Power supply questions

[senorsnor]

Hi, hope this is on-topic here .. I have a bunch of effects (two DOD-pedals, Rat disto, JD Crybaby, Boss delay, tremolo, self-built repeater percussion tremolo, EQ). I used to power these with a small wall wart that originally had one output-plug that I modified to five or six output plugs by just soldering more output leads to the output lead that was already present. I added up the current stated on the pedals and that was far below what the wall wart said it could deliver.

Powering all the effects generated a pretty loud low hum. Then taking one effect off reduced the hum. The wall wart and my amplifiier are on different outlets; both outlets are on the same group.

I'm just wondering what is going wrong and what would be the best way to power all my effects without using batteries. After reading some stuff on the internet I think the wall wart was not regulated, could that be the problem? A friend of mine suggested using a Boss power supply pedal (PSM-5 power supply pedal). This works great for him, he powers some four or five effects from that, but he's using quite a big power supply unit to power his PSM-5. I've also seen a brick power supply that has multiple outputs (like the Dunlop DC Brick Power Supply http://www.thomann.de/thoiw7_dunlop_dc_brick_power_supply_eu_prodinfo.html?sn=6e16fd0ab017d935ff9868ed9ba4fcc3).

So now my questions are:
1) would a PSM-5 solve the humming problems?
2) do you need a big power supply to power the PSM-5, or would a standard cheap and small wall wart do?
3) the brick power supply is very expensive, but will it give good results?

O, I know this is a diy-board, but since this is all AC-stuff I'm a bit reluctant to build something myself ...

[CGDARK]

Begin reading the R.G. article: The Spyder - an Eight-Output Pedalboard Power Supply at:
http://www.geofex.com/

It is a good starting point to understand what is going wrong with your power supply.

CG