Standard plug / socket size for 18v?

[bholder]

Is there a "semi-standard" for 18v power inputs like there is for 9v? My NS Design CR6 is 18 volts, but eats batteries even unplugged, I'd like to add an 18v power input jack to save on batteries. I'd rather not use the same size plug as the 9 volts, as it makes it too easy to get things confused and bad stuff happens.

 

[bongomania]

No, regrettably there is no standard. Even 9V is not guaranteed--there's one size/type that is most common by a pretty huge margin, so it's kind of a standard, but there are other versions on the market.

 

[lz4005]

My NS Design CR6 is 18 volts, but eats batteries even unplugged

That means your output jack is defective. Fix that and you'll only have to replace batteries once or twice a year.

 

[bongomania]

The output jack on this pedal has the power switch? For most pedals it's the input jack.

 

[bholder]

That means your output jack is defective. Fix that and you'll only have to replace batteries once or twice a year.

Sure, thought about that, I'll probably take it apart and check it out. It's still under warranty, so I could go that route, and have the manufacturer fix it, but I'm thinking that would mean being without the instrument for a long stretch, so not very appealing.

The output jack on this pedal has the power switch? For most pedals it's the input jack.

Well, it's not an effects pedal, it's an electric cello, so there's only an output jack, no input. But if there's an 18v dc power plug standard, I was thinking this might be the subforum with the folks that would know? Maybe not?

 

[bholder]

No, regrettably there is no standard. Even 9V is not guaranteed--there's one size/type that is most common by a pretty huge margin, so it's kind of a standard, but there are other versions on the market.

Yeah, that's why I used quotes and "semi-". I just want to make it as hard for me to screw up as possible.

 

[sunbeast]

Is there a "semi-standard" for 18v power inputs like there is for 9v? My NS Design CR6 is 18 volts, but eats batteries even unplugged, I'd like to add an 18v power input jack to save on batteries. I'd rather not use the same size plug as the 9 volts, as it makes it too easy to get things confused and bad stuff happens.

There is no 18V standard because 18V isn’t really a standard! The 9V standard established by Boss (I believe) is 2.1mm center-negative polarity, and the other common “alternative” size in the effects world that you can find cables for is 2.5mm so that might be a good choice. One thing to look out for is that many of the existing 2.5mm cables out there are made with center-positive polarity, as older popular Line 6 multi-FX and some other pedals utilized this alternative standard. Center-positive is actually arguably a better standard anyway (as you would experience any time you ground out a center-negative power daisy-chain because the positive contacts are dangling around!), so you might consider wiring your cello with a center-positive scheme to utilize existing readily-available 2.5mm power supply adaptor cables.

 

[lz4005]

Sure, thought about that, I'll probably take it apart and check it out. It's still under warranty, so I could go that route, and have the manufacturer fix it, but I'm thinking that would mean being without the instrument for a long stretch, so not very appealing.

They don't look any different when they're defective. Just replace it.
It's a $10 part you can swap out in 15 minutes if you know how to solder.