How many ma do pedals use?

X

Xandeeno

New member
I have been building a pedalboard recently and was looking at the T. rex fuel tank classic. It mentioned things about each power socket only being able to supply 500 ma each so was woundering are there any pedals that would use more than that?
I am using mostly if not all analogue pedals that are nearly all 9v.
However there is one 12v (distortion) so was also woundering if this will use more ma than the others?
I am probably overthinking but all advice is much appreciated.
Thanks
 
Re: How many ma do pedals use?

Yes I assumed that at first and looked up specs, the diezel vh4 pedal (12v distortion) is the one I am most concerned about but I can’t find the ma that it (or any of the others) require. I’ve seen that it’s in the manuals but I cannot get those before the pedal.
 
Re: How many ma do pedals use?

As a rule of thumb analog pedals like OD or distortion, muffs, comp etc use less than 100ma. Time based digital effects 100-300ma. In the 300ma+ you get the multieffects or fancy digital pedals.

AS A RULE ON THUMB, YMMV ETC


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Re: How many ma do pedals use?

Xandeeno said:
Yes I assumed that at first and looked up specs, the diezel vh4 pedal (12v distortion) is the one I am most concerned about but I can’t find the ma that it (or any of the others) require. I’ve seen that it’s in the manuals but I cannot get those before the pedal.
Click to expand...

You are correct, manual is not online as of right now (says coming soon). HOWEVER according to THIS it draws 400mA @ 12v.
 
Re: How many ma do pedals use?

Yeah, for *most* pedalboards, the issue is from daisy-chaining pedals, esp. if they’re higher current draw individually. The TRex fuel tanks are great (I use a Chameleon).


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Re: How many ma do pedals use?

Blille said:
As a rule of thumb analog pedals like OD or distortion, muffs, comp etc use less than 100ma. Time based digital effects 100-300ma. In the 300ma+ you get the multieffects or fancy digital pedals.

AS A RULE ON THUMB, YMMV ETC


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Click to expand...

EHX Holy Grail is as simple as reverb gets and is specced for 500ma...

I also have 2 EHX pedals that require 24v... and they're bigger and noisier than almost any of their competitors...

They just that sound that good it doesn't matter...
 
Re: How many ma do pedals use?

Jacew said:
EHX Holy Grail is as simple as reverb gets and is specced for 500ma...

I also have 2 EHX pedals that require 24v... and they're bigger and noisier than almost any of their competitors...

They just that sound that good it doesn't matter...
Click to expand...

V and mA are different :) the DMM is 24V but 100mA (the adaptor so I assume it consumes less). https://www.ehx.com/assets/instructions/deluxe-memory-man.pdf

The Holy Grail is simple but like 99% of reverbs, digital, so it consumes significant mA. In the manual, the adaptor it mentions is 200mA. https://www.ehx.com/assets/instructions/holy-grail.pdf


Again, above were rules of thumb to help the OP ballpark the needs.
 
Re: How many ma do pedals use?

Kamanda~SD said:
You are correct, manual is not online as of right now (says coming soon). HOWEVER according to THIS it draws 400mA @ 12v.
Click to expand...

The value quoted of 400ma I assume is from the power supply it comes with. It looks like an analog distortion pedal, IMHO 400mA would be outrageous :D


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Re: How many ma do pedals use?

I believe the other T-Rex bricks have isolated outlets but the T-Rex Classic's 9V outlets all share a ground. Point being, if you are going to spend that kind of money on a power supply, may as well get one that has it's outputs isolated.
That pedal will run on 12V or 18V.

The Truetone Pro CS12 will run it and provide more outlets, all isolated, for about the same price as the T-Rex.

Check the video at 14 minutes for explanation on their ma ratings.
 
Re: How many ma do pedals use?

Blille said:
V and mA are different :) the DMM is 24V but 100mA (the adaptor so I assume it consumes less). https://www.ehx.com/assets/instructions/deluxe-memory-man.pdf

The Holy Grail is simple but like 99% of reverbs, digital, so it consumes significant mA. In the manual, the adaptor it mentions is 200mA. https://www.ehx.com/assets/instructions/holy-grail.pdf


Again, above were rules of thumb to help the OP ballpark the needs.
Click to expand...

Of course V and ma are different. I was just rambling about.

Beign the "old-style" big box version of the pedal, I had no idea it's digital... It states 500ma right on top of the dc jack on the pedal.
 
Re: How many ma do pedals use?

I suggest getting a 1 Spot CS12 then you don't have to worry as much about MV. Of course you need to worry about MV as you can't go past the max output. I always suggest staying around 80% or less. Whats nice about the CS12 is that it share MV across the outputs meaning they are rated for certain levels but have the ability to put out so much more.
I would call any pedal company who doesn't list the MV on there spec sheets, you need that info my man to purchase the correct power supply. Isolated power supplies like the CS12 are the way to go always. Cleaner quieter etc.
 
Re: How many ma do pedals use?

mantis said:
I suggest getting a 1 Spot CS12 then you don't have to worry as much about MV. Of course you need to worry about MV as you can't go past the max output. I always suggest staying around 80% or less. Whats nice about the CS12 is that it share MV across the outputs meaning they are rated for certain levels but have the ability to put out so much more.
I would call any pedal company who doesn't list the MV on there spec sheets, you need that info my man to purchase the correct power supply. Isolated power supplies like the CS12 are the way to go always. Cleaner quieter etc.
Click to expand...

MV? Millivolts? Do you mean mA for milliamps?
 
Re: How many ma do pedals use?

mantis said:
I suggest getting a 1 Spot CS12 then you don't have to worry as much about MV. Of course you need to worry about MV as you can't go past the max output. I always suggest staying around 80% or less. Whats nice about the CS12 is that it share MV across the outputs meaning they are rated for certain levels but have the ability to put out so much more.
I would call any pedal company who doesn't list the MV on there spec sheets, you need that info my man to purchase the correct power supply. Isolated power supplies like the CS12 are the way to go always. Cleaner quieter etc.
Click to expand...

I have CS7. Even without extra output, it's has two outputs specced for 500 ma. 18V out and four 9/12V switchable outs with 200ma. That for 133 € (~170$). It's brilliant.
 
Re: How many ma do pedals use?

When I upgraded from a 1 Spot to a CS6, I decided to get one of the TrueTone MA Meters for the heck of it. $20. Turns out, most pedals use a lot less power than you would expect. Fuzzes use 5ma or less. The biggest power hog on my smaller board is the EHX Canyon, which draws about 134ma.

 
Re: How many ma do pedals use?

What was the ridiculous Earthquakes one that needed 550ma? Avalanche Run? You have to current double two high current outputs!
 
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