Problem: stereo plug or effect

[burningman]

Would connecting a stereo plug into a mono-jacked effect, cause audible problems with the effect?
Thanks. Ian

[Ronsonic]

It could certainly prevent it from working. Might have a negative effect on the thing plugged into it.

Particulars, if you please?

[burningman]

Well, I've made a fuzz pedal for a friend and it works for me with my mono rig but when they plug it in it sounds like its not getting enough input voltage. You can hear a signal but it does not distort like it should, almost as if there isn't enough input voltage.
Thanks

[zyxwyvu]

With a stereo plug, the effect would not be turned on. Power is usually switched with the input jack, and that requires that the plug be mono. So it's most likely not getting any voltage at all.

[burningman]

I can't think of any other reason that this pedal would work in my rig and not my friends'. He's using a Boss PSA 120 adapter and I'm using a DC brick. I asked if the volume on her guitar was turned up and it seemed to be. Other pedals seemed to function without problem. Does anyone have any ideas why this fuzz isn't working for my friend but totally fine for me? The sound that my friend is getting out of it is almost as if the volume on his guitar is turned down, not making enough to make the pedal fuzz.
Thanks

[petemoore]

  I think they hit it, the stereo jack needs a mono plug in it to provide power to the circuit, assuming it's an effect box with the stereo input jack power lift switch trick.
  Does this effect have an LED indicator ?

[burningman]

Okay. The weird thing is that the power seems to be getting to the pedal - the LED is lighting up no problem. The clip my friend sent me sounded like it wasn't receiving enough input. However the guitar was up full, worked fine with other pedals. I thought at first it might be the way the plug was making contact with the jack, or perhaps DC voltage problems but the Boss delivers 9.6v (9 required for the circuit).
Thanks

[Ronsonic]

It all depends on how the stereo gadget plugged into the pedal is wired.

Bottom line is you'll need some sort of splitter or summer box before running into that pedal. Putting 9V of DC on the guitar's pickup and wiring probably isn't good. I'd expect his guitar pots are very noisy plugged into this.

Ron