pedal power cables DC Power Cable Designer

pedal power cables DC Power Cable DesignerTired of fixed length DC cables that are either too long, too short or dont suit your guitar pedals unique connection requirements? Giving your pedal board the correct power requires two things. A power supply appropriate for your pedals. Make sure your Pedalboard Power Supply has the correct specs for your needs! The correct cables. Consult your pedals manual to find out exactly what power requirements it has. Now you can get custom length soldered

Tired of fixed length DC cables that are either too long, too short or don’t suit your guitar pedals unique connection requirements?

Giving your pedal board the correct power requires two things.

• A power supply appropriate for your pedals. Make sure your Pedalboard Power Supply has the correct specs for your needs! 
• The correct cables. Consult your pedals manual to find out exactly what power requirements it has.

Now you can get custom length soldered DC cables to better power your precious pedals and clean up your pedalboard.

• No more excess cable!
• No more angled pedals because a cable is too short!
• No more crazy adapter arrangements - Get a 2.1mm - 2.5mm cable made to your exact needs! 

How do I know how to power my pedal correctly?

Excellent question! There are a few things you need to look for.

1. Current
   This is the amount of current your pedal needs and is most commonly described as milliamps (mA). As a general guide, analog pedals like overdrives will draw up to around 30mA. Digital devices will often need 300mA and up. If you aren't sure, check the manual or ask the maker.
   It is impossible to "over-current" a pedal. You can plug a pedal that requires 100mA into an outlet that provides 500mA and the pedal will only draw what it needs. It won't be damaged. This is also why it's common practice to chain a few low current devices to one high current outlet.
   The flip side is that a pedal that needs 500mA will not work on a 100mA outlet. It won't be damaged, it simply won't turn on, or if it does it might not work properly or sound right.  
2. Voltage
   This one is critical. While it's not possible to "over-current" a pedal, it's most definitely possible to give it too much voltage! Many a 9v pedal has met it's demise at the hands of an 18v outlet. Yes, it sucks. We've all done it.
   9v is the most common, but never assume! Again, check with your pedal's manual or maker.
3. Polarity
   Your pedal will be either centre positive or negative. The most common type is centre negative, and a lot of pedals have polarity protection built in, but it's always important to double check!
4. Barrel type
   Like 9v, the most common is 2.1mm which refers to the centre pin.
   Often a pedal that requires a centre positive connection will have the larger 2.5mm pin to stop people connecting the wrong cable. But there are always exceptions - the HX Stomp requires a centre negative 2.5mm connector. 
   At the end of the day, like all the other points, read the manual or ask the manufacturer!

How do I know which cable to choose?

First you need to decide on your "DC Cable Type".  If you have a Strymon, Voodoo Labs, TrueTone or other similar power supply, you want a 2.1mm Barrel Plug.  

If you have a Cioks Power Supply, you want an RCA Plug.  

The Quad Cortex Cable is only available for Cioks Power Supplies as ALL FOUR outlets need 12v. This is a current quadrupler. 

If you want to connect your modular power supplies together (like Strymon and Cioks) with the required EIAJ 24v Cable, then select - yes, you guessed it - The EIAJ 24V Cable! (See last photo in gallery where this cable is pictured plugged into a Strymon Ojai).

A bit of info on plugs and cable types

Our black RA connector is 2.1mm and we can wire it either centre negative or positive.

Our white RA connector is 2.5mm and can also be wired to either polarity.

If you have a pedal that requires 18v, choose the voltage doubler and then connect the two ends to two 9v outlets of your power supply.

If your pedal requires more current than a single outlet on your supply can provide, choose the current doubler and connect it to two outlets and their current will be combined. So, 2x 250mA outlets will now provide 500mA to one pedal. Make sure both outlets are the same and correct voltage for your pedal! 

A common use for a current double is to use 2x high current outlets (like the 500mA outlets on a Strymon Power Supply) to power an Line 6 HX Stomp - Allowing you to get rid of the giant wall wart they come with. 

Powering your pedals properly can be a little daunting at times, but with a little information and guidance it doesn't need to be.
Please don't hesitate to ask us any questions if you're unsure about a specific pedal.

We guarantee that the power cables you receive will be exactly what you ordered and labeled clearly or you can get a replacement / money back.
We can not take responsibility for damage to your pedals cause by using the wrong cable, voltage or polarity.
Again, read the manual or consult with the manufacturer. Or ask us!