Powering Large Pedal Boards

[MannequinRaces]

How do y'all go about powering large pedal boards? I'm currently using a 1-Spot but am finding out that ground loops are a bitch. My end goal is to power about 12-15 effects (mostly fuzz but nothing with high voltage requirements like some Line 6 and Strymon pedals (among others)). The Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2+ has eight inputs... should I just buy two of these or are there other alternatives/options? Thanks for the input!

[Toonster]

Maybe a daisychain on a PP2+ output would be an option if they are just low voltage fuzzes..

[Holy Schnikes]

Isolated multi-supply is the best way to go imo.

The PP2+ is solid! Isolated outs, super flexible, reliable. There are other options but I've never had trouble with the VL stuff so I never checked the others out. I recently saw a clone mentioned in another thread here, from germany maybe, really inexpensive. Maybe someone can chime in on that.

The CIOKS DC10 is the ultimate, far more capable than a PP2+, but if you have no plans (even in the distant future) to acquire some higher draw pedals, it wouldn't be worth the extra cash. It will run nearly anything though. If I was buying two supplies, I'd want one that could power whatever may blow my mind in the future. The VL ISO5 supplies some high current too but would only give you 13 outs paired with the PP2+ so there's that...

I use a combo PP2+ and CIOKS to run a ridiculous amount of pedals and there's literally zero noise beyond the norm. You can daisy chain as well if you want to avoid multiple supplies especially if you have a bunch of low voltage/current fuzz. You'll lose isolation on the out though, possibly introducing ground loops/hum/noise whatever, it did with my setup. 12-15 pedals on one PP2+ would be pushing it in terms of pedals behaving optimally, especially if you play live at clubs/homes/places with shitty power.....PP2+ and ISO5 would probably work out just fine.

[MannequinRaces]

Maybe a daisychain on a PP2+ output would be an option if they are just low voltage fuzzes..

I'll look into that. Thanks!

Isolated multi-supply is the best way to go imo.

The PP2+ is solid! Isolated outs, super flexible, reliable. There are other options but I've never had trouble with the VL stuff so I never checked the others out. I recently saw a clone mentioned in another thread here, from germany maybe, really inexpensive. Maybe someone can chime in on that.

The CIOKS DC10 is the ultimate, far more capable than a PP2+, but if you have no plans (even in the distant future) to acquire some higher draw pedals, it wouldn't be worth the extra cash. It will run nearly a

Maybe a daisychain on a PP2+ output would be an option if they are just low voltage fuzzes..

nything though. If I was buying two supplies, I'd want one that could power whatever may blow my mind in the future. The VL ISO5 supplies some high current too but would only give you 13 outs paired with the PP2+ so there's that...

I use a combo PP2+ and CIOKS to run a ridiculous amount of pedals and there's literally zero noise beyond the norm. You can daisy chain as well if you want to avoid multiple supplies especially if you have a bunch of low voltage/current fuzz. You'll lose isolation on the out though, possibly introducing ground loops/hum/noise whatever, it did with my setup. 12-15 pedals on one PP2+ would be pushing it in terms of pedals behaving optimally, especially if you play live at clubs/homes/places with shitty power.....PP2+ and ISO5 would probably work out just fine.

Great information. Thank you. Exactly what I was looking for.

[stilwel]

On my Pedaltrain PT-Pro board I'm using 3 separate Voodoo Lab power supplies:
PP2+
PPAC
PP Digital

[Holy Schnikes]

Great information. Thank you. Exactly what I was looking for.

Sure thing.

Another option to consider is running a smaller True Bypass looper switch when you're using all those pedals. They're cheap and it's nice to keep most pedals out of your signal, run separate bypassed chains if it's not something that's always on. This setup simplifies things once you figure out the best way to wire. Makes switching waaayyyyy easier by cutting down tap dancing pretty drastically.

[MannequinRaces]

On my Pedaltrain PT-Pro board I'm using 3 separate Voodoo Lab power supplies:
PP2+
PPAC
PP Digital

Cool. Are the supplies daisy chained together or are they all separately plugged into a power strip?

Another thing to consider is running a smaller True Bypass looper switch when you're using all those pedals. It's nice to take most of it out of your signal, run separate bypassed chains if it's not something always. Makes switching waaayyyyy easier too, cutting down my tap dancing pretty drastically.

Indeed. I've got a LoopMaster pedal that I love for switching amps and I've been looking at some of their loop pedals as well.

[DarkAxel]

I can chime in on that german clone of PP2+ since i own one now

it's called Fame DCT200. It's ugly, rather large and heavy, but it seems dependant, doesn't add any noise, has a lot of power and also possibilities. Plus the price is very low

on the other hand i haven't been able to use outlet no.2 and i don't know why

the problem is it's probably too large to fit underneath any pedalboard

[stilwel]

On my Pedaltrain PT-Pro board I'm using 3 separate Voodoo Lab power supplies:
PP2+
PPAC
PP Digital

Cool. Are the supplies daisy chained together or are they all separately plugged into a power strip?

I have them all daisy-chained by the courtesy outlets....that's what they are for.

I need to shorten the connecting power cords between them. Right now I'm using the full-length power cords that came with them.
Need to order some new IEC plugs to replace the ends.

[MannequinRaces]

I can chime in on that german clone of PP2+ since i own one now

it's called Fame DCT200. It's ugly, rather large and heavy, but it seems dependant, doesn't add any noise, has a lot of power and also possibilities. Plus the price is very low

on the other hand i haven't been able to use outlet no.2 and i don't know why

the problem is it's probably too large to fit underneath any pedalboard

Interesting! I will look into that. After doing some quick research they seem to get mixed reviews on performance. As far as it fitting under a pedal board I saw a post where a dude cut the top off to make it fit.

[MannequinRaces]

I have them all daisy-chained by the courtesy outlets....that's what they are for.

I need to shorten the connecting power cords between them. Right now I'm using the full-length power cords that came with them.
Need to order some new IEC plugs to replace the ends.

That's a pretty sweet setup. I like it!

[DarkAxel]

I can chime in on that german clone of PP2+ since i own one now

it's called Fame DCT200. It's ugly, rather large and heavy, but it seems dependant, doesn't add any noise, has a lot of power and also possibilities. Plus the price is very low

on the other hand i haven't been able to use outlet no.2 and i don't know why

the problem is it's probably too large to fit underneath any pedalboard

Interesting! I will look into that. After doing some quick research they seem to get mixed reviews on performance. As far as it fitting under a pedal board I saw a post where a dude cut the top off to make it fit.

haven't had it for long, so... dunno. But for the price...

[MannequinRaces]

haven't had it for long, so... dunno. But for the price...

Definitely worth looking into! I will entertain all options.

[Seedy]

On my main board I had been running a Onespot on 3 fuzzes, Boss Delay and EHX Freeze, with an EHX QTron+ on its own supply to a power strip and Line 6 M9 also on its own. One problem was the Freeze requires something like 120 mA vs the fuzzes which are all under 100 mA and this was causing a loud hum. So I put the Freeze on its own adapter too. The tangle of adapters proved too much so I just sprung for a PP2+ which powers my exact set up including the M9 and it (just barely) fits in my case under my pedals. Everything sounds way better and is so much faster to set up. I need to get a center positive coupler to power the QTron+ but it has a courtesy outlet so I'm just powering it that way. But since the switch the onespots have still come in handy for extra pedals that I may put in the Qtron+'s fx loop. So if you're going to have alot of pedals I'd definitely get at least one of each to start. The PP2 is superior but the Onespots really can go a long way depending on what you're doing.

[MannequinRaces]

On my main board I had been running a Onespot on 3 fuzzes, Boss Delay and EHX Freeze, with an EHX QTron+ on its own supply to a power strip and Line 6 M9 also on its own. One problem was the Freeze requires something like 120 mA vs the fuzzes which are all under 100 mA and this was causing a loud hum. So I put the Freeze on its own adapter too. The tangle of adapters proved too much so I just sprung for a PP2+ which powers my exact set up including the M9 and it (just barely) fits in my case under my pedals. Everything sounds way better and is so much faster to set up. I need to get a center positive coupler to power the QTron+ but it has a courtesy outlet so I'm just powering it that way. But since the switch the onespots have still come in handy for extra pedals that I may put in the Qtron+'s fx loop. So if you're going to have alot of pedals I'd definitely get at least one of each to start. The PP2 is superior but the Onespots really can go a long way depending on what you're doing.

Thanks for your reply! I definitely like my OneSpot but it's proving to be too noisy. I'll definitely keep it around. I'm wanting to record my amp instead of going into the computer direct and there's just too much hum with my current setup.