Pedal Board Power

I've heard that the on-board power strips on most pedal boards add noise to to your rig. Is this true, because I just bought one and I have'nt been able to try it yet. Thanks.

Not all of them...

got one of those small gator boards with eight pos power supply, i'm using six and no noise.

Unless there's an actual defect it should add any noise. However, those power strips are nothing fancy, so they won't do anything to help suppress it.

You might find that you're fine. You might find that you have some pedals that would really rather have a transformer-isolated power supply to reduce noise. That's my one gripe with the Line6 Tone Core series. Unless they're on an isolated power supply they induce some obnoxious hum.

A Voodoo Labs Pedal Power II won't add any noise. Highly recommended. http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/PedalPwr2Pls

got one of those small gator boards with eight pos power supply, i'm using six and no noise.I have one too and gave it to my kid. It worked great and had no noise, but I need a bigger one!

I have one too and gave it to my kid. It worked great and had no noise, but I need a bigger one!

Wish my father gave me pedal boards. He's still trying to figure out why I had to spend a hundred dollars on a tuner.

Power supplies like the 1Spot don't have isolated outputs, so if one of your pedals is producing excess noise it'll be fed on down the line, whereas with the Pedalpower2 or other isolated supply that noise will be, well, isolated.

http://www.jimdunlop.com/index.php?page=products/pip&id=286&pmh=products/p_and_e_detail

I use the Dunlop Brick. It's my all-time fav power supply.

Johnny Isaacs

I have two different power supplies. Ciocks Big john and 1 spot. I love one spot for the portability and it doesn't take space on my board.
Big john is nice too but takes a lot of space on the board.

I have been using a 1 spot for quite a while to power 5 or more pedals at a time. IT works fine, maybe the pedals I have are just quiet.

But I want to switch over to the Pedal Power 2, so I can add sag to my Fuzz. The isolation of circuits is something else I'm interested in, but doesn't seem to be a total requirement for my current selection.

If you're asking about just putting a surge suppressor or cheapo power strip actually on your board? Well, I dunno if it'll add noise or not, but I would think it would add a lot of bulk... strip and all those wall warts.

I do use a good quality surge suppressor to plug all my stuff in. I like buying the 'audio grade' ones... Just makes me feel better.

I also need advice on pedalboard power supplies.

I posted a thread (http://www.tdpri.com/forum/stomp-box/109995-im-so-thrilled-my-new-toy.html) recently about a new device that Radial Engineering have supplied me to power my Switchbone.

Well, I've installed it onto my pedalboard and added a power supply which is specifically designed for powering 8 Boss-style pedals. My plan and expectation was that I could use two of the daisy chain power leads supplied with the BCB-60 and power the Tailbone (takes two 9v power leads and converts this to 15v) but the daisy chain doesn't provide two isolated 9v so I had to use a separate power supply.

I tried a "Power Block" from my local guitar shop (has 5 9v power outlets) but I had exactly the same problem - it doesn't supply two isolated 9v supplies so wouldn't even power the Tailbone.

So I purchased a Power Block from my local Maplin (the UK's equivalent of Radio Shack) and this does power the Tailbone but NOT the rest of the pedals. As soon as I plug in another 9v cable to the adjacent pedal, nothing works.

So I'm having to power the Tailbone from the 8-outlet Power Block and power the rest of the pedals:


Boss TU2 Tuner
Boss/Keeley Blues Driver
Keeley Compressor
Boss CE2 Chorus Pedal
Boss AC2 Acoutic Pedal
using the original Boss power supply. Here's what it looks like:

http://img3013.photobox.co.uk/65233006f80a24abe80dd390d606be6cbf56a41843fbb03f13 fa4f79055458a842ce2c55.jpg

It works fine but I still need two plugs to power the board and I presume it's because most power supplies don't provide isolated 9v supplies?

Any thoughts, suggestions or ideas how I might get this to work with one plug. Radial Engineering have been great but allowing me a prototype helps them get it field tested without too much hassle.

Thanks in advance.

:grin: Peter

http://www.jimdunlop.com/index.php?page=products/pip&id=286&pmh=products/p_and_e_detail

I use the Dunlop Brick. It's my all-time fav power supply.

Johnny Isaacs

Does the brick come with all needed cables? I've checked various places and they just show the unit itself and make no mention of any accessories.

Wish my father gave me pedal boards. He's still trying to figure out why I had to spend a hundred dollars on a tuner.Then this photo will kill you!

I think I got this for him when he was either 10 or 11. I don't remember exactly...

http://www.photoweborama.com/posts/brand1.jpg

http://www.jimdunlop.com/index.php?page=products/pip&id=286&pmh=products/p_and_e_detail

I use the Dunlop Brick. It's my all-time fav power supply.

Johnny Isaacs

+1. just got mine a few weeks ago, and it works great

+1 for the Brick. And, it comes with plenty of cables, both 9v and 18v.

I use Visual Sound's 1-spot for my Boss BCB-60 pedal board; although I can also use Boss' power supply too.

I use Visual Sound's 1-spot for my Boss BCB-60 pedal board; although I can also use Boss' power supply too.I have two of those, I use one and my son has the other. I have herd the Godlyke version has better noise suppression, though I've never A/B them.

Then this photo will kill you!

I think I got this for him when he was either 10 or 11. I don't remember exactly...

http://www.photoweborama.com/posts/brand1.jpg

Thats cold. I know a kid, super at guitar real genius, who plays metal and likes the band trivium. His dad heard the guitarist was selling his guitar on ebay and shelled out 4000 bucks for it. Les paul Custom EMG's etc.

Peter, what you need is a power supply with transformer isolated outputs. The only 2 that I know of are the Voodoo Labs Pedal Power series or the T-Rex.

The reason it isn't working with what you have is because you're not using isolated power supplies. The two plugs you're using are part of the same circuit and are connected electrically, so you're really only plugging 9V into the input side of that switch.

If your Tailbone can handle 18V, you can use 2 outputs of the Pedal Power and a special cable to make 18V.

Peter, what you need is a power supply with transformer isolated outputs. The only 2 that I know of are the Voodoo Labs Pedal Power series or the T-Rex.

The reason it isn't working with what you have is because you're not using isolated power supplies. The two plugs you're using are part of the same circuit and are connected electrically, so you're really only plugging 9V into the input side of that switch.

If your Tailbone can handle 18V, you can use 2 outputs of the Pedal Power and a special cable to make 18V.

Exactly the info I needed. I'd realised I need two isolated 9v supplies but knowing which power supply to try next was going to be a little trial and error. Sadly both are much more expensive that the one I've got so looks as though I'm going to have to bite the bullet! :lol:

Thank you for the reponse.

:grin: Peter

When it was a couple pedals in a bag, set up on the fly, I always used the Godlyke Powerall. Excellent product, did what I needed and never gave a problem. Then I started using two larger pedals (Van Amps Sole Mate reverb, H&K Replex delay) requiring dedicated 12 to 13 volt AC power supplies. The hassle factor got too much, so I picked up a used pedal board (trailer trash) with the pedal power II already installed underneath. That takes care of my DC pedals. Rather than continue to mess with walwarts, I bit the bullet and got the PP AC unit, put that under there too. These two things add weight, no doubt. But they are utterly reliable, completely silent. It was so worth the money.

I just bought a Pedal Power 2 - bloody expensive in the UK (£159) but worth every penny. Does not come with enough longer power leads - if you are powering 8 pedals, even in two rows like I do, there are going to be a couple that are a bit of a stretch.

It is actually the most expensive thing on my board but works great with Boss , MXR, Voodoo Lab (of course) and my self built pedals from BYOC.

I have also seen the BNIB Burkey Flatliner Pro Pedal Board Power Supply and Artec units on ebay that have isolated outputs. The Artec unit only had a two pin plug which put me off in the UK though they said it would work with 240v.

I use the Soundlab thing Peter has without problems , as my pedals have average requirements .
Cost me about £16

I been using one of these for over a year now... very happy with it. Granted, I bought it off a friend who said it was noisy in his setup, but I don't seem to have any issues.

But you get a no questions money back guarantee anyway - maybe more guys in the UK might chip in if they have one? http://www.diago.co.uk/pedal-power/pedal-power/

I been using one of these for over a year now... very happy with it. Granted, I bought it off a friend who said it was noisy in his setup, but I don't seem to have any issues.

But you get a no questions money back guarantee anyway - maybe more guys in the UK might chip in if they have one? http://www.diago.co.uk/pedal-power/pedal-power/

Trevor

I did find one of these:

http://www.diago.co.uk/images/stories/powerstation/05_diago_powerstation_inboard.jpg

but it "daisy chains the DC" and I'm not sure it would work. But with the money back guarantee, it might be worth a try.

Thanks guys. All info gratefully and warmly received.

:grin: Peter

Trevor

I did find one of these:

http://www.diago.co.uk/images/stories/powerstation/05_diago_powerstation_inboard.jpg

but it "daisy chains the DC" and I'm not sure it would work. But with the money back guarantee, it might be worth a try.

Thanks guys. All info gratefully and warmly received.

:grin: Peter

Quick update. I contacted Diago and got an e-mail from James, the owner of the company. He provided some information and asked me to call him. So I did!

Great guy and has offered to help come up with a solution that delivers my goal of one power lead (and supply) for my pedalboard. A very proactive company and he's looking at the bigger picture. He observed that if I have this problem then others have got it too, or will have it in the future, and he wants his company to be able to offer a solution. I take my hat off to him!

I keep you posted on developments.

:grin: Peter

Cool! If he does let me know, I'll pass on the info the my friend who I bought my Diago off...

Trev

I have a Diago, same as pictured. Works like a charm. No noise, no fuss and a fraction of the cost of the competition.

Cool! If he does let me know, I'll pass on the info the my friend who I bought my Diago off...

Trev

I have a Diago, same as pictured. Works like a charm. No noise, no fuss and a fraction of the cost of the competition.

Trev, will do.

axg, thanks for the feedback. Looks like a very switched on company (sort of no pun intended!). :lol:

:smile: Peter

Great advice and pics, guys...good work

So I'm at that point where I need a pedal board as I'm about to add pedal 5. I currently run

guitar-VOX wah-TS9dx-Boss CE-5-Boss TU. Soon a BYOC tremolo will go before or after the chorus all into a Peavey Valvleking 50

So basically i'm at a stalemate with myself. DO I get the Godlyke or 1 spot or an SKB knock off on ebay for $60? none of those pedals are dirty or that high maintence would I be alright with just the godlyke and hopefully not get hiss?

So I'm at that point where I need a pedal board as I'm about to add pedal 5. I currently run

guitar-VOX wah-TS9dx-Boss CE-5-Boss TU. Soon a BYOC tremolo will go before or after the chorus all into a Peavey Valvleking 50

So basically i'm at a stalemate with myself. DO I get the Godlyke or 1 spot or an SKB knock off on ebay for $60? none of those pedals are dirty or that high maintence would I be alright with just the godlyke and hopefully not get hiss?

You'll probably be just fine with a one-spot. I don't think the Godlyke model is worth nearly as much as it costs, since it doesn't really do anything that the others don't. Neither does the SKB or its knock offs.

You'll probably be just fine with a one-spot. I don't think the Godlyke model is worth nearly as much as it costs, since it doesn't really do anything that the others don't. Neither does the SKB or its knock offs.


Well it's a 5 cent difference so really no big deal either way.

Well it's a 5 cent difference so really no big deal either way.

Really? I bought my One spots for less than $20. The Godlykes looks like they're going for $35.

^ yeah

Really? I bought my One spots for less than $20. The Godlykes looks like they're going for $35.

I was on MF and one spot is $34.95 and the Godlyke is $35