Powering Pedals Question

[toast487]

I have an ISO 5 that I am pretty much maxing out on with 7 pedals. I want to buy one more pedal for my rig. Something low powered...maybe a tremolo. The only way I figure I can do this is if I use one of my extra voodoo lab power connectors and use the Boss TU3 daisy port to this last hypothetical pedal. Will that work> or do I have to use the Boss daisy chain? If it does work how much would it be able to output with the voodoo lab cable?

 

[jnepo1]

Chart your pedals: voltage, mA, analog/digital. You can daisy chain analog pedals, especially low draw pedals like dirt pedals. That being said, a daisy chain or "Y" power cables will get you there. Just add up the mA of the pedals you want to pair together though and make sure they don't exceed the mA of the tap you will be powering them thru. The ISO-5 has 100mA taps with the exception of the 400mA tap(s) that is capable of 9 or 12V.

 

[toast487]

Yes, but can I use one of those Y adapters with the TU3 power out jack? And If I can do I go by the power output of the tap the boss pedal is hooked up to on the ISO or is something different going on where the TU-3 can then independently support more mA?

 

[lefort_1]

+ what jnepo said AND remember that if you are powering the tuner from the ISO-5, then anything from it's TU3 daisy port is coming from the Voodoo supply, ultimately.

 

[toast487]

Thanks for the replies! One last question on this. I noticed you made a distinction between analog and digital pedals. Is it not advisable to chain a digital and analog pedal together...I.e. a lex and morning glory together?

 

[chrisross]

Don't put a lex and morning glory together. Digital pedals are greedy.

 

[toast487]

Just thought of one more powering possibility. I want to make sure this one jack my pedals up. A y adapter to one ISO 5 tap. One going to the TU3 and another to another pedal. Than a second Y adapter on the TU3 power out going to two more pedals. Can it be done? or is that asking for issues?

 

[lefort_1]

y-adapters are daisychains, more or less (actually a 2-position, partial-star-connection, but I digress)

I think you are describing a "tree" type form, with multiple levels of branching. This would have minimal change in the effect of digitally-produced noise from a given combination of pedals. The TU3 (having digital components in it) can be a source of digital noise. Therefore anything chained downstream of it may find digital spikes riding on the power rails. Likewise, pedals that place high, instantaneous current demands on the power supply (e.g. digital pedals) can be the cause of noise from a down-stream position as well. It is very setup and equipment-dependent, and predicting all problems (or lack thereof) can be fraught with error and false-fears...so I just chose to fear it all and I don't daisychain...but that's just me.

 

[jnepo1]

Just thought of one more powering possibility. I want to make sure this one jack my pedals up. A y adapter to one ISO 5 tap. One going to the TU3 and another to another pedal. Than a second Y adapter on the TU3 power out going to two more pedals. Can it be done? or is that asking for issues?

If you are daisy chaining off of the tuner, then don't daisy chain the tuner off of the ISO-5 tap. I would suggest powering the tuner off of the ISO-5 on it's own tap if you intend to daisy chain from the tuner. Keep in mind, the mA required to power the tuner needs to be added to the sum of all pedals linked to the tap it is plugged into. The taps are 100mA each with the exception of the high mA tap. So, you cannot exceed the mA ceiling of the tap when daisy chaining. Not all pedals do well daisy chained. Sometimes daisy chaining off of the tuner will also affect the power to the pedal.

 

[mtperry85]

I've also maxed out my Iso 5 and just changed my board to use the TU-3 as you describe. I purchased an extra Voodoo Lab cable for $3.50 with free shipping from Sweetwater and now power my Tube Screamer off the tuner. It hasn't added any noise to my signal.

 

[jnepo1]

I've also maxed out my Iso 5 and just changed my board to use the TU-3 as you describe. I purchased an extra Voodoo Lab cable for $3.50 with free shipping from Sweetwater and now power my Tube Screamer off the tuner. It hasn't added any noise to my signal.

In most situations it won't. But don't try placing a digital pedal thru it or for that matter a wah pedal. The wah may produce a high pitched noise.