If you’re building up a collection of pedals, you’ve probably started to wonder about the best way to power them. A quick Google search can give you all kinds of answers, and one of the most popular methods you’ll see recommended is daisy chaining.
Daisy chaining is a popular pedal power solution among guitarists. It can help to streamline setups and keep things organized. However, daisy-chaining requires careful consideration and can have complications.
In this article, we’ll take a look at what daisy chaining is, how to daisy chain multiple guitar pedals, and explore some better alternatives for certain setups.
Table of Contents
What Is a Daisy Chain?
A daisy chain is an extension cord made just for your effects pedals’ power supply.
It starts with one end that plugs directly into your power supply. Then instead of a single connector, a daisy chain has several outlets branching off the main cable like branches on a tree. Each outlet connects to a separate pedal.
By powering all your pedals with a daisy chain, you can power up a number pedals simultaneously without using multiple wall warts.
Everything plugs into one central power source. No more tangled cables under your feet — just convenient, easy power.
How to Use a Daisy Chain
Here’s how to daisy-chain your guitar pedals for power.
First, gather your gear. Here’s what you’ll need:
- An effects pedal power supply that can supply enough power.
- A compatible daisy-chain cable.
- More than one effects pedal.
Once you have all that together, do a quick check to make sure everything is compatible.
- Make sure all the pedals need the same voltage. This is usually 9V.
- Check that the polarity matches up — it is usually center negative.
- Add up each pedal’s current draw to ensure they don’t exceed the power supply’s capacity.
With that out of the way, it’s time to plug it all in.
- Start by plugging the power supply into the wall.
- Attach the main plug of the daisy chain cable to the power supply output.
- Attach the other ends of the daisy chain to each pedal power jack, making sure they are secure.
- Once everything is plugged in, lay your pedals out on the board in the order you want them. Try to keep the power cables neat so they don’t get tangled up.
- Finally, turn it on! Power up the supply and then activate each pedal one by one to check that they are getting power – normally, this would mean the LED turns on.
- Listen for any noise issues, such as hums or buzzes. If something’s not right, double-check your connections and compatibility.
Experiencing noise?
If you do run into noise, don’t panic. You might need to rearrange your pedals or use noise-reduction techniques. It’s often good practice to give high-draw digital pedals their own isolated power supply rather than running them on a daisy chain, as this can be a big cause of noise.
Benefits of Using a Daisy Chain To Power Guitar Pedals
It’s Simpler
Instead of a bunch of individual power supplies, a daisy chain lets you run all your pedals off a single power source. This means fewer cables will be cluttering up your board. And setting up and packing down is a breeze when you’re not untangling a tangled mess of adapter cables.
Saves Money
It’s also easier on your wallet. Rather than buying separate power adapters for each pedal, you just need one daisy chain supply. This is great if you’re just starting out building your pedal collection or are trying to keep things to a strict budget.
Saves Space
Finally, daisy chaining frees up some of that precious real estate on your pedalboard. Without all those bulky power supplies taking up space, you can fit more of your stompboxes into a much smaller area.
Things To Think About
Daisy chaining isn’t the perfect power solution for every situation. Here are some things you should think about before you use a daisy chain to power your guitar pedals:
Power Requirements
Make sure the power supply can handle what you’re throwing at it. Check that the voltage and current match what your individual pedals need. If things don’t line up just right, your gear could get damaged or not work like it should.
Load Capacity
Consider the total power requirements. Your supply needs to have enough juice to power all your pedals together without leaving any of them hanging. If you overload it, expect some inconsistent performance from your board.
Tone Integrity
Some pedals, especially fancy digital ones, use a lot of power. To sound their best, they might need a super clean, high-capacity source. In those cases, separate or isolated supplies for those particular pedals could help them perform at their best.
Alternatives to Daisy Chains
If daisy chains don’t seem right for your board, here are some other ways to get reliable guitar pedal power.
Multi-Output Supplies
These have isolated outputs made for different pedal needs. This lets you power stuff safely and effectively. Isolated outputs minimize noise and keep performance pure.
Power Conditioners
These ensure that each pedal gets clean power. They also reduce noise and prevent damage. Models with surge protection and voltage regulation enhance safety and efficiency.
Why Spend More On Alternatives?
Specialty pedal power supplies can truly improve your pedalboard and make your pedals sound their best. But it costs. These let you customize each pedal’s power, which is handy if you have a mix of digital and analog pedals. They also protect pedals with stable, consistent power.
Isolated supplies improve your sound quality by eliminating unwanted hum and buzz for a clean, clear tone. Popular quality brands include CIOKS, Voodoo Lab, Gigrig, and Trutone. If you want to upgrade without daisy chains, these are reliable options.
To Sum Up
All in all, daisy chaining is a practical way to power multiple guitar pedals using just one source. However, it’s important to be aware of the limitations and potential risks of a daisy chain power supply for guitar pedals.
If you have pedals that need a lot of power or you just want to get the best possible performance, consider using a more powerful solution like a multi-output power supply or individual power sources for each pedal.
FAQs
How many guitar pedals can you daisy chain?
You can daisy chain as many pedals as you like, but there are a few things to keep in mind. Each pedal draws a certain amount of current, measured in milliamps or mA. The power supply you’re using has a maximum current rating. As long as the total current draw of all your pedals doesn’t exceed the power supply’s rating, you’re good to go.
Can you power multiple pedals with one power supply?
Yes, using a daisy chain power cable. A daisy chain cable has multiple outputs that let you power several pedals from a single power supply. Just connect the daisy chain to your power supply, then run cables from each of its outputs to the power input jack on your pedals. Make sure the combined current draw of the pedals doesn’t exceed the supply’s rating.
Does daisy chaining pedals cause noise?
Yes, daisy chaining too many pedals can potentially cause unwanted noise like buzzing or hum.
