Powering pedals - different makes, once source

[vanhansen]

I'm sure this has been asked a million times, so let's got for 1 million 1.  

My pedalboard is as follows:

Dunlop GCB95 Crybaby to MXR Phase 90 to Boss SD-1 to Boss CH-1 then to the amp.

Now, I have the 3 pedal pedalboard (BCB-3) that Boss makes/made with the daisy chain power cable and use a PSA-120T for powering my Boss pedals. I would like to power my Phase 90 and Wah off this daisy chain too (I'm only using 2 of the 4 hookups now).  As we all know, the Phase 90 and Crybaby have different DC jacks than Boss (at least mine do anyway).

Is there some sort of adapter that I can get/make to change it from Boss type to MXR/Dunlop type?  It would have to change it from Boss type female to MXR/Dunlop type male.  Is polarity an issue between the two brands?  Would there be unwanted noise?

I'd rather not spend money on a DC Brick if I can help it when I have something that could work anyway.  Just curious if such adapters exist or can be made easily.

[Phorhas]

It's pretty easy to just wire up a juck of one sort to a plug of the other

[vseriesamps]

I power both styles of pedal from a single source - in my case the discontinued BattMan. You should be able to either clip the ends of an existing Boss-type daisy chain and solder on minijack ends (I have such a cable) or else procure MXR-type single cables like I use. I've been told you can purchase them online from Voodoo Labs. Certainly no need to buy another power supply at any rate. Best of luck.

[bwanasonic]

I use these:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=home/search/detail/base_pid/151690/


Kerry M

PS. I also use the VisualSound 1Spot (X2) .

[Hal]

make an "adapter"

www.mouser.com

they have all the power connectors you could wish for there.  Buy a boss style jack and mxr or whatever style plug...the wireing is pretty simple...

just make sure all are negative ground, and you're set.

[Ansil]

making your own adaptor should work out fine.

currently i am building someone a pedalboad with a built in power supply and a single ac outlet. for this task i used a single 1.2A 12.6vac trasnformer 1n4004 diodes  double fuses.  multil line feed with two dedicated voltages  and three switchable ones.

he likes to run his transistor pedals lower for sputtering goodness and his delays and chorus pedals higher [i opened them up and they all can handle it and his chorus pedal is set to run at a higher voltage and not off a 9v batterie (long story)]

so he has two dedicated [with internal switching in case he changes his mind] 7v lines a 12v line two 14v lines and two 9v lines.  {all of these whcih can be dialed in via selectors in the control compartment}

other fun stuff a lighted back board and top board that has the bands logo inlayed in lexan and done in script.  plus it has glow in the dark elements in it so that once it is lighted enough it will glow for hours.

[vanhansen]

I use these:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=home/search/detail/base_pid/151690/


Kerry M

PS. I also use the VisualSound 1Spot (X2) .

Is the straight end of this a barrel type male connection?  Is it just like what is on the Boss Pedals themselves?  If so, this is exactly what I'm looking for.

[vanhansen]

I use these:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=home/search/detail/base_pid/151690/


Kerry M

PS. I also use the VisualSound 1Spot (X2) .

Ok, I did some looking around and found an image showing the straight end.  That's what I need.  Now, it looks like this will work with my existing BOSS PSA-120T and the daisy chain that I have for it.  Can someone confirm?  Thanks.

[Mark Hammer]

The most straightforward and flexible thing to do is to make a power distribution box that the wallwart plugs into.  The wallwart can be plugged in wherever it needs to be, and the distribution box is parked on your pedalboard.  Once the power arrives at the distribution box, you can stick a power indicator LED on it (can't do that with a wallwart), you can provide full-voltage and "dead battery" outputs, you can regulate the supply better than it already is, and provide a means to power pedals with unusual plug requirements or different polarities.  Check out the Small Wart project at Small Bear (http://www.smallbearelec.com/Projects/SmWart/SmWart.htm) for an example of how to do this.

Perhaps just as importantly, if you hang around here long enough, you KNOW you're going to have more pedals.  Once you have more pedals, the location/configuration of your pedals on your pedalboard will change and so will the requirements for any power cables, their length, orientation, etc.  Having a power distribution box from which you run short power cables allows you to make up connector cables that appropriate for having a neat layout and reaching all you pedals.  Although daisy chaining is convenient in many ways, what happens when you have to move your wah around (DC jacks on wahs seem to always be in a problem location)?

[vanhansen]

Mark, I thought about the power distro unit too but I just trimmed my rig down to only 4 pedals from about 8 or 9.  My pedalboard is the little BCB3 that holds 3 Boss pedals but I put my Phase 90 in the first slot.  My wah just sits on the floor next to it.  

I may make another pedalboard down the road but in no hurry.  I just need something now to power the Phase 90 and Crybaby off the Boss daisy chain.  

I just ordered two of the Visual Sound 1/8" 1 SPOT Converters from Elderly (they have better shipping rates).  That'll work for me now.  

Down the road I may dig in to Small Wart but with a 19 month-old and not alot of time, it'll be awhile.  It's taking me long enough to finish beginner booster project and finish moding my Wah.  Thanks for the suggestions.

[vanhansen]

Just got my Visual Sound 1/8" 1 SPOT Converters from Elderly the other day.  They're perfect for what I needed and they work with my BOSS daisy chain.  Thanks to Kerry for pointing these out to me.