Pedal power supply help

[sylnau]

I prefer this one to the One Spot.
https://carlmartin.com/power_jack/

If you can spend more money, get the Voodoo Lab PP2+.

[the raytownian]

I bought a brick power supply recently. While it does improve on some minor issues I experienced using the 1Spot alone, it also created a few that I never had with the 1Spot (FWIW, it's an old VS version, which I bought in the combo pack probably over a decade ago. Still going strong). A lot of my cheap mono cables buzz now, as if shorting out, unless I wiggle them *just* right, and don't breathe on them too hard (I'm morbidly obese, so this is a challenge). These cables never buzzed with the 1Spot. Also, to further complicate the buzzing issue, a lot of my (Boss) pedals refuse to work with TRS input cables on the brick, despite working with the 1Spot, so I am a little bit fucked in the patch cable department right now.

Also, the power cabling drives me insane. I've used a 1spot for ages upon ages. I have very few permanently placed items, and I am constantly changing my setup. The simplicity of the 1Spot system kicked ass because it was just one long cable, not 15+ floppy black noodles I have to either work around or completely remove and set aside in order to reconfigure everything. It doesn't help that the new power supply is under a very low shelf, so it's difficult to access, even if I could be fucked to constantly pull the DC cables out of it and plug them back in after re-configuring everything. It also has really dodgy-looking sockets I'm constantly worried about damaging (if you hadn't already guessed: Yes, I got a Phoenix).

I am, in fact, beginning to regret buying a crazy-expensive PS a little bit, even for the few improvements it provides, and the cool-ass graphics I can't even see because they're hidden under a shelf.

Now that I've given my two cents regarding daisychain vs. brick power supplies, I can ask this without being accused of threadjacking: Does anyone else have these problems, specifically with regards to DC cable management? Any advice? I've considered zip tying the cables into a snake, which I don't think would do much good for my large-ish setup (or maybe I just don't have the mental capacity to figure out how to make it work with the supplied cables, of which there are a few different lengths).

Another thing I considered was one of those "cable management systems" that allow for cables to be hung in a row of slots. But there's really nowhere practical to mount one on my table without having cables flopped over everything or obstructing the jacks on my patchbays.

I think what I need is a prefab snake, built like a 1Spot cable, with multiple plugs at the end to interface with the sockets on the brick, and all of the discrete DC output plugs molded together in a single long cable. Does anyone make this?

[Jwar]

My Strymon supply, even though it brags about having extra power, lacks the character of my PP+ in my higher voltage pedals.

Toanz is in the power supplies?

overcame

boner?

Well as long as there is a consensus on which power supplies are trustworthy… Oh, wait.

I used to run my pedals off a daisy-chain'd 1 Spot. Then I moved into a place with some dirty power. So, I got a PP2+ in an attempt to minimize extraneous noise. It was definitely a little quieter, but not by that much. They've both been reliable for me. If I hadn't encountered noise problems, I probably never would've changed supplies.

It really just depends on what you need for the job. 1 Spot is cheaper to start with.

A power conditioner would clean up the noise more than a power supply.

[Jwar]

Here's what I don't get about people. They will spend an unfathomable amount of money on gear, then use a 15 dollar supply on it that's not regulated and wonder why their shit doesn't work right. I have enough issues with my setup, I don't want a power supply to be one of them. I've received numerous pedals I've had to repair because the fucking adapter is fried. How in the world that happens is beyond me.

[rfurtkamp]

The thing is "why pay more" if the $15 item works?

I have a ton of gear with zero issues.

I'm not blowing things up - I can count the number of pedals I've destroyed in the last twenty years on one hand, and they were all using batteries and have a three letter acronym of the company's name!

[Jwar]

ur mom

[rfurtkamp]

My mom doesn't blow up gear!

[rfurtkamp]

(Just sailors)

[Jwar]

hahahaha

[Chankgeez]

A power conditioner would clean up the noise more than a power supply.

So would moving to a new place.

That was gonna be my next step though.

[UglyCasanova]

OP: You're in Norway? I'm in the process of selling some of the gear I don't use, and I have a spare Voodoo Labs supply knocking about. I'll give you a good deal on it if you're interested. It's either the 4x4 or the other one....pp2+? I'll have to check tomorrow. Drop me a PM if you're keen.

[hbombgraphics]

I bought a brick power supply recently. While it does improve on some minor issues I experienced using the 1Spot alone, it also created a few that I never had with the 1Spot (FWIW, it's an old VS version, which I bought in the combo pack probably over a decade ago. Still going strong). A lot of my cheap mono cables buzz now, as if shorting out, unless I wiggle them *just* right, and don't breathe on them too hard (I'm morbidly obese, so this is a challenge). These cables never buzzed with the 1Spot. Also, to further complicate the buzzing issue, a lot of my (Boss) pedals refuse to work with TRS input cables on the brick, despite working with the 1Spot, so I am a little bit fucked in the patch cable department right now.

Also, the power cabling drives me insane. I've used a 1spot for ages upon ages. I have very few permanently placed items, and I am constantly changing my setup. The simplicity of the 1Spot system kicked ass because it was just one long cable, not 15+ floppy black noodles I have to either work around or completely remove and set aside in order to reconfigure everything. It doesn't help that the new power supply is under a very low shelf, so it's difficult to access, even if I could be fucked to constantly pull the DC cables out of it and plug them back in after re-configuring everything. It also has really dodgy-looking sockets I'm constantly worried about damaging (if you hadn't already guessed: Yes, I got a Phoenix).

I am, in fact, beginning to regret buying a crazy-expensive PS a little bit, even for the few improvements it provides, and the cool-ass graphics I can't even see because they're hidden under a shelf.

Now that I've given my two cents regarding daisychain vs. brick power supplies, I can ask this without being accused of threadjacking: Does anyone else have these problems, specifically with regards to DC cable management? Any advice? I've considered zip tying the cables into a snake, which I don't think would do much good for my large-ish setup (or maybe I just don't have the mental capacity to figure out how to make it work with the supplied cables, of which there are a few different lengths).

Another thing I considered was one of those "cable management systems" that allow for cables to be hung in a row of slots. But there's really nowhere practical to mount one on my table without having cables flopped over everything or obstructing the jacks on my patchbays.

I think what I need is a prefab snake, built like a 1Spot cable, with multiple plugs at the end to interface with the sockets on the brick, and all of the discrete DC output plugs molded together in a single long cable. Does anyone make this?

Which boss pedals aren't working?
Some of the older ones need the daisy chain to function on 9v power.

regarding the new octopus of cables you have created, once you get everything laid out neatly zip ties and tie downs are usually a pretty good way to go.

the snake idea is pretty limiting and you will always be taking it apart to adjust things.

I am assuming you have a flat board and can't route underneath?

[the raytownian]

Thanks for you input. My problem is I don't have a board I use at all anymore. I do everything up on a table (I mainly do feedback loops and contact mic'd stuff). The issue for me is that, apart from what I keep patched into my patchbays, I have way too many pedals and too little space to keep them all together, so I am either altering or completely changing setups all the time. Even with the 1Spot, I usually had to clear off everything that wasn't patched into the patchbay and start placing things from scratch. What makes using the Phoneix such a challenge is that I seem to have no practical space to set the cables aside when reconfiguring everything, and tracing individual cables to corresponding DC output jacks gets very confusing when I have a bunch of pedals in the way:

The Phoneix is hidden inside the little cave beneath the shelf that the rack is siting on. It's difficult to reach in there and examine/work on the connections. This is made even more difficult with all the pedals in the way, and the right-angle connections on the interface end of the brick, which really limit their rotational ability. Having a snake, or even three snakes of 5 connectors (because I know a 15-cable snake would be unwieldy) that I can feed around clusters of pedals would make things so much simpler, I think.

Realistically, I know the cabling is a minor issue that is almost totally irrelevant outside of my own very specific needs, but it's been a big change to adjust to a brick supply after using a daisychain for so many years. I hope it doesn't seem annoying that I am complaining about such a hyper-speciffic problem. Still, I think it'd be nice if there were something like what I described.

Anyway, one idea I've considered recently, but don't particularly like (I still don't get to look at that sick-ass bird graphic) was to mount the Phoneix underneath the front or side of my table, so the cables come out of the front/side and reach over the edge to the top of my gear table. This would solve some issues, but I feel like it'd also create so many others. Same with putting the Phoenix on top of the Alesis rack, or behind the racks all together, and feeding the wires underneath the patchbays from on top of the shelf (I tried this already). I should probably color-code/number the DC cables, if nothing else.

The Boss pedals that come to mind, which have given me issues on the Phoneix include:
Boss PW-2 (won't work with TRS input, unless on 1Spot)
Boss RC-2 (ditto, though I haven't tested this one with a 1Spot. It may not work at all with TRS input for all I know)
Boss XT-2 (ditto, plus it won't power on with no cable in the input as it will with a 1Spot... Big deal, right? Well, I do this to create a self-oscillation tone. The XT-2 self-oscillates when there is not a cable plugged into the input jack, and it has a very particular sound that works well with certain pedals I own)
Boss CS-2 (generally acts weird, and the power LED is very dim when running from the Phoenix, but it seems fine with the 1Spot. The LED on my Arion MOC-1's LED is also very dim on the Phoneix, though it seems to function normally otherwise. Haven't considered trying to run either from the 300mA DC outs, though)

[hbombgraphics]

here is an article on the boss ACA powered pedals I think it fits what you are seeing

https://www.mojostompboxes.com/blog/cor ... simplified

labeling you cable ends might help and I kindof like the split snake Idea
when I use a brick I try to label all the cable ends if they are anything but 9v
I use 3m69 glass tape (because I get it for free) and a sharpie

[VREEEEVROOOOOW]

OP: You're in Norway? I'm in the process of selling some of the gear I don't use, and I have a spare Voodoo Labs supply knocking about. I'll give you a good deal on it if you're interested. It's either the 4x4 or the other one....pp2+? I'll have to check tomorrow. Drop me a PM if you're keen.

If they can fit 10 pedals as described earlier in the thread well, I'll consider it for sure. Shipping can be costly though, so feel free to PM me where you're at & so forth. Takk!