Question:
I should have done a little research before I decided to undertake this experiment, but I havent actually tested my results yet.
This is what Ive got.
I have 2 pedals (dunlop wah, and Boss Phaser) that I run on battery power. I only play a few hours a week at church, but when we leave the stage during the service, I have to unplug my pedals, which requries pulling them off the velcro, which takes *not much* time and makes alot of noise soo i did this..
I installed a on/off switch and basically cut the wires from the 9v battery plug, and put this on off switch in the middle.
In theory, should I be able to filp that switch, and cut the power, even though the patch cable is still plugged in?
Like I said, I should have researched beforehand, but I do alot of things on impulse.
Answer:
makes sense to me...if the battery power is cut, then it wont' drain right?
Answer:
Originally Posted by thesteve makes sense to me...if the battery power is cut, then it wont' drain right? how many times i have though like that on other projects, then i always got to redo it. Yeeah but it seems that it should work.
Answer:
Sure that would work. Generally you would only cut one side, not both, but that's ok. Why not be environmentally responsible and use a power supply instead?
Answer:
Originally Posted by Major Tom Sure that would work. Generally you would only cut one side, not both, but that's ok. Why not be environmentally responsible and use a power supply instead?
Well, for some reason, the phaser goes dead after about 30 minutes of being "off". Very wierd.
I do have a powerstrip, but its got 4 or 5 things in it already.

Answer:
i see you have quite a hefty powerstrip there...
here's an idea...you have 8 pedals. I bet you could power them all with a couple GodLyke Power-all or Visual Sound 1Spot adapters and then run a third adapter for just the RP (you might not even need that)...oh and the Godlyke kit I believe comes with the adapter you'd need for that Big Muff.
(i realize I just threw your battery switch idea out the window...sorry)
Answer:
NO, thats quite alright.
The last time I looked at a multi powering thing like you mentioned, the only good one that was out was over $150. The switches from the shack were only 2.99 each, so obviously I wasnt out much money there.
I might have to research some more.
The more I think about it, the way I have the thing wired up, It may cut power to the pedal itself, but still complete the circuit to the battery...but then again I dont know much about electronics.
Answer:
Originally Posted by RipVanWinkle NO, thats quite alright.
The last time I looked at a multi powering thing like you mentioned, the only good one that was out was over $150. The switches from the shack were only 2.99 each, so obviously I wasnt out much money there. dang...where are you looking? The Godlyke Powerall comes with a bunch of accesories (adapters for 9V, polarity reverse, etc) for $40 and the 1Spot is $30 with no accessories...so basically for $50 (a Godlyke + a second 5-plug adapter) you could power most if not all of your board (like i said, not sure about that RP.)
Answer:
Originally Posted by RipVanWinkle NO, thats quite alright.

The last time I looked at a multi powering thing like you mentioned, the only good one that was out was over $150. The switches from the shack were only 2.99 each, so obviously I wasnt out much money there.

I might have to research some more.

The more I think about it, the way I have the thing wired up, It may cut power to the pedal itself, but still complete the circuit to the battery...but then again I dont know much about electronics.
You should have a simple latching/unlatching switch on the red + side lead coming off the battery, and that's all. Not knowing how you wired it, I can't say for sure, but it sounds like you are shorting the battery to itself when you turn off the power, this would cause the battery to drain pretty quick (as well as get real hot!).
Answer:
BTW:

I am always on the lookout for wall-warts. I grab 'em at yard sales, wherever. Even if they are not 9v, I still take them, because I cut the leads off and re-use them. When I built my pedal board, I put two 9v 500ma wall warts in and wired the leads to two of those red & black speaker push terminal blocks, and mounted them on the cross beam/support on the underside of the board. Then I took my yard sale leads and plugged them in to the speaker block. I drilled holes before hand for the wires to pass through so my board isn't covered with spaghetti.

Some pedals work great this way, others don't, it was trial and error. I actually have to mix and match between which pedals share power, but I still have five 9v devices running on two wall warts, and I didn't give Dunlop, Godlyke or Boss a red cent.
Answer:
Originally Posted by Maestro_dmc BTW:

I am always on the lookout for wall-warts. I grab 'em at yard sales, wherever. Even if they are not 9v, I still take them, because I cut the leads off and re-use them. When I built my pedal board, I put two 9v 500ma wall warts in and wired the leads to two of those red & black speaker push terminal blocks, and mounted them on the cross beam/support on the underside of the board. Then I took my yard sale leads and plugged them in to the speaker block. I drilled holes before hand for the wires to pass through so my board isn't covered with spaghetti.

Some pedals work great this way, others don't, it was trial and error. I actually have to mix and match between which pedals share power, but I still have five 9v devices running on two wall warts, and I didn't give Dunlop, Godlyke or Boss a red cent.

I'm a DIY'er from way back. I've never bought a real power supply either, I just used a 9v DC supply from whatever, and soldered ends on that I bought from Radio Shack. I too have a junk box marked "Misc power supplies"
Without much of a load, a 9v DC wall wart will put out like 13 volts maybe. You can wire a couple diodes in series to cut back on the voltage a bit if you want. As I remember, each diode will reduce it like .8 volts or so. With the few pedals I've used, the higher voltage doesn't seem to matter. Many electronic devices and components work with a fairly wide range of voltage.
BTW, that speaker terminal thing is a nice idea to be able to add or subtract leads as needed.
Another idea - those ends used by Boss and everyone, if you don't feel like messing with those, or can't find the right size, you could buy 9 volt battery clips (like the one inside pedals to hook the battery to) at Rad Shak, wire those to the supply, and then clip that on to the one inside the pedal... just make sure you get the polarity correct. I believe those should have wires already attached, so no soldering...maybe.....
Answer:
A SPST on/off switch is definately all you needed. And for the record, it doesn't matter which side of the battery gets disconected. Conventionally, it's actually the ground you disconnect from guitar effects because you can do that with just a stereo input jack.
It would be extremely unconventional, but you could actually put a 1M+ pot in series with the positive battery lead and turn it to full resistance for "off" and minimum for on. Then you don't getting any pops in the signal when you "switch" it on/off which might be an issue if you're worried about velcro sounds. You will drain the battery slighly, but with a 1MOhm pot it will be less than 1% of what the pedal drains while on.
Originally Posted by Major Tom Another idea - those ends used by Boss and everyone, if you don't feel like messing with those, or can't find the right size, you could buy 9 volt battery clips (like the one inside pedals to hook the battery to) at Rad Shak, wire those to the supply, and then clip that on to the one inside the pedal... just make sure you get the polarity correct. I believe those should have wires already attached, so no soldering...maybe.....
Yeah on the "adapter" battery clip, the black wire should go to the positive side of the power supply and the red to the ground / negative. It's also very easy to check this with a mulimeter.
Answer:
I know its less messy to use batteries...but you'll never have to buy them and you'll have better sound if you get something like the VS 1Spot. It works perfectly, i've had it for a long time now to power my Digitech Phaser, Danelectro Delay, Boss DS-1, and Boss GE-7 and never had problems.
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Update...
I re-connected the grounds, and just made the switch cut on/off the power.
I left everything plugged in on wednesday, just switched those 2 pedals off. When I came to church on sunday, I flipped the switch and the light came on!
YAY for success!, and yay for getting it on 2nd try!
Answer:
congrats! glad to see it worked.