Proper Pedal Power
Let’s play a game called Pedal Power. It’s really easy but it does require you to do a bit of work. Here’s how to play.
Make a list of all your pedals in column A. Write the optimal power supply voltage in column B. Write the minimum required current in milliamperes in column C. You may have to actually check the documentation but since that probably got chucked out, go to the maker’s website and do a little digging.
Once your chart is complete, save it so you can update it whenever you get a new pedal. You’re going to get new pedals over time, that is guaranteed.
Now let’s take a hard look at your power supply. I’m presuming that you are not using batteries since that’s expensive and also a pain in the ass. If your power supply is one of those daisy chain things, it’s time to put on your adult pants and get a real isolated power supply. If you are breeding manufacturer’s wall warts, it may be an opportune time to retire those things as well. When you do, get yourself a silver sharpie and write which pedal the thing is for on the case because in 15 minutes you won’t know which is which anyway.
Now let’s suppose that you do have an isolated power supply, perhaps one of those $50 things off Amazon or wherever. Look closely at what the total capability of the unit is in terms of voltage and amperage and then note the specifics of each individual port. You are likely to find that most deliver 9v at 100mA on most ports. That’s fine for most analog dirt pedals. However it won’t be enough for high power analog pedals or most any digital pedals. You can check your chart and find that while most pedals will run at 9v, they are optimized for 12v, 15v or 18v. Your daisy chain is starving those pedals and the better ones won’t even start up. In fact a lot of the offshore made so-called isolated supplies cannot cut the mustard either. You end up with too low a voltage or too low an amperage and worst case is that the pedal will actually wake up, but your tone is going to sound a lot like dung being squeezed through a strainer.
Now some further bad news. Let’s suppose that you decide, ok, I will get a “good” isolated supply from a known company like MXR or OneSpot or one of the Fender Engine Room units. They are credible makers right? MXR makes some fine pedals and the OneSpot is the best daisy chain out there, even if it’s for little kids. Check the specs, or trust me that I already have. Most outputs are 9v/100mA, although the Fenders put out 9v/500mA. There might be two that are 9v/200mA and maybe one that puts out a higher voltage at a low current. As Ellen Foley sang in that old Meatloaf song, “stop right there!”. If you buy one of those you are spending over $100 or even $200 on a power supply that will not serve you well.
Ok smart guy, you are possibly saying, what should I do instead?
Easy peasy. Count up the number of outputs that you need. If it is 5 or less, get a CIOKS SOL. Each port can be 9v, 12v, 15v or 18v. The 9v selection can deliver up to 600mA. The 12v selection can deliver up to 400mA. The 15v selection can deliver up to 300mA. And the 18v selection can deliver up to 100mA. All from one box. It comes with solid cables, is small, plugs into any AC outlet without a stupid wall wart and can be mounted directly under the pedals on any common three row pedal board. The units are designed in the Netherlands and built in Poland and do only one thing. They manage and deliver power. If you need more isolated outlets, get the CIOKS DC7 which gives you seven and is capable of adding 4 more with a CIOKS 4 expander or a CIOKS 8 expander. And if your kit includes something like a Neural Quad Cortex or Line 6 HX, you can connect that to the CD7 using the CIOKS CRUX and the proper cable.
CIOKS are the best power supply, PERIOD. I say that because I have tried the alternatives and either binned them or returned them. Every single board that I have in production has a CIOKS power supply. Every board that I build for a client has a CIOKS power supply. I won’t build a board without one.
You may be asking how much I am getting paid to write this article. Not a cent, a nickel, a dime or dollar, although we no longer have cents in Canada anyway. Where should you get a CIOKS? Any decent guitar shop should carry them and if your shop doesn’t, do what I do and buy online from https://electricmojoguitars.com They are a small highly focused company that specializes in higher end pedals and amplifiers. I have dealt with Charles there for years and I recommend the company highly.
Thanks as always for reading. If you are not subscribed, please do so. If you have questions, click the link to send one in. Or leave a comment as I read all and respond to all.
