Pedal powering conundrum

[Sibob]

Hi all,

 

Since selling my Noble, which powered the other 6 pedals on my main board….I’m left requiring a power solution.

 

Here’s the board as it stands, including the space left by the Noble:

 

 

I’m going to fill some of the space with a Barber Linden EQ, and, if I can swing it, my Schu-Tone FJBOD, something along the lines of this:

 

 

Which leaves me a rather specific area to squeeze some power in.

 

I have some Cioks power systems being used on other boards, but here, I do have a spare Diago PS01, 3amps of power, typically into a daisy-chain.

However, while the Noble power sockets weren’t isolated, I’d like to try and create an isolated setup here. 
 

My initial idea was to just velcro two Gigrig Isolators on top of the PS01 and connect them via a power splitter (because the PS01 only has 1 output), so something like….

 

(black block under the 1st isolator being a placeholder for the PS01).

 

However, turns out that the Isolators need fairly specific and clean powering, either from a Gigrig Distributor (no space, overkill for my use here), or a parallel 9v splitter cable. The latter unfortunately doesn’t seem to exist with the correct connections (female in and two male outs) off-the-shelf.

 

The other option, which is way less elegant, is to get something like a Cioks DC7, and place pedals on top of it, such as:

 

 

But this setup doesn’t fill me with too much joy if I’m honest.

 

3rd option is to try and squeeze in an MXR Brick:

 

 

This is a fairly smart solution, although the thought of using a wall-wart, probably one with quite a short cable (at a guess), really grates with me.

 

So, thoughts? Opinions?

- Can I get a parallel 9v splitter cable made for me? Who’s best to do that (and it be proper/solid).

- Would I likely hear any additional noise place pedals on top of a power supply if I went that route?

- Anyone using the MXR Brick? Any good, is the wallwart and cable length manageable?

 

Additional info:

- The board has to be this size to fit in my flight case, where it lives.

- I can’t afford anymore height, for the above reason, otherwise I’d be getting a Goodwood Audio Lift and solve all my issues immediately haha.

 

Cheers

Si

Edited Thursday at 18:13 by Sibob

[LukeFRC]

10 minutes ago, Sibob said:

I’m going to fill some of the space with a Barber Linden EQ, and, if I can swing it, my Schu-Tone FJBOD, something along the lines of this:

 

 

Which leaves me a rather specific area to squ

Could you make your board two level with enough space to tick something slim under the top level. Also then have two straight rows of pedals. 

[LukeFRC]

Read the end and height seemingly not an option

[Sibob]

4 minutes ago, LukeFRC said:

Read the end and height seemingly not an option

Yeah, I measured everything, and if I added this additional level, I’d have to figure out another storage/transport solution…which I don’t wanna do just at the moment.

 

Si

[LukeFRC]

12 minutes ago, Sibob said:

Yeah, I measured everything, and if I added this additional level, I’d have to figure out another storage/transport solution…which I don’t wanna do just at the moment.

 

Si

Even 12mm ply ontop a dc7? 

[prowla]

I've had several pedal power supplies.

The CIOKS DC7 is the one I'd buy again.

[Sibob]

56 minutes ago, LukeFRC said:

Even 12mm ply ontop a dc7? 

That would be the absolute most I’d get away with I think, although presumably there might be a question about heat dissipation if I’m fully enclosing the DC7?! Not that I’d be pushing it very hard.

 

Si

[rwillett]

Can you fit the DC7 underneath? That's how I mount mine. I can send you some 3d printed brackets for free that you can use if that helps. 

[Sibob]

24 minutes ago, rwillett said:

Can you fit the DC7 underneath? That's how I mount mine. I can send you some 3d printed brackets for free that you can use if that helps. 

Potentially….and that’s a very kind offer, thanks.

I’m intrigued to see how the brackets work if you wouldn’t mind PM’ing me? 
 

Cheers

Si

[rwillett]

Si

 

Have a look at this thread. There's quite a few pictures of the DC-7 with brackets underneath this pedalboard I designed and made. 

 

I use two brackets that fit the DC-7 and in my case they bolt to the horizontal aluminium as that's what the aluminium is designed to be used for. In your case do you have something to screw the brackets to? Plywood? The screws can be quite small as there's little weight to theDC-7. 

 

The brackets don't connect to the DC-7, they merely hold it tightly in place. If you have specific ideas for mounting it, I can probably adapt my brackets. 

 

The brackets are dead simple to design and print.  30 mins for two of them.

 

Let me know

 

Rob

 

 

[tauzero]

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005055355118.html

 

And you could power it with a power bank, making a pedalboard with in and out leads only.

 

[Sibob]

33 minutes ago, tauzero said:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005055355118.html

 

And you could power it with a power bank, making a pedalboard with in and out leads only.

 

Size could be work….but can’t see how it’s powered?! Only via USB?!

Wonder if it’s any good.

 

Si

[tauzero]

18 minutes ago, Sibob said:

Size could be work….but can’t see how it’s powered?! Only via USB?!

Wonder if it’s any good.

 

I've got one, seems OK so far. I got it with the intention of running it from a USB power pack and that works.

[rwillett]

13 hours ago, tauzero said:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005055355118.html

 

And you could power it with a power bank, making a pedalboard with in and out leads only.

 

For that price (£8 inc delivery) I've ordered one of those.  I did pass on the washable nose hair trimmer for £1 though...

[Sibob]

I'm still a bit confused about how it's powered?!? Only via USB? Or is the USB an output for charging phone? (like the DC7).
If I could power this from the Diago PS01, and it's not totally rubbish, it could be a goer......like Rwillet mentioned....for £8 (which I'm skeptical of naturally lol).

 

Cheers

Si

[rwillett]

Its powered from a USB type power supply (I think)

 

Here's the specs.

 

■ 8 Isolated DC Output

■ 8 LED lights are used for lighting indication in dark environment

■ Independent short-circuit protection, when one output is short-circuited, other outputs can still work

■Power input: Type-C 5V 2A

■Power output: 6 ways DC 9V 100mA, 2 ways DC 9V 300mA

■Low noise fully Isolated output DC power supply provides stable and clean power to your equipment to ensure that your effector works perfectly and produces the best effect sound

 

So connect it to a mains plug with a USB socket and it should work. Total output is 1.2A so within USB C spec. e.g.

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Charge-Charging-Adapter-iPhone-Samsung-White/dp/B0BKP1QMBB/ref=sr_1_9?crid=FNKQTC4O6RJS&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.wAev9J2Vkkj3msC3yqHFTifbKxjujtBCyemgr_5ihpWD43bR--maOt9yfxvK1gyRLXpDIRLja_uRNFjUH9DafO1RPfQOQ2NWQH8htRZ1zd3yHGmI3xSdY9qpIEgKoblmM9_oMmgaIeP1ugieCc5dHelqrGRDeTOTJ_TDzKeKDTVUpOHqTaLrvquiM4-zgRjUtSHXVO9ReRU7dw1Qy4UIzpCkpyVCrDegEwoprMncGfg.rOCDnqYUQTR_MWVVY6YiuFnRLROKTmhnNzl0SMa9ozw&dib_tag=se&keywords=USB+plug+C&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1737116330&sprefix=usb+plug+c%2Caps%2C86&sr=8-9

 

Rob

Edited Friday at 12:19 by rwillett

[tauzero]

1 hour ago, Sibob said:

I'm still a bit confused about how it's powered?!? Only via USB? Or is the USB an output for charging phone? (like the DC7).
If I could power this from the Diago PS01, and it's not totally rubbish, it could be a goer......like Rwillet mentioned....for £8 (which I'm skeptical of naturally lol).

 

As @rwillett says, powered via USB-C. Although the higher current outlets are supposed to be 300mA apiece, I can run a HX Stomp off one and a Pi-based software synth off another, as long as the power pack gives enough output. I'd show a picture but I've mislaid my 2.1-2.6mm lead for the Stomp.

[tauzero]

This is the power pack I used (going against my normal principles of not buying from Amazon, but brother-in-law always sends us an Amazon card for Christmas): https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CBM2N1P5

[rwillett]

5 minutes ago, tauzero said:

As @rwillett says, powered via USB-C. Although the higher current outlets are supposed to be 300mA apiece, I can run a HX Stomp off one and a Pi-based software synth off another, as long as the power pack gives enough output. I'd show a picture but I've mislaid my 2.1-2.6mm lead for the Stomp.

So you can run a Pi off this powerbank. Not sure which Pi you have is but none are that low powered, therefore I would suspect that the outputs on this powerbank are not isolated and if you can put the juice in, any one socket could consume all or most of the juice. That might explain why its £8 delivered from China

 

That looks a decent powerpack. How long does it last with an HX Stomp and Pi devouring it

 

Thanks

 

Rob

[tauzero]

1 minute ago, rwillett said:

So you can run a Pi off this powerbank. Not sure which Pi you have is but none are that low powered, therefore I would suspect that the outputs on this powerbank are not isolated and if you can put the juice in, any one socket could consume all or most of the juice. That might explain why its £8 delivered from China

 

That looks a decent powerpack. How long does it last with an HX Stomp and Pi devouring it

 

It's a Pi 4 - https://geekfunklabs.com/products/squishbox/

 

When I've sorted another power lead out, I'm going to do an endurance test. If I can remember where I put my B3, I can connect that up too, because that's really fussy about isolated power.

[rwillett]

Just now, tauzero said:

 

It's a Pi 4 - https://geekfunklabs.com/products/squishbox/

 

When I've sorted another power lead out, I'm going to do an endurance test. If I can remember where I put my B3, I can connect that up too, because that's really fussy about isolated power.

I look forward to that. A Pi 4 is quite low powered relative to a pair of Xeon's, but compared to the stuff in guitar pedals, its a crazy power hungry monster.

[Sibob]

4 hours ago, tauzero said:

This is the power pack I used (going against my normal principles of not buying from Amazon, but brother-in-law always sends us an Amazon card for Christmas): https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CBM2N1P5

That plus the 8 way pedal power strip is just getting too big though, won’t fit on my board and I’ve no interest in having bits and pieces sitting off the board.

 

Cheers though.

Si

[Sibob]

I think my preference is for the PS01/Isolator setup….maybe even swap the Diago out for a Gigrig Generator, but just need to figure out this ‘parallel splitter’ thing.

 

Si

Edited Friday at 18:52 by Sibob

[tauzero]

26 minutes ago, Sibob said:

That plus the 8 way pedal power strip is just getting too big though, won’t fit on my board and I’ve no interest in having bits and pieces sitting off the board.

 

Cheers though.

Si

 

Put the pedal power strip on its back so the outlets are pointing up and put it across the top, and use a smaller power pack - I got this because of the immense current drain, you've only got normal pedals.