Best board and power supply?

[phatbass787]

Always nice to have everything together on one board if poss.

Anyone spot Ashdown have released one? Looks very nice and great price, powers up to 8 pedals and comes in a nic carry bag, may get one myself.

[url="http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/product/40760-ashdown-pedal-board-with-shoulder-bag.html"]http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/product/4076...oulder-bag.html[/url]

[danny-79]

Brought this off eBay for £15,(dont think there much more than that new), no-name brand but works a treat no his or hum, powers upto 10 9v pedals, the leads that come with it are boss style but variations are avalible (like the headphone style power found on old DODs etc)

[Warcorv]

Maybe you can try a Warwick Rockcase 2300:they look bullett-proof.

[Phaedrus]

Turns out there are loads of options for pedalboard power supply (as many of you probably already knew).

Till now, I'd thought I'd need a separate PSU for each pedal in my board (because all my pedals will be from different manufacturers), plugged into a 4- or 6-way extension socket.

My guitarist has a Dunlop DC Brick in his bass FX board (he plays bass in another band):

[url="http://www.thomann.de/ie/dunlop_dc_brick_power_supply_eu.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/ie/dunlop_dc_brick_power_supply_eu.htm[/url]


Thomann also do a few similar products:

[url="http://www.thomann.de/ie/voodoo_labpedal_power_2_plus.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/ie/voodoo_labpedal_power_2_plus.htm[/url]

[url="http://www.thomann.de/ie/g_lab_pb_1_power_supply.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/ie/g_lab_pb_1_power_supply.htm[/url]

[url="http://www.thomann.de/ie/voodoo_lab_pedal_power_ac.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/ie/voodoo_lab_pedal_power_ac.htm[/url]

[url="http://www.thomann.de/ie/trex_fuel_tank.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/ie/trex_fuel_tank.htm[/url]

[url="http://www.thomann.de/ie/bbe_supa_charger.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/ie/bbe_supa_charger.htm[/url]

[url="http://www.thomann.de/ie/trex_fuel_tank_juicy_lucy.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/ie/trex_fuel_tank_juicy_lucy.htm[/url]

[url="http://www.thomann.de/ie/trex_fuel_tank_junior.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/ie/trex_fuel_tank_junior.htm[/url]

[url="http://www.thomann.de/ie/artec_power_brick.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/ie/artec_power_brick.htm[/url]

[url="http://www.thomann.de/ie/harley_benton_powerplant.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/ie/harley_benton_powerplant.htm[/url]


But it's this guy that's caught my attention, and is probably what I'll be choosing, unless anyone on here can tell me why I shouldn't:

[url="http://www.thegigrig.com/acatalog/TheGigRig_Distributor.html"]http://www.thegigrig.com/acatalog/TheGigRig_Distributor.html[/url]



Thanks,

Mark

[umcoo]

The gigrig distributor is great, but you will need a power supply as the distributor is only a device for kinda neatening up a board. I used to have a distributor and the johnny shreadfreak power supply. Worked great.

[Phaedrus]

My understanding of leccy is basic at best, so can someone tell me if I've got this right:

My FX pedals will each need 9volts, at their stated supply rate of whatever amperes.

I get it that a 9v multi-output PSU can supply the 9v to each pedal, but these PSUs seem to "have" much higher ampere ratings than most pedals, yeah? Do the pedals just "take" the 9v at whatever rate they need, and the ampere rating of the multi-PSU is just what's available to the pedals?

So no matter how high the ampere rating of the PSU is, there's no risk of damaging the pedals?

If that's the case, then whether I choose a stand-alone PSU, or something like the GigRig with a separate PSU, is it the case that so long as the PSU ampere rating is the same as or higher than the sum of all my pedal's ampere ratings, things'll be fine?

If that is the case, should I be looking at the PSU with the highest ampere rating I can find, to ensure plenty of capacity for expansion? Or is a PSU rated at 5000 milliamps (yes, there is one!) OTT or potentially a risk?


Thanks,

Mark

[robocorpse]

Correct, the PSU can theoretically be any rating over whats needed.
You should take some headroom into account, but also dont buy anything too powerful, or it will be a waste of money and won't be working to full potential.
Add up the total draw of all your pedals, double it and find the nearest rating of PSU, so if it comes to (say) 280mA total for your pedals, then buy a 500mA PSU and that should be fine for all eventualities, and give you some extra power if you chucked another pedal on there, as you are unliklely to be running all of them at the same time anyway.
5000mA is overkill, and also probably "switch-mode" design, these are to be avoided unless they are of *exceptional* quality, as they can be very noisy (chucking nasty buzzing sounds round your pedal rig), and they are very difficult for your average Joe to repair if they pop. Get a normal transformer design, somewhere between 300mA and 1000mA (1A).
The doubling is just a precaution, but you don't want to run the PSU to full capacity because if anything goes wrong and a pedal momentarily grabs loads of power, you will knock the whole lot out.
A resettable fuse on the 9v line is a great addition if you are building your own power distro, no messing about with little glass fuses in the dark mid-gig, just hit the reset button.


[quote name='Phaedrus' post='668054' date='Nov 28 2009, 10:14 AM']My understanding of leccy is basic at best, so can someone tell me if I've got this right:

My FX pedals will each need 9volts, at their stated supply rate of whatever amperes.

I get it that a 9v multi-output PSU can supply the 9v to each pedal, but these PSUs seem to "have" much higher ampere ratings than most pedals, yeah? Do the pedals just "take" the 9v at whatever rate they need, and the ampere rating of the multi-PSU is just what's available to the pedals?

So no matter how high the ampere rating of the PSU is, there's no risk of damaging the pedals?

If that's the case, then whether I choose a stand-alone PSU, or something like the GigRig with a separate PSU, is it the case that so long as the PSU ampere rating is the same as or higher than the sum of all my pedal's ampere ratings, things'll be fine?

If that is the case, should I be looking at the PSU with the highest ampere rating I can find, to ensure plenty of capacity for expansion? Or is a PSU rated at 5000 milliamps (yes, there is one!) OTT or potentially a risk?


Thanks,

Mark[/quote]

[umcoo]

The Johnny Shredfreak is around 1500 mA I think. The Diago is around 3000. I've had both and never noticed any difference between the two, except one is £13 and one is £60 (?). If I were you, I'd get a shredfreak and a gigrig and be done with it.

[Phaedrus]

The only 9v PSU I see on Johnny Shredfreak's site is this:

[url="http://www.johnnyshredfreak.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=8&products_id=77&zenid=997a0ade95f06d9a16ea3bfbce4cd175"]http://www.johnnyshredfreak.com/store/inde...6ea3bfbce4cd175[/url]

And it has a clear note in upper case:

"[u]IMPORTANT: THIS POWER SUPPLY IS FOR EQUIPMENT REQUIRING 9V AC (ALTERNATING CURRENT AT 9 VOLTS). IT MUST *NOT* BE USED ON STANDARD EFFECTS PEDALS - THOSE REQUIRE 9V DC (DIRECT CURRENT AT 9 VOLTS). [/u]"

I don't see another PSU on their Power Supplies page or anywhere else on the site.

Am I missing something?

I take it that any 9v DC PSU rated at at least double the draw of all my pedals combined will do the job?


Thanks,

Mark

[umcoo]

Ahh dear, looks like they've maybe stopped it? It looked just like the Diago. That's a shame. Maybe shoot them an email?

[The Twickerman]

[quote name='Phaedrus' post='667740' date='Nov 27 2009, 08:20 PM']Turns out there are loads of options for pedalboard power supply (as many of you probably already knew).

Till now, I'd thought I'd need a separate PSU for each pedal in my board (because all my pedals will be from different manufacturers), plugged into a 4- or 6-way extension socket.

My guitarist has a Dunlop DC Brick in his bass FX board (he plays bass in another band):

[url="http://www.thomann.de/ie/dunlop_dc_brick_power_supply_eu.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/ie/dunlop_dc_brick_power_supply_eu.htm[/url]


Thomann also do a few similar products:

[url="http://www.thomann.de/ie/voodoo_labpedal_power_2_plus.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/ie/voodoo_labpedal_power_2_plus.htm[/url]

[url="http://www.thomann.de/ie/g_lab_pb_1_power_supply.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/ie/g_lab_pb_1_power_supply.htm[/url]

[url="http://www.thomann.de/ie/voodoo_lab_pedal_power_ac.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/ie/voodoo_lab_pedal_power_ac.htm[/url]

[url="http://www.thomann.de/ie/trex_fuel_tank.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/ie/trex_fuel_tank.htm[/url]

[url="http://www.thomann.de/ie/bbe_supa_charger.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/ie/bbe_supa_charger.htm[/url]

[url="http://www.thomann.de/ie/trex_fuel_tank_juicy_lucy.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/ie/trex_fuel_tank_juicy_lucy.htm[/url]

[url="http://www.thomann.de/ie/trex_fuel_tank_junior.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/ie/trex_fuel_tank_junior.htm[/url]

[url="http://www.thomann.de/ie/artec_power_brick.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/ie/artec_power_brick.htm[/url]

[url="http://www.thomann.de/ie/harley_benton_powerplant.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/ie/harley_benton_powerplant.htm[/url]


But it's this guy that's caught my attention, and is probably what I'll be choosing, unless anyone on here can tell me why I shouldn't:

[url="http://www.thegigrig.com/acatalog/TheGigRig_Distributor.html"]http://www.thegigrig.com/acatalog/TheGigRig_Distributor.html[/url]



Thanks,

Mark[/quote]

I like the look of that gigrig unit too. But funnily enough, just today I bought a VooDoo Lab Pedal Power 2. As far as I can tell this and the Modtone Power Plant are the only ones with fully isolated outputs. I have had problems with noise spilling from my flanger to the distortions and this is the best solution. Of course, being isolated you can parallel them up (with a suitable cable) to offer 18v (and even 24v is required).

[lateralus462]

[quote name='umcoo' post='669442' date='Nov 29 2009, 08:36 PM']Ahh dear, looks like they've maybe stopped it? It looked just like the Diago. That's a shame. Maybe shoot them an email?[/quote]

I emailed them a while ago about these. They said they were due to come back into stock soon so it's definitely worth giving them a shout - I reckon for the money they're the best power supply you can get.

[The Twickerman]

[quote name='The Twickerman' post='673413' date='Dec 3 2009, 05:05 PM']But funnily enough, just today I bought a VooDoo Lab Pedal Power 2. As far as I can tell this and the Modtone Power Plant are the only ones with fully isolated outputs. I have had problems with noise spilling from my flanger to the distortions and this is the best solution. Of course, being isolated you can parallel them up (with a suitable cable) to offer 18v (and even 24v is required).[/quote]

Having just read a bit more, I am thinking I could've (should've) bought the Diago - power for more pedals, a tidier board and would've saved 100 quid. We live and learn.

Anyway - having now researched this more properly, I'd rate the Diago as the best option - by a country mile.

Rats!

[throwoff]

I use a warwick rockcase one, its a strong plastic with a velcro top, 4 9V power outs for pedals. Its decent enough and comes with a strong bag to move it in and to store picks,strings cables etc in

plus its only 49 quid (there are bigger ones too)

Here is a pic of mine so you can see what you can fit onto it

[Phaedrus]

Hmmm . . . that's interesting. The cost of my homemade board/case would be around the same.

The bigger board can power five 9v & one 12v pedals, but I'll have 7 9v pedals.

My VXL (my DI) runs on phantom power for live, so I don't use a PSU, but I do want to have the ability to power the VXL independently of phantom, so I'll need 7 power sources.

I'm still pretty sure I'll make my own board, so I just need to sort the cleanest, simplest, cheapest & most reliable power solution I can find. I'd agree that the GigRig Distributor (I'll need two) with a suitable PSU could be my best option - the Distributor are so small, whereas any of the "power brick"-type products are almost the same size as some pedal.

I just need to source a quality 9v DC PSU with at least double the combined ampere rating of all the pedals I'm going to get.

BTW, what do you think of the Bass Blogger? I'm considering getting one.


Mark

Edited December 4, 2009 by Phaedrus

[The Twickerman]

[quote name='Phaedrus' post='674452' date='Dec 4 2009, 07:30 PM']BTW, what do you think of the Bass Blogger? I'm considering getting one.[/quote]

I just checked out some of the EH demos. Didn't really get the Bass Blogger - but my hat goes off to EH! They make some really inspiring pedals. I really must get a Bass Microsynth!!!!

[throwoff]

[quote name='Phaedrus' post='674452' date='Dec 4 2009, 07:30 PM']BTW, what do you think of the Bass Blogger? I'm considering getting one.


Mark[/quote]


I think its a quality pedal, I honestly bought it as somewhat of a whim in Digital Village. I was in there to pick up some new mic's, I had heard it online and thought I would just give it a try out and the whole vibe just sold me there and then.

Its got a hell of a lot for a pedal with seemingly so few functions. Having the options to switch between fuzz and drive is nice (mines almost exclusively on fuzz) and the tone control really does a lot.

I have a big soft spot for EH anyway so perhaps im a little biased (I used to have a Bass balls and did go through a stage of using a Big Muff for my bass until it destroyed 2 amps)

Definatly test it out first, the online videos etc really dont do it justice and playing with it reveals some very neat sounds.

[Murderface]

[attachment=38273:untitled.jpg]Pedal pad mks xl with inbuilt patch bay and power, can raise and lower the pedals and can comes with rack arms for rack gear.

[Phaedrus]

The StoneCastle Grand Master looks just right for me - enough room for what I plan to have, with a little extra to play with, cheaper than DIY ( ), and a lot cheaper than an equivalent PedalTrain.

[url="http://www.stonecastle.se/productssimple.html"]http://www.stonecastle.se/productssimple.html[/url]

For those of you with more than 6 pedals or so - are you using one PSU to daisy chain the whole board, or have you got one or more of the DC Brick-type PSUs?

Is there a single 9v PSU out there that can reliably & quietly power 10 pedals or so daisy-chained?


Mark

[Musicman20]

I went round in circles with this...but im glad I waited. I sold my Line 6 DL4 as it was overkill for me.

Ive just ordered the T Rex Chameleon Power Supply (comes with a huge amount of connectors) and a TC Nova Repeater, (12v). It took me a while to find a stockist who would price match on both products, but guitarguitar won the cheapest deal so Ive gone with them. Now ive got to wait as they are both still on order and the Chameleon has only just been released.

So, I went over the top with the power supply, but Id rather be able to expand with any pedal I want rather than be restricted.

Now I can power the Tonehammer, BDDI, Polytune, (when it gets here) and Nova Repeater with no problems, and still expand. Obviously with guiitar only two of them will be worthwhile using but id like to get a quality reverb down the line.

Now im after the Tech 21 VT Bass Deluxe...crikey.

Edited March 15, 2010 by Musicman20

[BigJim]

www.effectpowersupplies.com

[Phaedrus]

Thanks for that BigJim.

Call me a tightwad, but could someone out there could tell me why (if?) any of the DC Brick-type PSUs are worth 3 or more times as much as the Stompbox 8 from www.effectpowersupplies.com:

[url="http://www.effectpowersupplies.com/stompbox-8-3000ma-power-supply-with-8-way-daisy-chain-696-p.asp"]http://www.effectpowersupplies.com/stompbo...chain-696-p.asp[/url]

3000mA, 8 right-angle connectors, seemingly noiseless, compatible with all the pedals I envisage myself having.


Thanks,

Mark

[The Twickerman]

[quote name='Phaedrus' post='778159' date='Mar 18 2010, 12:22 AM']Thanks for that BigJim.

Call me a tightwad, but could someone out there could tell me why (if?) any of the DC Brick-type PSUs are worth 3 or more times as much as the Stompbox 8 from www.effectpowersupplies.com:

[url="http://www.effectpowersupplies.com/stompbox-8-3000ma-power-supply-with-8-way-daisy-chain-696-p.asp"]http://www.effectpowersupplies.com/stompbo...chain-696-p.asp[/url]

3000mA, 8 right-angle connectors, seemingly noiseless, compatible with all the pedals I envisage myself having.


Thanks,

Mark[/quote]

Perhaps the key difference is hinted at by this: "Creates no noise or mains hum."

The problem I found with cheap PSU was that noise created by one of the pedals is injected onto the PSU and emerges as noise on other pedals.

Specifically, my Fulltone ChoralFlange created swooshing noise on my Malekko B:Assmaster. Quite loud too and completely unusable. The problem disappeared when I adopted the Pedal Power II which features individually isolated outputs.

Edited March 18, 2010 by The Twickerman

[Phaedrus]

Hmm . . .

I hear you - even though the claim is that it creates no noise, the inference is that these types of PSU do typically fail on that hurdle?

Guess I'll keep looking. Most of those DC Brick type units are pretty big - I may go back to considering using two GigRig Distributors & a separate good single PSU.


Mark

[The Twickerman]

[quote name='Phaedrus' post='778328' date='Mar 18 2010, 09:51 AM']Hmm . . .

I hear you - even though the claim is that it creates no noise, the inference is that these types of PSU do typically fail on that hurdle?

Guess I'll keep looking. Most of those DC Brick type units are pretty big - I may go back to considering using two GigRig Distributors & a separate good single PSU.


Mark[/quote]

I think the Diago PSUs (although they use a daisy chain), are very noise resistant, because of the nature of their design being different (very fast, full voltage range switching, with large capacitors to average out (or smooth out) the voltage). They have greater current delivery too, and provide more amps. They also support 9 and 18v too. And they are cheaper. But I haven't tried one, so can't vouch for it.