Need help with powering a lot of pedals!

[Pushtone]

Here is a simple diagram using that multi-tap transformer from Small Bear (and other vendors).

This is just one way to use it. But this way you only have one power transformer.
Adding more will give you more power/jacks but will add weight to
what will surely be an already heavy pedalboard.

The whole thing goes inside the pedalboard encosure.
The easiest thing would be to use a plastic power bar with the u-ground cut off and wired to the supply connector.
Even better would be an AC quad box made from parts from your local home center instead of the power bar.
The diagram shows both. You could also tie in a 120V neon lamp here for a power indicator and panel mount it.
This internal AC quad will power the 120V pedals and your fancy isolated multi-tap DC power supply.

For termination of AC at the pedalboad I prefer TWISTLOCK connectors,
your pedalboard AC extension cable will have a U-ground on one end and a twistlock on the other end
that mates to a panel mount twistlock on your board



Inside the pedalboard the panel mount twistlock is wired to an AC quad box or power bar.
Mount and wire the multi-tap transformer to 8 separate regulation circuits with the approprieate 78Lxx regulator.
Two 11V taps are wired in series to get 22V regulated down to 18VDC.

It's those two AC powered pedals that is making this more of an "AC" instead of "DC" wiring project.
That takes you into the world of twistlock, u-ground, quad boxes, double gangs and wire nuts.
If these terms are unfamiliar you will need to Google AC wiring and learn the proper termination techniques.
Buy one of those little AC wiring testers with the three lites. Test all you AC wiring with it and you voltmeter.

Keep in mind that if your project is responsible for starting a fire it will void you home owners insurance.

I'm thinking the cost would be around $60.00 plus shipping/taxes/etc.

Edit: forgot to mention the regulation circuit would be something like what JD has posted on GGG.

[NaBo]

Heheheheh... yeah, the issue of electrical fires brings up another thing you better incorporate into your design-  fast acting fuses.

[Pushtone]

Heheheheh... yeah, the issue of electrical fires brings up another thing you better incorporate into your design-  fast acting fuses.

Where would the fuse go and what would it be protecting?

[Chuck]

Where would the fuse go and what would it be protecting?

You guys are on drugz.

[msurdin]

Well I know pretty much what power i will need for what. I am going to have 2 pedals at 120v each, a deluxe electric mistress(is that 24 or 18?), and a bunch of 9v. Is there a way for some of the 9v's to have a regulator to jsut bring it down to a min of 6? some of the 9v's will be external jacks.

Now I need to know whats the best way and the most quiet to wire this up. And where to get the parts.

Thanks

Matt

[Pushtone]

Where would the fuse go and what would it be protecting?

You guys are on drugz.

No such luck Chuck. 


I saw the fuse in NaBo's dual PSU thread but I still don't get what it's protecting. The transformer? The regs?
The breaker on the Mains panel is for safety. Fuses usually protect some circuitry.

I've never seen a fuse used in PSU projects from GGG and TP. Please enlighten us.


Oh, I see Small Bear is using a fuse in his PSU. But it's not in the schematic 

[NaBo]

Well, if nothing else, the fuses are to protect the breaker on the mains panel.  Can you imagine blacking out a venue cause you had a short somewhere?

But it's not nothing else.  If you have a short accross power rails, your short circuit will behave as a power hungry whore, and pull vast amounts of current in its journey towards burning up.  It will attempt to pull said current through transformer, regulators, any and all components that precede it.  My transformers are rated at 400mA...  They would fry, and burn.  If I was lucky, the windings might burn up to the point that it goes open circuit BEFORE catching fire.  Any components or traces in electrical path to short at this point would be cooking too...

Enter the fuse-  I put something guaranteed to go open circuit in the electrical path before the xformer in the event that the load exceeds 400mA, whether by a short or my foolishness in connecting too many pedals.

It's not in schems cause it's just general safety... I guess "optional" if you are EXTREMELY cautious and knowledgeable in your design and construction of the power supply and everything you ever connect to it.

IMO, anything you're connecting to mains power should have a fuse as the very first thing in electrical path.