Dunlop Brick - Quick & Simple Question

[excane]

I just picked up a new Dunlop Brick for a new board I'm building.

I wanted to know about the three 18volt outputs on the side...can they be used to power standard 9 volt pedals?

Meaning... do those 3 outputs ONLY put out 18 volts and will damage a standard 9 volt pedal?

Thanks.

[rcubed]

Yes the can potentially damage a pedal that runs on 9 volts. Don't do it!

[excane]

Thank you.

It was not specific in the one page manual that came with the brick, that's why I asked.

[excane]

I thought possibly those 3 outputs were self regulating, and could automatically adjust the output voltage depending on the pedal, but I will NOT plug a 9 volt pedal into them.
Thanks again

[JanusZarate]

To be clear, some 9V pedals can operate on 18VDC. But as a rule... if the manual doesn't say it can run on 18VDC, then keep it on 9VDC.

Example: the Fulltone Bassdrive is technically a 9VDC pedal, but its design allows it to run on 18VDC for increased headroom, and it says so in the manual.

Most 9VDC pedals don't use components which would allow for voltages significantly above 9VDC. Those that do are usually going to be boutique items.

[excane]

Thanks Mystic, and yes I know about the 18v increased headroom with the bassdrive.

I just wanted to be sure about the brick itself, if it ALWAYS put out 18v from those 3 side outputs or if it could vary the voltage. It was not clear in the manual.

[JanusZarate]

Ah...

It's rare that you'll see a pedal power supply with an adjustable voltage beyond a two-setting manual switch, and if you do, it's still a manual adjustment. Normally, it's to simulate a dying battery (i.e., the 4-9VDC outputs on the Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2+, adjustable by turning a small knob for each output).

In the case of the DC Brick, it's always 18VDC on those three particular outputs.

[Mutant Corn]

If you used an adapter, could you run two 9v pedals in parallel from one?

[JanusZarate]

Originally Posted by Mutant Corn

If you used an adapter, could you run two 9v pedals in parallel from one?

Yeah. You could run a daisy-chain cable from one of the 9VDC outputs to get additional 9VDC outputs, and it works. I wouldn't recommend it, however...

The problem with the Brick is how the maximum current is divided. It's 1000mA total, but only 325mA is reserved for the 9VDC outputs. That really isn't much, especially for more than seven pedals. If most are low-draw analog pedals, especially distortion pedals, you might be fine, but not all analog pedals are low-draw, and digital pedals are especially demanding.

[niftydog]

Originally Posted by Mutant Corn

If you used an adapter, could you run two 9v pedals in parallel from one?

Two pedals wired in parallel across 18V will BOTH received 18V.

Two pedals in series is what you want, but it would be a lot of mucking around to try to get it to work, and in the end I'm not even sure that it would.

If you are utterly desperate to use these outputs, what you should do is make up a 9VDC regulator IC circuit and attach it between the 18V output and your pedals.

[JanusZarate]

Oh, wait, he was talking about the 18VDC outputs? That's indeed another, far more complicated matter that probably isn't worth it.

[niftydog]

Oh yeah, I kinda assumed he was... maybe not?

[JanusZarate]

It could be either.

Your guess is as good as mine.

[Mutant Corn]

I was talking about using the 18V. I guess I should have thought about that more. I don't have one of these, by the way, I was just curious.

edit: I don't think a regulator circuit would be that hard to design, really.

[niftydog]

No, it's very easy in fact, especially if you go for a fixed 9V regulator like a 7805.