Daisy Chaining off a Voodoo Labs PP2+

Unrepresented · #1 05-25-2009, 04:48 PM

Hi, I'm Unrepresented and I have the engineering expertise of a dead squirrel.

Wondering whether I can use a 2.1mm cable to run a daisy chain off one of the isolated outputs of my Voodoo Labs PP2+.

Yes, I know that means that the pedals will no longer have isolated power supplies, but it will allow me to run those last one or two 9v pedals without having to pick up another power supply (stupid EHX pedals taking up multiple outputs with their fancy higher voltage needs).

So, question 1:

Is this doable, if so are their any risks assuming I'm using it only on Boss style 9v pedals of low current draw?

Question 2:

If yes to question 1, where would I acquire parts? Voodoo Labs does not produce any daisy chain connections.

megadan · #2 05-25-2009, 04:59 PM

I can't answer your first question, but daisy chains are pretty generic. Dig around at your local music stores and you might find one, or maybe on your local craigslist etc.

Unrepresented · #3 05-25-2009, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by megadan

I can't answer your first question, but daisy chains are pretty generic. Dig around at your local music stores and you might find one, or maybe on your local craigslist etc.

After doing a more exhausive search online, it looks like Godlyke (manufacturer of the Voodoo Labs stuff) does make non-Voodoo Labs marketed daisy chains:

(see specifically the first two items listed)
http://www.stompin-ground.com/products/sgcablepa9.htm

I'm fairly confident it should work, but want to get the "go ahead" from some of our more experienced and knowledgable members before I start to fry pedals and power supplies...

rcubed · #4 05-25-2009, 05:08 PM

It's doable. Use one of the two outlets that have the higher current rating just to be cautious.

**TheMutt** · #5 05-25-2009, 05:09 PM

I am currently daisy-chaining off my PP2+.
1. As long as you don't mix reverse polarity pedals, or pedals that add noise such as Line 6, there isn't too big an issue. However, Voodoo Labs states that this is possible, but you lose out on the low noise convenience of having your pedals isolated from a common ground and are more prone to noise and/or ground loops in your signal chain.

2. I use One Spot MC5 daisy chains, but you can use BOSS daisy chains (the kind you'd run from a TU2 into other pedals) and not have to use or buy more standard polarity plugs. However I wouldn't go over 2/3 pedals per outlet - barring heavy draw digital pedals of course, which should have a whole outlet for themselves.

Unrepresented · #6 05-25-2009, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcubed

It's doable. Use one of the two outlets that have the higher current rating just to be cautious.

If memory serves (board is at rehearsal space) I had to use the higher outlets for the y-adaptor cables that my higher voltage pedals require. This would have to be run off the standard outlets.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMutt

I am currently daisy-chaining off my PP2+.
1. As long as you don't mix reverse polarity pedals, or pedals that add noise such as Line 6, there isn't too big an issue. However, Voodoo Labs states that this is possible, but you lose out on the low noise convenience of having your pedals isolated from a common ground and are more prone to noise and/or ground loops in your signal chain.

2. I use One Spot MC5 daisy chains, but you can use BOSS daisy chains (the kind you'd run from a TU2 into other pedals) and not have to use or buy more standard polarity plugs. However I wouldn't go over 2/3 pedals per outlet - barring heavy draw digital pedals of course, which should have a whole outlet for themselves.

1) Would only use Boss style power adaptors, would swap around to see if increased noise was an issue.

2) Would only need a maximum of two additional pedals to satisfy my current (no pun intended) needs. Don't have any high draw digital pedals, and if acquired would keep those isolated.

Would probably end up daisy chaining whichever of these have the lowest draws:

Xotic X-blender
HBE Psilocybe
Maxon AF-9
Barber Launch Pad

Crabby · #7 05-25-2009, 07:00 PM

many pedals such as overdrives use very low amounts of power and you should be just fine daisy chaining a few of them together. I would keep things like delay and chorus on their own as they use a lot more power.

I recently purchased my first pedal power II and it is indeed very sweet. I would look for the Visual Sound One Spot daisy chain over the Godlyke as they have right angled plugs. This saves a ton of space on the pedal board.

Unrepresented · #8 05-25-2009, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crabby

many pedals such as overdrives use very low amounts of power and you should be just fine daisy chaining a few of them together. I would keep things like delay and chorus on their own as they use a lot more power.

I recently purchased my first pedal power II and it is indeed very sweet. I would look for the Visual Sound One Spot daisy chain over the Godlyke as they have right angled plugs. This saves a ton of space on the pedal board.

I managed to find a list of some mA draws by major manufacturers, I'm not sure if it's correct, but it states that my AF-9 is only 17mA. It doesn't list my other pedals in question, so I'll keep searching to see if I can find them listed.

The Lurker · #9 05-26-2009, 06:43 AM

Most analog pedals have a pretty low current draw, save for delays and so on. Digital stuff (Line 6, Dig. whammy) tends to draw much more.

The rule of thumb I used for powering was add up all the draws, round it up to the next hundred, and then double it. Then get a power system that can provide that much current.

cheapbasslovin · #10 05-26-2009, 07:01 AM

I currently have an EHX Holy Stain (analog/digital hybrid), a Micro Q-Tron and a Nano Stone on one 100 mA PP2 output. You would probably be fine running all four of those off one outlet if you needed to.

Also found this link that says you can probably run the POG off two lower current outputs.

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/arc.../t-245911.html

JanusZarate · #11 05-26-2009, 01:28 PM

+1 to prior comments. I imagine the HBE Psilocybe would also have a very low draw, since it's an analog phaser. The other two, I'm not sure...

EDIT: The Launch Pad has a 40ma draw, according to Barber Electronics: http://www.barberelectronics.com/LaunchPad.htm

And the Xotic X-Blender has a 20ma draw: http://www.xotic.us/effects/x_blender/details.html

Sometimes, the best sources are the manufacturers themselves.

fishtx · #12 05-26-2009, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unrepresented

If memory serves (board is at rehearsal space) I had to use the higher outlets for the y-adaptor cables that my higher voltage pedals require. This would have to be run off the standard outlets.

1) Would only use Boss style power adaptors, would swap around to see if increased noise was an issue.

2) Would only need a maximum of two additional pedals to satisfy my current (no pun intended) needs. Don't have any high draw digital pedals, and if acquired would keep those isolated.

Would probably end up daisy chaining whichever of these have the lowest draws:

Xotic X-blender
HBE Psilocybe
Maxon AF-9
Barber Launch Pad

Just an FYI...I had some trouble using a daisy chain to power a Psilocybe...And I had some trouble powering a Maxon pedal off a voodoo lab until I moved it to one of the higher output jacks (I know that was my bad)...The point is as mentioned above, make sure you pay attention to the outputs you use...

JanusZarate · #13 05-26-2009, 02:10 PM

Hmm... interesting. Well, the X-Blender and Launch Pad should still be safe bets, so should the other two have issues, just power the X-Blender and Launch Pad on a daisy chain.

Unrepresented · #14 05-27-2009, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticBoo

+1 to prior comments. I imagine the HBE Psilocybe would also have a very low draw, since it's an analog phaser. The other two, I'm not sure...

EDIT: The Launch Pad has a 40ma draw, according to Barber Electronics: http://www.barberelectronics.com/LaunchPad.htm

And the Xotic X-Blender has a 20ma draw: http://www.xotic.us/effects/x_blender/details.html

Sometimes, the best sources are the manufacturers themselves.

Thanks. I had found the info for the X-Blender but hadn't found the Launch Pad. I'm almost certain my Dwarfcraft Shiva is really low draw based on the design (fuzz with a starve), so I can sub that in if the others protest too much. More than likely I'd probably have two small daisy chains instead of one large one, to better balance things out.

I'm really, really GASing for a delay and need to find a way to make room.

Unrepresented · #15 06-07-2009, 03:42 PM

UPDATE: for anyone interested, I picked up the Visual Sounds daisy chain (as recommended above) and so far everything seems to be working. At this point I ran the X-Blender and the AF-9 together on the same chain (should be only drawing around ~40mA). Will have to daisy chain another when I finally drop some cash on a delay, but for now, anyone searching has an answer for next time.