Is it safe to use a DC power into an AC pedal?

[BrandonBass]

Ive been using a godlyke powerall adaptor for awhile now, apparently its a dc adaptor. However, 1 of my pedals is the BBE optostomp, and in the manual its stated an ac adaptor is required to power it.

Will the dc power frm the godlyke damage the optostomp?

Also, amongst my pedals:

pitchblack tuner, dod milkbox, boss ce5, vt bass, mxr m80, artec eq, micro qtron

any idea which 1 also runs on ac? Also whats the current draw for m80?

[BigOldHarry]

Hmmm

The term "AC Adapter" usually means it is an adapter that converts high-voltage AC (your wall socket) into low voltage DC. My guess it that your power brick is the exact same thing, it just calls it self a DC adaptor (meaning it adapts your AC into DC).

If you're still concerned, compared the exact output rated on the power brick to the exact power requirements on the pedals you are using. I can say with reasonable certainty that none of your 9v or 18v pedals call for AC in any form...

[BrandonBass]

iirc, the godlyke can put out up to 1.7kma or 2kma(??)

I would imagine the optostomp only requires less than 50ma.

So its safe to say that most of the 9v pedals is safe to run by dc?

[Rob22315]

Originally Posted by BrandonBass

Ive been using a godlyke powerall adaptor for awhile now, apparently its a dc adaptor. However, 1 of my pedals is the BBE optostomp, and in the manual its stated an ac adaptor is required to power it. The 9V DC adaptor that comes with the optostomp is really noisy, don't use it if you have it.

Will the dc power frm the godlyke damage the optostomp?

No, the optostomp (I have it and use it) is designed for 9V DC power. I power mine from either a T-Rex Jr brick or a Danelectro DA-1 adapter. Both provide the requisite 9V DC to the optostomp.

There are a few pedals which require low voltage AC power, you can't power those with DC.

The terms are confusing but 99 times out of 100, whether it's called a DC adaptor or an AC adaptor, you're calling for something that converts 120V AC to low voltage (6/9/12/15/18) DC.

[BigOldHarry]

The 9v pedals ARE DC -- The only AC you should ever see is from your wall at 110 or 220...

If a pedal can be operated by battery, it's DC.

[Bassamatic]

On the pedal it should have the power requirements. It should say something like 12V DC 50 mA (milliamps), or 9V AC 100 mA.

Some pedals have their own internal power supply and need AC so they can regulate it and convert it to DC internally.

If the pedal requires AC, a DC adapter will not work, but won't hurt it either.

An "AC adapter" simply means it provides the proper voltage and current from your wall AC.

[chokeslam512]

Originally Posted by BrandonBass

iirc, the godlyke can put out up to 1.7kma or 2kma(??)

I would imagine the optostomp only requires less than 50ma.

So its safe to say that most of the 9v pedals is safe to run by dc?

Each pedal should say on the power input jack what the voltage is and whether it is DC or AC. Likewise your power supply will have an input voltage and an output voltage. Match the output voltage of the power supply/adapeter/wall wart with the input voltage at the correct polarity and you are good to go.

the current draw (mA) by each pedal should not EXCEED that output of the power supply. It is okay for it to be less.

[SeaBassSteve]

On the back of the pedals, it should have either one of two symbols, with the voltage and current.

The two symbols - AC looks like a wavey line, kinda like ~
the DC looks like two horizontal lines, one is dashed, the other is solid.
Simply match the output voltage and sign on the plug to the input on the pedal. Voltage is important, current is less so, as too much current supplied does nothing.

[Rob22315]

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

The 9v pedals ARE DC -- The only AC you should ever see is from your wall at 110 or 220...

Not completely true - there are a few pedals and effects that require odd voltages or AC. Here's an AC-AC converter:

http://www.zzounds.com/item--LINPX2

Works with DL4, MM4, DM4, FM4, etc. Also for PODxt and Variax. The Digitech rp100 is another example of an effects pedal which uses 9vAC, not DC. Doesn't make any sense to me since all the electronics we're talking about are DC but then again, having a negative center pin on the DC power plug when most of the world is negative grounded no longer makes sense either.

[BrandonBass]

Ok thanks guys!

[Dogghouse]

My buddy went to NAMM and saw a power supply by a company called DIAGO that seems to cover all the power variations without having to use a space taking brick style unit.

Anybody know anything about these guys?

[dbgoods]

The Diago Power Station deliveres a ton of 9 Volt power from a so-called brick power supply. It uses a daisy-chain connection system and is universal input. We put one up on the bench and ran it through its paces. It is very quiet, cool, and delivers rated power. The problem with many inexpensive power supplies is that they are underrated and noisy. The Diago is the real deal.

[Rob22315]

Originally Posted by dbgoods

The Diago Power Station deliveres a ton of 9 Volt power from a so-called brick power supply. It uses a daisy-chain connection system and is universal input. We put one up on the bench and ran it through its paces. It is very quiet, cool, and delivers rated power. The problem with many inexpensive power supplies is that they are underrated and noisy. The Diago is the real deal.

I power the onboard preamp in my bass as well as my pedals using a 9V or 18V supply. The T Rex Jr has been great but it wasn't cheap. A pleasant surprise was the $8 Danelectro DA-1 I got from MusiciansFriend, the $8 includes shipping. Extremely quiet 9v wall-wart supply if you don't need to power a lot of pedals. The 18V Dunlop I got was also quite good but it was ~$30. I tried powering my 18V preamp with 9V and everything seems to still function correctly so I can use the 9V supply as 'one supply to rule them all'.