Power supply

NickD · Post by **NickD** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 12:01 pm

Right.

I have been destroying the environment for 25 years using batteries in my pedals, and now I'd like to get a power supply for them.

I've got a mix of pedals, a couple of Boss, some EH, a couple of MBM, a couple of Behringer pedals, and some that don't have sockets for a power supply - including a very old MXR distortion +

Suggestions for what will suit my needs??

Ta.

Lots of love

Nick

lorez · Post by **lorez** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 12:21 pm

How much budget do you have? Do you need isolated power supplies?

the johnny shred freak diagio one is the one I use the most, with a onespot for back up. I don't think he has it in stock at the moment though. I also use seperate supplies for some of the other effects as they are a bit hungry for the amps and aren't good being daisychained

I saw that there is a harley benton fuel tank copy for sale over on thormann but not sure how good they are.

jumbledupthinking · Post by **jumbledupthinking** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 12:23 pm

I have one of these:
Carl Martin Powerjack
Not too pricy...all daisychains, so there's only a wallwart power adapter & nothing taking up any pedal board real-estate. Comes with adapters that plug into the daisy chain sockets for effects that only have a battery clip / non-standard etc. Mine works well & is quiet....would recommend. A lot of people here seem to have love for the Johnny Shredfreak power supply (same as Diago one I think) & from what I recall, those are even cheaper.

Concretebadger · Post by **Concretebadger** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 12:50 pm

I'm using a Diago Powerstation for my guitar board, which works fine. It can deliver enough juice, the daisy chains themselves are a useful length and there are different plug types for different pedals (including one that literally clips onto the battery clip like a real 9V battery would for pedals that don't have a socket at all). I run loads off it too: an MXR CC analogue delay, an OCD, an MBM EHX Small Clone and '78 Muff, along with a load of Boss reverbs, a tuner and delays with no issue.

The only problem with isolation you may find is with certain EHX boxes, so it depends on which ones you're using. The Holy Grail series for instance NEED an isolated supply - not only are they thirsty with current draw but they add noise. I used to use an HG+ but it added an irritating high-pitched whine...fine if your song's in the key of E but a PITA for the rest of the time!

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 12:52 pm

+1 on the Johnny Shreadfreak, I have 2 and they have never let me down. Unlike the Diago that they are supposedly a copy of, I had one which broke and it went back to Diago to be fixed - came back with a bad fixing job and broke again.

NickS · Post by **NickS** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 12:57 pm

Concretebadger wrote: The only problem with isolation you may find is with certain EHX boxes, so it depends on which ones you're using. The Holy Grail series for instance NEED an isolated supply - not only are they thirsty with current draw but they add noise. I used to use an HG+ but it added an irritating high-pitched whine...fine if your song's in the key of E but a PITA for the rest of the time!

Line 6 need separate power too, or they generate whine.

moogmusic · Post by **moogmusic** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 1:40 pm

On a vaguely related note, does anyone know of a place I can buy little caps to put over my unused daisy chain jacks to stop the snaps, crackles and pops?

lorez · Post by **lorez** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 1:50 pm

moogmusic wrote:On a vaguely related note, does anyone know of a place I can buy little caps to put over my unused daisy chain jacks to stop the snaps, crackles and pops?

just tape them up with insulation tape.

maybe try johnnyshredfreak

moogmusic · Post by **moogmusic** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 1:53 pm

I don't want to tape them up as I have an ever varying line up and I couldn't see anything on johnnyshredfreak.

Shirley someone sells little caps?

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 1:54 pm

How about covering the spare jacks with more pedals?

moogmusic · Post by **moogmusic** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 1:59 pm

I think I'll file that one under Plan B but good idea.

lorez · Post by **lorez** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 2:10 pm

you could hunt out something like this and cut off what you need lank

Post by **Doog** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 2:44 pm

johnnyseven wrote:+1 on the Johnny Shreadfreak, I have 2 and they have never let me down. Unlike the Diago that they are supposedly a copy of, I had one which broke and it went back to Diago to be fixed - came back with a bad fixing job and broke again.

They're pretty much identical, I don't think Johnny Diago invented them:

Thom · Post by **Thom** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:21 pm

moogmusic wrote:I don't want to tape them up as I have an ever varying line up

You know that tape comes off right?

But Nick +1 on the JSFreak. I have one as well as the Diago and they are identical - both work just as well as each other.

kim · Post by **kim** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:52 pm

i do it like this ; when i'm knackered i don't wanna drag all my pedals and heavy power supply to rehearsal, i use a boss adapter to my tuner and its power out with a daisy chain to a few pedals i always need anyway.

on my board i have a harley benton (thoman) powerblock, cheap and reliable ...BUT GODDAMN BIG AND HEAVY. still very good value for the price.

ekwatts · Post by **ekwatts** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 5:08 pm

I'm probably going to be splashing just under Â£300 on a Pedaltrain Pro SC and a T Rex Chameleon Fueltank in the next few months. It's a great deal of money for stuff that doesn't do anything more than make my life incredibly convenient, but fuck it; I've had enough trying to power my stupidly large, quirky pedals with huge powerstrips.

The Pedaltrain is big enough for all my huge pedals and has enough space underneath to mount a small powerstrip, the T-Rex fueltank and even a few routing boxes. The Fueltank Chameleon puts out 300ma out of individually isolated outputs that can also be set to a range of voltages. I have a few high-ma digital pedals, the Moog which absolutely needs an isolated centre positive output of 300ma and a bunch of other things. The only one I'll still need to power individually is the POG because it's 18v and requires a much higher ma than the 18v out on the Chameleon can deliver (the ma output drops to 150ma when switched to 18v) but that's fine; a two-plug extension cord for the power cables from the Chameleon and the Fueltank and that's it; a single plug. Rehearsals and gigs are going to be SO FUCKING EASY.

But yeah, if I decided to just use a bunch of small 9v pedals then I'd just stick with my ghetto-fabulous plywood board and Stagg case powered by my Johnny Shredfreak power supply.

moogmusic · Post by **moogmusic** » Tue May 01, 2012 8:28 am

johnnyseven wrote:How about covering the spare jacks with more pedals?

I'm finding myself drifting worryingly close to this as a solution...

batsbrew · Post by **batsbrew** » Tue May 01, 2012 3:31 pm

don't forget to take a poll of your pedals, to see if you need 18v

i have TWO pedals, that can work off of 18v, and sound better for it..
but not every model of power supply gives 18v....
and some only give one.

i use a dunlop brick, has (2) 18v outlets, works great

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Tue May 01, 2012 8:21 pm

I use one of them thar bricks with five outlets, its big and consumes the pedalboard but it does the job.

batsbrew · Post by **batsbrew** » Tue May 01, 2012 8:29 pm

i thought it was actually fairly small..

if you have a pedaltrain board, they make a bracket set to hold a voodoo labs power supply UNDERNEATH the board, so it takes up zero space, and you wire it all from underneath.

but i wanted the brick, so just mounted it on top.