Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: everton_fc on September 09, 2008, 12:38:58 PM
-
Anyone recommend a good stepdown transformer to run USA pedals on UK voltage. I was told that using a stepdown transformer may result in a better tone.... anyway the pedal I'm using says this for the power:
15VDC (400mA) PSU connection.
Any suggestions? Thanks
-
I've never had a problem running pedals from the USA with 'normal' pedal power supplied.
As long as the voltage, current and polarity are correct for the pedal, I don't think it matters as far as I know.
I can understand it for amps; USA amp runs at 120v, UK amp runs at 220/240v. I don't think it matters so much with something as low as 9v - 15v
-
can't you just buy the UK version of the power supply? or am i missing something?
-
TONEBONE USE A 15V ADAPTER and so do many of the pedals using small valves inside
-
I thought that with pedals, the transformer was often in the lead, and amps have the transformer inside? thats why they use a kettle lead
-
I would have thought that since its DC it wouldn't matter what the source is - whether its being transformed and rectified from 240V AC or 120V AC down to 15V DC as long as the power supply for the pedal matches the country's mains and it supplies the correct output for the pedal.
So if its an American PSU you've got as dave_mc above says you're probably better getting the UK version...
-
Not sure if I should put this in a new topic or not, but I have an ISP decimator prorack G and am currently using an AC adapter I got from Maplin. TBH I think it's probably the cause of some noise, and was wondering if I could just use the US adapter.
How do other people here power their proracks?
Roo
-
My BBE Sonic Stomp was bought in the USA and I use the US power supply with a transformer I bought from t'interweb. Works fine. Transformer cost me around £5.00 I believe.
-
as has been said the transformer in a pedal is external to the pedal in the psu... so the pedal you buy in the USA is exactly the same to a pedal bought in the UK.. just the wall wart will be different if you choose to power that way.
it would be a step up transformer you would need to go from usa to uk voltage... 110 to 230... but thats only when the transformer for the device is inside the item and would normally plug it straight into the AC that comes from the wall.
-
I thought that with pedals, the transformer was often in the lead, and amps have the transformer inside? thats why they use a kettle lead
yeah, i think so. definitely check with someone who knows more than me, though. :lol:
-
If the pedal wants 15vdc, then it doesn't matter whether you get that from a UK wall wart at 240v or use a US one with a step down transformer to drop the mains down to 110v.
I personally would just use a 240v UK wall wart then you're sorted for good and won't be screwed when you forget the step down transformer at a gig (and you will forget at least once).
-
How do other people here power their proracks?
Roo
Quoted above but maybe not obviously enough as a question.
How should I be powering my AC adapter to minimise the noise? Use the US transformer/power cable that came with it, or use a UK one?
My current one was pretty cheap and nasty and I'm not sure if it's the cause of some excess noise in this unit or not...
Please help!
Roo
-
I'm looking at getting an MXR carbon copy from america, but can I use it with my power brick without blowing the thing please?
I'm thick, humour me
-
I'm looking at getting an MXR carbon copy from america, but can I use it with my power brick without blowing the thing please?
I'm thick, humour me
Yes, as said before, pedal internals are the same.
I want one. My girlfriend couldn't find one in USA when she went.
-
ebay is your friend
MXR Carbon copys on ebay (http://desc.shop.ebay.co.uk/items/_W0QQLHQ5fPrefLocZ2QQ_fromZR46?_nkw=mxr+carbon&_sacat=3858&LH_TitleDesc=1&_fromfsb=0&_trksid=m270.l1313)
-
Yeah, its just that extra customs charge that I ALWAYS get hit with.
e.g. my MXR GT OD from USA.
-
I know what you mean, but even at those prices the charge is still cheaper than buying over here
-
No, you don't need a step up transformer to run US pedals.
I use mostly US boutique pedals and run 13 of them on a pedalboard using a single Visual Sound 1Spot adaptor. No noise or reliability problems whatsoever.