How to power Maxon AD-900?

[shae]

I have a 12v power supply for it but I'm looking to get a power supply for all my pedals. Can a Fuel Tank Junior which is 9v power one of these?
Diago is a 9v power supply and they claim they can power an AD900... I have the 4-chip Japanese version.

My options just so you're aware are:

OneSpot kit $99 AUD
Fuel Tank Junior $150 AUD
Diago $180 AUD

The other pedals are all 9v and I currently have 4 but adding another one soon too.

[Doog]

Q) I have an old Boss ACA style pedal that requires 12V DC, yet you say that your Powerstation (which is 9V DC) can power it?

A) Yep - just so long as you're powering at least one other normal 9V pedal in the chain, then it'll work just fine.

The old Boss ACA pedals use 9V batteries don't they? The DC input jacks on the back are hooked up to a current limiting resistor to drop the internal voltage from 12V to 9V. Hooking up a 12V ACA pedal with one or more other 9V pedals bypasses this resistor so that it will work just fine with a highly regulated 9V supply like the Diago Powerstation.

So why design pedals to run from 9V batteries or a 12V power supply? For those who are interested..........

At the time when Boss first started making pedals, unregulated power supplies were the norm. With an unregulated power supply; as the current load is increased (in this case as you try to power more and more pedals) the voltage drops. If the voltage drops your pedals can either sound crap or there may not even be enough voltage for it to work at all. So Boss designed their unregulated pedal power supply to be 12V DC, and put a current limiting resistor in the DC input of every pedal, so that different loading wouldn't have so much of an effect on the 9V needed to power the pedal. Now that we have access to well regulated supplies, it's not an issue any more.

Sooo, you may well be able to power it with your other 9v pedals with any of the supplies, but defo with the Diago.

[shae]

Thanks for the response Doog. Really seems that way doesn't it. I really didn't want to do it but I might have to go with the Diago... just pains me to pay so much money for such little usage. It goes against all my Networking principles! Works out to double the price of a Onespot though so maybe it's well worth the investment considering it'll also offer peace of mind + a clean setup for home.

[Doog]

Why not just use the current 12v adaptor with the AD-900, and pick up a cheaper 9v power supply for the others? It surely isn't gonna fuck up pedalboard cosmetics THAT badly?

[ultratwin]

Why not just use the current 12v adaptor with the AD-900, and pick up a cheaper 9v power supply for the others? It surely isn't gonna fuck up pedalboard cosmetics THAT badly?

Exactly what I have done, on and off.


The Voodoo Labs PP2 does fine powering my Boss ACA goodies and Maxon AD-900, but when I'm not dragging the brick along I'll just use a dedicated wall-wart + One Spot for the 9v family. Does the trick, either way. Nice to hear you have a AD-900, Shae. It's one of those pedals I'll have in the collection 'til I croak.

[shae]

Why not just use the current 12v adaptor with the AD-900, and pick up a cheaper 9v power supply for the others? It surely isn't gonna fuck up pedalboard cosmetics THAT badly?

Oh don't get me wrong, it has nothing to do about pedalboard cosmetics. More so loose wires and the lack of power boards in my room. I hate stacking them and don't have the extension cables etc required for me to reach out. As soon as they're added in, the Diago looks the better and better option. But yes, for the time being I'm actually just using a powersupply I got + the 12v for the Maxon.

The "cheaper" alternative to the $180 Diago (shipped + 3 adapters) is a $99 OneSpot kit. We don't have very many options here (regular Powersupplies from Electronics shops are about $30... I paid $28 for my 12v 300mA).

Definitely something I have to ponder over now... aesthetics are the LAST thing I care about tho. All my pedals are banged up anyway!