Do batteries go flat when cables AND adapter are plugged in?

Willem · #1 11-03-2007, 10:15 AM

That's the question, I want to use a battery for live (quick setup) but an adapter at rehearsal (save battery life?). Will the battery go flat if I leave the pedal with adapter and cables plugged in?

ps it's for the planet waves pedal tuner (and ebs multicomp)...

buffordbass · #2 11-03-2007, 10:18 AM

over a period of time, yes. I use my MX80 on battery most of the time and get 3-4 gig with it before I need to change batteries. When the cord is plugged in, the battery is working...

Unrepresented · #3 11-03-2007, 11:03 AM

Some do, some don't.

My Fulltone Bassdrive's instruction manual indicates that the battery is bypassed when the adaptor is inserted.

Why would you want batteries inside it if you've got a working power supply?

Willem · #4 11-03-2007, 11:08 AM

wel because I'm looking for ways to get stage setup as quick as possible+having as little things as possible that I can forget. Enter battery, bye adapter. But it's not that big a deal... I guess I'll just stick with the adapter...

Thanks guys

olaff421 · #5 11-03-2007, 12:00 PM

Get some kind of power supply and build a pedal board. (Near) Instant setup and it powers your pedals.

Willem · #6 11-03-2007, 05:48 PM

I only have two and that number is more likely to decrease than to increase. So a pedalboard is too much trouble for nothing.

LUMPYKILLS · #7 11-03-2007, 05:52 PM

Brian Gibson's (Lightning Bolt) pedal board is just a piece of wood with the pedals taped to it. aha.

Zappstorius · #8 11-03-2007, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by olaff421

Get some kind of power supply and build a pedal board. (Near) Instant setup and it powers your pedals.

Seriously, I used to setup a bunch of pedals (with no board) and it would take forever. Now I've got a self-made board with a power supply-enough to handle the 8 pedals I have on my board. Get anything (shelf, plywood etc.) and some industrial strength velcro and you're golden. Setup time takes as long as it takes if I had no pedals.

mr. eff · #9 11-04-2007, 01:15 PM

I think its only the input that makes the batteries die. The output(on most pedals ) can be left plugged in, but when the input is plugged in, the juice is gettin drank.

OhThePeacock · #10 11-04-2007, 01:46 PM

Yeah, I always unplug the input on my pedals that I use batteries on for longer life.

sonicvi · #11 11-04-2007, 06:33 PM

It's simple to find out. Put a battery in the pedal then put an unplugged adapter into the power jack. If the pedal turns on then the battery will drain, if it doesn't turn on then the battery should not drain.

Thangfish · #12 11-04-2007, 07:02 PM

None of my pedals will drain the battery if an adapter is plugged in.
Input cables and output cables all stay plugged in.
The batteries don't get drained as long as the power supply is plugged in. I just kill them all with the power strip switch.

Little different story:
X2 wireless is not a pedal, but the receiver stays on my pedal board, next to my pedals. It must be switched off. If the power strip that the power supply is plugged into is turned off, the receiver remains on, running off the battery.

Vic Winters · #13 11-05-2007, 03:45 PM

1 Spot + Boss BCB30 and call it a day.

bassbrad · #14 11-06-2007, 04:39 PM

I remove batteries from any effects I use a power supply with, I have seen ugly things happen inside effects that have had a battery go dead and leaky.