DC brick OR 1-spot?

flakeh · #1 08-31-2007, 11:22 AM

Which powersource is a better buy?

I know the DC brick's outputs are all isolated, and it can power 18v pedals, But its expensive.

The 1spot is a daisy chain, So the chance of signal hum is increased, can't power 18v pedals, BUT the store is selling the combo pack, so it can power all my ehx pedals, plus a battery clip to power my two sovteks.

Overall, The DC brick would cost 145$ with all the plugs needed
While the onespot is 50$ with everyting needed

So, Do i spend the extra 100$ for the brick, Or buy the onespot?

bassman1185 · #2 08-31-2007, 11:50 AM

Just so you know, there is a TBer selling his DC brick in the classifieds here for $75, if I recall. You might want to check that out.

With that said, I use the 1 Spot and it works fine for me.

**5stringwonder** · #3 08-31-2007, 11:53 AM

I'd say One Spot. Don't think the DC Brick offers much more.

NoNoise · #4 08-31-2007, 11:55 AM

I think it just depends on what effects you are using and your configuration. I use a One Spot and Godlyke PowerAll.

Justin Tuskey · #5 08-31-2007, 11:59 AM

the DC brick's outputs are NOT isolated, they are in a daisy chain as well, just in a brick. The Voodo Pedal Power is isolated, and its great, but the DC brick is the same as a one spot, just in a power block form. So technically you will/can get hum from both, Id go with the one spot, I had one and it was great.

JJBluegrasser · #6 08-31-2007, 12:03 PM

I'm an electrical engineer, and I was thinking about this the other day. I looked up some numbers and discovered something interesting.

One Spot Max Current: 1700mA
DC Brick Max Current (total for all ports, not for each port): 1000mA

So in fact, electrically the one spot can power more pedals than the DC Brick. That being said, the buffering and the 18V capabilities are a big difference, and may make the Brick worth it for some. All of my pedals are 9V only, and I've hooked up 12 of them at once to the 1Spot daisy chain. I've never had any issues.

Jason

Update: I think JusBalls13 is correct. The Brick is not buffered. In fact, it looks like if you had all 9V pedals, the total current allowed is more like 375mA, which is well below the 1Spot.

Sir Edward V · #7 08-31-2007, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flakeh

I know the DC brick's outputs are all isolated,

nononono, a DC brick is basically an expensive daisy chain, if you want isolated outputs look at the voodoolabs pedal power plus

bassbrock · #8 08-31-2007, 12:30 PM

No hum problems with my 1-Spot here.

Sir Edward V · #9 08-31-2007, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassbrock

No hum problems with my 1-Spot here.

+1, but then again I power everything with a boss power adapter I bought for my first pedal (ME-50B) and a 1spot daisy chain

still no hum problems though

JanusZarate · #10 08-31-2007, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassman1185

Just so you know, there is a TBer selling his DC brick in the classifieds here for $75, if I recall. You might want to check that out.

That's about to be sold.

Regarding the Brick... its circuit protection is solid, but its outputs are not isolated. It's like a heavy-duty 1 Spot that can also power 18VDC pedals.

Is the extra cost worth it? That's up to you. If you find a Brick used, it's not a bad deal at all, especially if you do use 18VDC pedals. But new? It's not worth the full price, IMO. And unless you're using 18VDC pedals, the benefits are minimal.

I owned a 1 Spot prior to the Brick, and I can tell you that the Brick's circuit protection and 18VDC outlets were a huge benefit to me. It's never given me a problem. I'm only selling it because I need the extra benefits of the Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2+ to power my weirder pedals that the Brick can't power.

Racermech · #11 08-31-2007, 02:10 PM

My board has both a DC brick and a PP2 on it because of all the pedals needing to be powered. I like the brick because it gives me the flexibility to put pedals all over my board and still get power without a bunch of loose daisy chains around. 1 line to each pedal means that I can do whatever configuration I want.

Thats just me though. I like things easily organizable.

flakeh · #12 08-31-2007, 04:26 PM

How could I get a onespot to power an 18V pedal? Combine two plugs into one? Or wuould i blow up my breaker box if i did that? Becusae i am in no mood to rewire my whole house again.

dancehallclasher · #13 08-31-2007, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flakeh

How could I get a onespot to power an 18V pedal? Combine two plugs into one? Or wuould i blow up my breaker box if i did that? Becusae i am in no mood to rewire my whole house again.

If you buy the combo pack you get two adapters that actually plug into 9v battery inputs. Leave off the back panel on your pedal or drill a hole to allow the wires through, plug both in to both 9v battery inputs and I imagine you'd be good to go.

brandonwong · #14 09-01-2007, 10:19 AM

I recently post a thread about powering 9v pedals with 12v and checked out Godlyke PowerAll.
The company that makes them are DVE... and they also make switching adapters for external harddisk. (btw, it's made in china)

No pun intended but i found them exceptionally good.
The hum on my EBS pedals went away with absolute quietness.
I summed up that most high quality switching adapters made for ext. harddisk will be great for pedals.

I went out and bought a 9v, 2000mAH unit and it is the best so far(output 9.08v exact). plus the fact that it wouldn't rock on power plugs, especially for UK type power points. Only thing i had to change the plug for a proper 2.1mm for pedals.

Cost .. only $12.

If you are not brand conscious or affected by effects marketing... check it out in computer stores.

JanusZarate · #15 09-02-2007, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dancehallclasher

If you buy the combo pack you get two adapters that actually plug into 9v battery inputs. Leave off the back panel on your pedal or drill a hole to allow the wires through, plug both in to both 9v battery inputs and I imagine you'd be good to go.

That doesn't work. It's been discussed before. The result is still 9VDC.

You'd need two isolated outputs to get it to work right. You could use two 1 Spots (each with a battery adapter) to get 18VDC, but one won't do it alone...

...there's one exception though. Check out the Godlyke Power Pump - it can change a 9VDC plug into 12VDC, 18VDC, or 24VDC. Look for my thread in the Effects Forum about it - I used to own one, but sold it off. It works great, but not for what I was trying to do at the time.

nuno.ka · #16 09-03-2007, 05:16 AM

I power 5 pedals with the 1spot and it's clean and clear, love it!

Sir Edward V · #17 09-03-2007, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticBoo

You'd need two isolated outputs to get it to work right. You could use two 1 Spots (each with a battery adapter) to get 18VDC, but one won't do it alone...

+1

so to power the one 18V pedal and all your 9V, you would need three 1spots AKA not worth it

Geist · #18 09-03-2007, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sir Edward V

+1

so to power the one 18V pedal and all your 9V, you would need three 1spots AKA not worth it

or you could get the daisy chain thing for the 1spot and use 2 of the plugs on the chain

Amitio · #19 09-03-2007, 04:32 PM

Does anyone know whether they make a 1 spot with a british plug?!

niftydog · #20 09-03-2007, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geist

or you could get the daisy chain thing for the 1spot and use 2 of the plugs on the chain

That won't work.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amitio

Does anyone know whether they make a 1 spot with a british plug?!

Not as far as I'm aware. But it does handle a wide range of input voltages.