Can I run a 12v pedal with a 9v power source?

[Aceman]

I mean, I know I can...I just did. But what could go wrong here? Besides distortion form not enough head room.

I guess should I is the question. I know 9v with a 12v is a no-no...

[idsnowdog]

Yes, but it might sound different. Some pedals sound good power starved and others don't. Fuzz pedals can produce a nice loose ratty sound when power starved.

[Chistopher]

Actually a lot of old boss pedals required 12v because the internals would step it down to 9v, so if you plug a 9v cable in it they usually would sound bad.

Nothing gonna go kablooie though

[Securb]

I have starved dirt boxes that sounded okay - good, modulation starved usually has sound artifacts or chirps that are distracting at best.

[Aceman]

I was just worried about potential "straining hard" to get the juice issues. Which, I couldn't imagine how that would be a damaging thing...

I found a 12v that worked. Had a cheap 12v Chinese one that didn't, so I tried a 9v - it worked perfectly.

Also found a 12v T-rex adapter that worked fine. I guess I have options now.

[GuitarStv]

Lower voltage might not sound right but it is safe and won't break anything. Higher voltage and you run the risk of releasing the magic black smoke from components.

[beaubrummels]

Milliamps matter as much as the volts

[GuitarStv]

Milliamps matter as much as the volts

Not really. Not enough and the pedal won't turn on/function correctly. Too much and the pedal only grabs what it needs and will work perfectly - no harm done. You're good either way.

[dave74]

If it's on a daisy with at least one regular 9v pedal it will run properly.

[beaubrummels]

Not really. Not enough and the pedal won't turn on/function correctly. Too much and the pedal only grabs what it needs and will work perfectly - no harm done. You're good either way.

Yeah, so if you don't have enough it won't work. That's why milliamps matter as much as volts.

[Aceman]

It was just a weird situation. Never tried to run anything on too little juice (except dead batteries) in all my years.

[solspirit]

Can I run a 9v pedal on 12v?

[PFDarkside]

Can I run a 9v pedal on 12v?

Depends on the pedal.

Unless you confirm with the manufacturer I wouldn’t do it. You could damage the pedal, and depending on the design it could be a small fix to a loss.

(A good number of overdrives are only limited by the maximum rail voltage of the OpAmp, that’s why a lot will take 9V - 18V. Many digital pedals use a voltage regulator that can take something like 5V to 24V and internally clamp it to the voltage required. And now with the popularity of the Klon, many use the charge pump design to internally increase the voltage from 9V to 18V, these will let out a big puff of magic smoke, never to be used again.)

So check with the manufacturer.

[Aceman]

Can I run a 9v pedal on 12v?

Just don't.

[ICTGoober]

I have a client who uses old 9 volt batteries in his Cry Baby and MXR Distortion Plus because they really sound good just before the battery dies.
Using a Variac is essentially the same concept, wouldn't you say?