One-Spot or Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus? (English Muff'n)

Cloverfield · #1 04-06-2010, 11:15 PM

Now that I'm starting to amass a number of pedals and plan on expanding my repertoire, I'm realizing that the next logical step is to decide how exactly I'm going to power them all.

Thus far, I've pretty much narrowed down the choices to two options:

1) The Visual Sound One Spot - Overall a great product, and CHEAP!, but some reports of a bit of noise. Plus, pedals aren't protected, and if you have a pedal larger than 9V, you're s.o.l.

2) The Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus - Haven't read a bad review yet. Absolutely quiet and fully protects your pedals. Plus (no pun intended), it can support up to 12.2V pedals. But EXPENSIVE!

Now, before getting any further, am I understanding these two products' specifications/capabilities correctly?

Right now I have a Turbo Tuner (http://www.turbo-tuner.com/pages/manual-st2.htm) and a Wounded Paw Battering Ram (http://www.woundedpaw.com/catalog/pr...roducts_id=150). The only other pedal that I can think of right now that I might want at some point (I play guitar as well) is an EHX English Muff'n. However, am I right in understanding that it runs as a 12V pedal? If so, wouldn't the 1 Spot be incapable of supporting it in an effects chain? If that is the case, should I not obviously go with the Voodoo Lab product and just it suck up and spend the cash?

Thanks so much for your guys's help. I'm constantly learning and still find myself at a loss for answers sometimes. I appreciate your insight.

bongomania · #2 04-06-2010, 11:22 PM

Sometime in the near future, Godlyke is supposed to release an adapter that allows you to get 12, 15, or 18 V off a daisy-chain supply. It's listed at the big web retailers, but not in stock yet--they've been promising it for months now.

The PPII can already do 12, 15, and 18V, by using a Y cable to draw power from two outlets. The isolated design of the outlets is what allows this to work, and the fact that daisy-chain supplies are not isolated is the reason they can't be used that way.

Reasons to buy a daisy chain:
Cheaper, smaller, has higher available current (important for some "exotic" pedals!)

Reasons to buy a PPII:
Isolated outlets, rugged construction, easy access to voltages from 4.5V to 18V.

Cloverfield · #3 04-06-2010, 11:33 PM

Hmm... If Godlyke did release that, that would be ideal...

So let me ask you then: Are you affirming that it would indeed be impossible to supply the EHX English Muff'n with power using the One-Spot daisy chain power supply?

bongomania · #4 04-06-2010, 11:36 PM

Yes, and in fact the PPII can't power it either! The Muff'n runs on AC, and these supplies only provide DC. Well, the PPII has an AC outlet on the back, but you'd have to plug the Muffn's massive wall wart into it.

jscomposer · #5 04-06-2010, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

Well, the PPII has an AC outlet on the back, but you'd have to plug the Muffn's massive wall wart into it.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=3875420

Here's another alternative, in case you have more than just one pedal that takes AC: http://voodoolab.com/pedalpower_ac.htm

Cloverfield · #6 04-07-2010, 12:48 AM

So I could buy one of those mini-extension AC power cords to connect the English Muff'n to the back of the PPII, and all would be well?

Perhaps since I don't actually have the English Muff'n now I simply ought to go with the One-Spot for the time being, seeing as the two pedals I do have right now are both 9V DC. (?)

And if that Godlyke adapter ever comes out, it'd obviously be the most ideal choice at that point in time. Would it theoretically be able to power the English Muff'n by providing AC power?

bongomania · #7 04-07-2010, 01:04 AM

Still not quite there. The mini-extension cord connects the back of the PPII to the EHX's big wall wart, which in turn connects to the Muff'n itself.

And the Godlyke adapters only change the amount of voltage, they don't change DC into AC. With currently-available technology, the Muff'n simply cannot be powered by any daisy chain supply.

fightthepower · #8 04-07-2010, 01:15 AM

Keep in mind the Muff'n has a weird powersupply with a 2-prong cable going into the actual pedal, unlike the round barrel connecters most pedals have. I haven't seen any kind of adapters for the Muff'n so not sure that the PP2 AC could power it from the regular outputs, though I haven't looked very hard.

As Bongo said, any of the PP2's can power the Muff'n via the 'Courtesy AC Outlet'; generally you need to buy a small 6" extension chord to plug the Muff'ns wallwart into to the PP2's AC outlet, unless you're not mounting the PP2 under the board. If you have other pedals with wallwarts, you can also just get a small powerstrip and plug that into the PP2's AC outlet-- I have a few wallwarts in a 'strip powered by the PP2's Courtesy AC outlet and it works just fine.