power supply question

[chrisdaman]

ok so i've bought an EHX bass big muff alongside my Zoom B2.1u

i dont want loads of power supplies, so was considering this as a cheap option:

[url="http://Diago%20power%20supply"]5 way splitter[/url]

only problem is, is that says "DC splitter", would it work AC? both pedals are 9v

i've searched for an answer and not seen much

answers asap please

setup:

[url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whiningroots/6042696627/"][/url]
[url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whiningroots/6042696627/"]DSC_0066[/url] by [url="http://www.flickr.com/people/whiningroots/"]Chris Watts Photography[/url], on Flickr

thanks in advance

Chris

[simwells]

Your link isn't working but I'd recommend the unit from JohnnyShredFreak, cheap and very good

[url="http://www.johnnyshredfreak.com/"]http://www.johnnyshredfreak.com/[/url]

[chrisdaman]

when it says "DC" though, will it work with AC power? that's my issue, i know they're alternating and Direct current, but will the daisy chains work with an AC adapter?

[url="http://www.johnnyshredfreak.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=9&products_id=248"]http://www.johnnyshredfreak.com/store/inde...products_id=248[/url]

i've currently got a 9v AC power adapter (from the zoom pedal)

[flyfisher]

The daisy chain cable simply allows one PSU to be connected to multiple pedals. Because it is basically just a piece of wire, whatever you put into one end will come out of the other, AC or DC.

What you need to be careful about is whether ALL your pedals are compatible with the SAME power supply unit.

Edited August 14, 2011 by flyfisher

[chrisdaman]

[quote name='flyfisher' post='1340122' date='Aug 14 2011, 10:30 PM']The daisy chain cable simply allows one PSU to be connected to multiple pedals. Because it is basically just a piece of wire, whatever you put into one end will come out of the other, AC or DC.

What you need to be careful about is whether ALL your pedals are compatible with the SAME power supply unit.[/quote]

i've checked the big muff and it works with the 9v AC pedal

ok thanks for clearing that up

[Paul S]

I asked a very similar question recently. I was told the issue with connecting 2+ pedals to one power supply is whether the adapter has sufficient output. Mine didn't so I bought a new Boss one that did, together with a 5x way daisy chain all from the same eBay shop that cost about 311 all in incl. postage. There is sufficient 'headroom' (does that same expression still apply? Spare output?) in the adapter for me to add more pedals, which I have.

[aldude]

The Zoom PSU actually puts out 9V DC, and 300mA of power. So, the Zoom B2.1u needs 9V DC.

The big muff also needs 9V DC. So the same PSU can be used to power either pedal.

You can therefore use a splitter to power both pedals.

The question then is whether 300mA is enough to power both pedals. Probably, as 300mA is quite a lot, but if you have problems then replace the PSU with a higher power 9V DC, there are ones that go up to 2000mA which are fairly cheap.

[flyfisher]

Yes, good points about the total power requirements.

First get the voltage and AC/DC things right - this will prevent damage to the pedals.

Given the above, I'd expect a PSU for one pedal to probably be able to power two pedals because they are usually generously specified - i.e. provide more power than necessary. But it's not guaranteed and depends on the pedals in question. It's almost certain (though again not guaranteed) that a PSU for one pedal would not be able to power five pedals, even though a 5-way splitter cable would would allow them all to be connected.

To be absolutely sure, add up the current requirements of each pedal and check it doesn't exceed the specification of the PSU. The pedals may have this info on a label, but should certainly have the figure in the manual. If the sum of the current requirements exceed that of the PSU then a new PSU of at least the total current capability will be required.

As mentioned above, a 2A PSU (2000mA) would be a good start for a decent pedal-board.