Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus Owner Manual
Introduction
The Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus is the finest power supply available for guitar effects.It’s eight 9V outputs will power any type of battery operated effect. Each output is completely isolated, short-circuit protected, highly filtered and regulated. This insures reliable operation,free of hum and noise.Pedal Power 2 Plus includes two high current outputs, capable of properly powering newer high power effects such as Boss Twin, Line 6 modelers, and TC Electronic Nova pedals. It also features two variable voltage outputs to simulate worn batteries. Using an optional voltage doubler cable, you can power many 18V and 24V effects as well.
Unpacking
Your Voodoo Lab Pedal Power box should contain the following:
Pedal Power 2 Plus system unit
Warranty card
AC power cord
DC Power cables
Please take a moment to fill out and mail your warranty card. This will register your warranty, make you eligible for technical support, and allow us to notify you with updates and new product information. Don’t worry, we respect your privacy and never sell our mailing list.
System Unit Description
- AC auxiliary. This is a courtesy AC outlet for convenient powering of AC powered effects or a MIDI foot controller.
Note the 200 watt maximum rating. Do NOT plug in your amp here! - AC power input jack. This is a standard “IEC-type” connector.
Power indicator. This LED indicates the Pedal Power system unit is operating.- DC output jacks (8). Each output provides 9 volts of isolated, filtered and regulated DC power for your pedal effects
SAG controls. Next to output jacks 7 and 8 are controls to vary the voltage from 4V to 9V.- Voltage selector DIP switches. These switches select the output voltage. Switches 1-8 correspond to DC outputs 1-8. Normal 9V operation is with the switch in the NORMAL (OFF) position.
Power indicator. This LED indicates the Pedal Power system unit is operating.
SAG controls.
About Pedal Boards
Before connecting the Pedal Power to your pedals, let’s talk about pedal boards. The best installation is to mount your pedals and power supply to a suitable pedal board. You can use anything from a piece of plywood, or a professionally built board from most flight case manufacturers, Pedaltrain and others. Securely mounting your effects and power supply will make it easy to transport without damage and eliminates excessive flexing of cables which will cause their premature failure.
Most devices (pedal effects, power supply, tuner, volume pedals, wah, etc.) can be mounted to the pedal board using an industrial adhesive-backed velcro such as 3M dual lock. Audio cables should be as short as possible. You can use off-the-shelf patch cords, or better yet, make your own exactly to length.Once the cables are all neatly routed, finish the job by securing them with nylon cable ties and cable tie mounts. If you constructed the board itself, heavy duty rubber feet and metal handles are useful and will give a professional appearance. Voodoo Lab can supply you with most necessary materials including dual lock, power cables, many professional wiring accessories, and Pedaltrain mounting brackets. Contact us for availability and pricing.
Connections
The Voodoo Lab Pedal Power has eight DC output jacks. These accept barrel type connectors. Notice that each of your DC power cables have a barrel connector on at least one end. The other end has either another identical barrel connector, a 5.5×2.5mm RED barrel, a 3.5mm mini-plug, or a battery snap.Use the standard black barrel connector cables with Boss, Ibanez, Voodoo Lab, and most common pedals. If you have a pedal from another manufacturer which appears to use the same connector, you should verify that the polarity is “center negative” to prevent damage to the pedal. This is the standard polarity and virtually all pedals are wired this way. Exceptions are the Fulltone ‘69, SoulBender, and Octafuzz pedals and Moogerfoogers, which have their power jacks wired for “center positive”. If you have these or other pedals which require reversed polarity, see “More About Cables” below.
Voltage Selector DIP Switches
On the bottom of the Pedal Power is an 8 position DIP switch with switches numbered 1-8. These switches correspond to outputs 1-8 and select the output voltage. Normally, the switches should all be in the NORMAL position for 9 volt operation.
Boss Pedals
There are two types of Boss pedals. These are identified by the type of power supply specified, either PSA or ACA. Almost all Boss pedals specify the PSA type adapter and operate at 9V like most other pedals. Boss pedals which specify the ACA type adapter operate at a higher voltage. When powering Boss pedals that require ACA adapters you must use outputs 1-4 only and switch the corresponding voltage selector DIP switch away from NORMAL.Boss Twin pedals, like the DD-20, have a higher current requirement and will operate from outputs 5 and 6 only. Leave the corresponding switch in the NORMAL position.
Line 6 Modeling Pedals
You can power the Line 6 modeling pedals (but not POD) using outputs 5 or 6 and setting the corresponding switch away from NORMAL. Remember to use the RED 5.5×2.5mm barrel cable for these pedals.
Line 6 Tone Core pedals can be powered from any output with its switch in the NORMAL position, using the black 5.5×2.1mm barrel cable.
TC Electronic Nova Pedals
The Nova series pedals from TC Electronic, such as ND-1 Nova Delay and NM-1 Nova Modulator, should be powered from outputs 5 or 6 only. Set the corresponding switch away from NORMAL and use the black 5.5 x 2.1mm barrel cable.The exception is the NDR-1 Nova Drive, which requires higher current and can only be powered by combining both outputs 5 and 6 using a current doubling cable. Set switches 5 and 6 both away from NORMAL and use the black 5.5 x 2.1mm barrel cable.
Eventide Pedals
You can power an Eventide Stompbox, like TimeFactor or PitchFactor, using a special “current doubling” cable. This is a parallel Y-cable used to combine both outputs 5 and 6 to double the available current. Set switches 5 and 6 both away from NORMAL and use a current doubler adapter (not included) with the red 5.5 x 2.5mm barrel cable.
SAG Output
Outputs 7 and 8 permit you to adjust or SAG the voltage from 9V down to about 4V. To enable this feature you must set the corresponding switch away from NORMAL. This allows you to simulate worn batteries. This is mostly useful for transistor-based fuzz and distortion circuits, as modern opamp designs are minimally affected by variations in supply voltage. It is not recommended for digital pedals.
Voltage Doubler and Current Doubler Cables
There are two types of Y-cables which will combine a pair of Pedal Power outputs for additional capability. We call them voltage doubler and current doubler cables. They are available as a complete cable, or an adapter which you connect to an existing Pedal Power cable. You can purchase these cables from your dealer or directly from Voodoo Lab.The voltage doubler cable combines two Pedal Power outputs in series. For example, if you connect this cable to two 9V outs, you will get 18V. If you connect it to two 12V outs, then you get 24V. This does not change the current capability.Using this cable on outputs 5 and 6 with both switches set away from NORMAL will provide approximately 12V at 400mA. That’s the correct setting for pedals that come with a 9V unregulated adapter, such as the Eventide TimeFactor.
More About Cables
The DC power cables supplied with your Voodoo Lab Pedal Power are suitable for most common pedal effects. If you need additional cables they are available from your dealer or directly from Voodoo Lab. If you need cables of a different length, with reversed polarity, or with a special connector, contact us and we can provide them for you.Visit www.voodoolab.com/cables for more information.
Operation
Using the above information, connect the DC power cables between the Pedal Power outputs and the power jacks on your pedal effects. Now connect the AC power cord from the AC power input jack on the Pedal Power to a suitable AC outlet. The Pedal Power’s red LED power indicator will light, telling you that it’s working properly.
Positive Ground Effects
Attempting to power both types of effects with a common ground (non-isolated) power supply or a daisy-chain cable will short the output of the power supply causing your effects to shut down and possibly damaging the power supply. Since Pedal Power’s outputs are isolated, it will work fine.
Reversed Polarity
Almost all guitar pedal effects use a center negative barrel jack for power. You can power reversed polarity effects with a Pedal Power by using the correct reversed polarity cable.The 3.5mm mini plug is tip positive, which is also standard for pedals which use this connector.
