 2 different psu daisychains.
But if it works it's worth every penny no doubt.

[punkyjam67]

Mine powers a collection of cheap and/or very old pedals - Artec tuner, '90s Boss compressor, a really nasty Behringer 'acoustic' modeller, a couple of old '80s plastic Arion pedals, Digitech & Mooer distortions & an '80s Yamaha DDS-20M digi-delay - plus a home-made USB light, and as I say, it's as quiet as a mouse (unlike some of the pedals!). Price-wise, I only paid £30 for mine secondhand, so no complaints from me there either...

[Sgt. Vimes]

Like I say, in my (limited) experience they have not worked for me yet, hence my search for something a little better than I already have.
Thats good going there mate, noise free for £30, can't complain eh!
The Harley Benton is also £30 delivered, was reluctant to pay more than that, even £30 is high for me....for something I can't hear

[Dynasty]

One spot is capable of powering five devices at a time , and is a quite power source great choice

[mortarman120gang11c]

Well I use my faithful old Electra brand power source to power my pedals. I can connect up to 4 pedals on each brick type power supply and they are rock solid. They can be found on ebay and usually $50 or less. Work great and never fail.

[Dynasty]

 I think I gave 19.95 usd plus tax you just need the pedal board and Velcro .

[IanO]

I ended up with a Diago unit (£35/40) that works really well.....ironically have just bought a Behringer fx2000 and TC electronics M-One rack units that allow me to run a selection of reverbs with realtime adjustable delys/choruses etc via a MIDI foot controller. I just found the pedals a bit limiting. But thanks for all your advice and thoughts.

[Sgt. Vimes]

Nice! 
Those m-one's are incredible, I've a D-Two a friend has asked me to sell for him if you fancy a magnificent delay rack ☺

[punkyjam67]

I ended up with a Diago unit (£35/40) that works really well.....

Diago make some very good PSUs - my Powerstation is one of the best bits of kit I've ever bought, I think

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