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Effectrode PC-2A powered from Noble DI?

Ben Clarke

Ben Clarke

Jan 6, 2005
1,576
1,073
Buffalo, NY
#1
I've got a Noble en route and would love to get a PC-2A to use with it but if I need to use a separate power supply I'd probably just use my Bellari LA120.

Is there a cable/adapter dealiebob out there that can deliver what the PC-2A needs (12VDC) from the 9VDC outs of the Noble? I did google a bit but wasn't finding anything.
 
#2
I just read that the PC-2A needs 12V 600mA. Its possible to order the Noble with 12V outlets, I have 3 on mine, but if you ordered one with just 9V outlets it might get tricky.

The Noble deliver 800mA @ 120/240VAC so it should be possible.

Please correct me if I’m wrong.

edited...

just read it again and you asked for a cable/adapter for 9V to 12V and I don’t know if there is one... sorry
 
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#3
I'm not sure you could power the Effectrode, even if you got the Noble with 12v outlets. Current changes with voltage ... 800 mA at 9v, which the Noble can supply, equals 4.05 watts. The 600 mA at 12v that you need equals 7.2 watts, which seems like more than the Noble can supply, unless they change something when they set them up for 12v.

Some pedals don't actually draw as much as they list, but I wouldn't count on that with the Effectrode.

Caveat is that I have no personal experience here, just doing the maths ...
 
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#5
Thanks! I emailed Jack to see if he can meet my needs for power supply. If not, I’ll just live with the wall wart. I went ahead and bought the PC-2A anyway. I’ve wanted one for years and the Bellari is getting old so it would be nice to retire it from stage use.
 
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#7
He delivered it with a 12VDC output. Using the polarity adapter, it powers the PC-2A totally fine. I've checked it in studio and 2 live venues, and it works perfectly. No other pedals were powered by the Noble.

He made no guarantee that it would work, but I'm all good.
 
#9
It sounded beautiful. I disregard comments that tube gear would be any kind of issue when using a clean tube preamp like the Noble. My experience has been that there is no issue putting any kind of colored or transparent devices in front of the Noble or similar devices. Other more colored circuits are where unintended results might occur. For instance, the UA 610B preamp when pushed at all is sometimes not a great match with other highly colored processing. There's a lot of variables. a 610B into an LA-2A is pretty classic and works great for a lot of signals.

But speaking specifically to the PC-2A and Noble, it sounds amazing if that's the style of compression that you want. (just remember that the comp/limit switch is in comp mode when in the up position). and also I found that it worked best for me with the internal trims set to the slowest attack setting, and the softest knee. My basses are pretty hot and would push the input too much otherwise.

I would focus on the huge differences between an LA2A optical sound vs the FET 1176 style of the Cali. Either one will sound great with the Noble, but are very different subjectively as well as operationally.

If you play guitar as well, the Effectrode is really exceptional there.
 
#11
I did not see this thread when it was first created in 2021, but Noble + Effectrode is a topic that interests me. @Ben Clarke it is good to see you are successfully powering your Effectrode PC-2A from Noble with the polarity adapter.

Effectrode says, "The PC-2A compressor, Mercury fuzz, Fire Bottle boost and Glass-A require around 600mA and it is possible to utilise other power supplies to power them. Please make sure you check the specs to make sure the power supply can output a minimum of 600mA and do check the polarity is correct (center positive) otherwise you will damage your pedal."

I myself do not use a PC-2A, but I do use an Effectrode LA-1A for both bass and pedal steel guitar. Note, the LA-1A has 3 tubes, and Effectrode says, "pedals with three tubes require a minimum of 1200mA."

Last year I ordered a Noble (still awaiting delivery). At that time I asked Jack Roan if the Noble could be used to power the LA-1A requiring 1200mA with center-positive polarity. He responded, "Effectrode makes a great compressor but unfortunately it can’t be powered by the Noble pre. The Noble outputs are 9V, center-negative, and I don’t recommend pulling more than 800mA total."

So, while the Noble + polarity adapter seems like a good source for powering the PC-2A (like @Ben Clarke), I have reservations about using that source to power the LA-1A or other Effectrode 3-tube pedals. YMMV.
 
#12
Right on. I don't think the mileage would vary so much with the bigger Effectrode pedals that need more current. I suspect it would round down to zero quite easily.

I wish I could just buy a 176 in a pedal. (that's not a typo - the 176 is kinda perfect for me. I use it in the DAW more than any other comp..by far)
 

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