Want a Power Supply Unit but can’t figure out which one to go for? The search can be tricky. But once you figure out what you need and the features you are looking for, you can narrow it down to a few options.
Whether you use only a few pedals or a whole range wide enough to even make an Edge or a David Gilmour jealous, understanding how a pedalboard power supply unit (PSU) functions is crucial before you invest in one.
Our First Question – Why Do We Even Need A Pedalboard Power Supply?
This might be the very first thing on top of your mind, so let’s get the basics clear. Yes, this equipment is nothing like an Overdrive or a Reverb pedal, and true, it will not directly affect the tone (maybe?), but a power supply is still vital to your pedalboard, especially if you are using more than 2 or 3 pedals. Why? Well, we need to make sure that all the individual units are sounding accurate together, and any uneven power supply isn’t damaging the pedals. Also, just like any pedal, be it the overdrive or the reverb, the power supplies also come with a line of features suitable for your needs.
Some Things to Consider While Getting A Power Supply
Some good questions to ask before you start drawing conclusions would be:
- How many pedals would you need? – If you still want to expand your pedalboard, imagine how it would look in the future when it’s complete.
- What are the Voltages, Amperage, and Polarity of each pedal?
- If the pedal you are using specifically requires anything more than the usual 9 volts, that is something you have to take into account. In some rare cases, this can be lower than the 9 volts as well. Some other specifications that you should check for each of the pedals include Current Draw or Amperage and the Polarity. Each of these specs is usually written on the pedal or in the manual. Let’s talk about these in brief:
- Voltage is the “push” or “pressure” that drives electricity through the circuit. All pedals require a certain voltage of current to function properly. Apart from the usual 9V, some may require 12V or 18V. We need to make sure that the unit has the exact power supply as the pedal needs, to make sure it doesn’t damage your pedal.
- Current Draw or Amperage refers to how much current the pedal needs to draw to function. This is measured in mA (milliampere), eg, 100mA or 250mA. It is important for your power supply to supply this amount of current or higher. Otherwise, this again risks pedal damage.
- Polarity refers to whether the jack that connects your power supply to your pedal has a positive or a negative jack, just like there are two sides to a battery – positive and negative. What we use to connect our pedals to the power supply is usually a barrel jack, a cylindrical jack with metal sleeves on both sides. To figure out the polarity, whether the pedal is a center positive or negative, look for the signs on the pedal below, although most of them are center negative. This is not the biggest issue since you can always connect those adapters to change the polarity.
- If the pedal you are using specifically requires anything more than the usual 9 volts, that is something you have to take into account. In some rare cases, this can be lower than the 9 volts as well. Some other specifications that you should check for each of the pedals include Current Draw or Amperage and the Polarity. Each of these specs is usually written on the pedal or in the manual. Let’s talk about these in brief:
Types of Power Supply Units
There are 3 main types of power supplies:
- Daisy Chain
- Linear Power Supply or
- The Switch Mode Power Supply
- Daisy Chain is not the most preferred among power supplies. While it does supply the 9V power when each pedal is supposed to be center negative, what it does do is, it throws the whole 100 mA or 250 mA through the strand. Now, if you suppose you have 3 pedals, one drawing 50 mA, one drawing 30 mA, and one drawing 6 mA, you are only drawing 86 mA, still 14 mA short. While the pedals will work efficiently, the problem here is this will draw noise into the signal as the pedals are feeding from that one current source, and each time one pedal feeds on the current, the signal faces an interruption.
2. Linear Power Supply, on the other hand, is an isolated power supply. Linear is more of an old-school tech where it uses a toroid transformer. One con here is that the electromagnetic field produced here can sometimes leak noise into your signal, more so if you place pedals on top of it. Also they usually have a venting system, like a fan, that needs to be exposed so that the pedal power supply does not overheat.
3. Coming to the newer school Switch Mode Power Supply, this uses an upgraded Transformer, which is more lightweight and can cover a wider variety of voltages and amperage or current draws. Since the price difference between the latter two is thin, more people generally tend to go for the Switch Mode, more so if they are using a lot of pedals.
Planning Your Pedal Board: How to Calculate?
Now that you know the nitty-gritty of how they function, it is time for what we are waiting for – how to plan the pedalboard and buy the ideal power supply unit suited to your needs!
Step 1: Check Pedal Specifications:
Check the power requirements of all pedals that you currently own plus the ones you may own in the future. Next make sure you have enough outputs to power each one, that each of the outputs has the required milliamps that you would need to power the respective pedals.
Variations in voltage? Just make sure you have a power supply that can cater to varies voltages. The more diverse your selection, the easier to understand which pedals to cut out from the list. Let’s say, for example, you have 4 pedals that require 400 mA or more current. In this case, you have very limited options.
Step 2: Plan For Board Space:
Within the blink of an eye, you find a more compact version of literally every device nowadays, and pedal power supplies are no exception. If saving space is your priority, good news is many manufacturers are making pedals in a way that you can discreetly place the power supply just below the pedal board. Congrats, you just saved on a lot of space for more pedals!
Also read: Best Mini Guitar Amps in 2025 : Compact yet Powerful
Since this is not always an option, do keep the dimension details for your unit in hand, in case there is no space left undercarriage or incase you have to make room for it on the board under any circumstance. Although Switch Mode Power Supplies have the option of placing the pedals right on top of them, we do not recommend that due to wear and tear issues while constantly stomped on. Just before you finalise, another basic, very basic, yet important thing to consider is how the cable that plugs into the wall connects to the pedalboard.
Choosing Your Options: Finally, Which One To Buy?
Here are our Top 6 choices (in no particular order) in Power Supply Units:
1. MXR mini Iso-Brick
This one is a simple, easy-to-use, and incredibly cheap option for anyone starting out. You can power a diverse range of pedals due to a diverse variety of milliamps. One con in this one is the power plug that connects the unit to the wall uses a Barrel Jack. Usually this is an IEC cable. The jack can be a little flimsy, but this shouldn’t be a deal breaker. This is unless you are finicky about a firm jack.
Click here to buy the MXR Iso-Brick now!
2. Truetone CS12
The Truetone CS12 falls somewhere between the Switch Mode and Linear power supplies, although it leans more towards the former spectrum. This is because the unit has one linear outlet suited to specific pedals. Although a little bulkier, these units are inexpensive and feature-rich, hence the value for money. They do give you a wide range of milliampere coverage, suited for pedals with different voltages, with 12 different outlets all priced under $300!
Link to get the Truetone 1 Spot Pro CS12 Power Supply right here!
3. Voodoo Labs Pedal Power 3 Plus
The powerhouse holds 12 outputs, 10 in the 9V 500 mA segment and 2 12V 200 mA switchable outputs. You can further add as many as 16 more power outputs! A very versatile unit that comes with a variable input voltage (100-200 volts), the Pedal Power 3 Plus is very easy to mount due to its lightweight.
Click here to buy the Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 3 Plus now!
4. Strymon Zuma
On the base unit, you get clean and clear 9 isolated outputs with the Zuma. Incase that is not enough, you can add up to 6 of the Strymon Ojai Expansion Units to gain five additional isolated pedal outputs in each, raising it to (6*5)=30 additional pedals. This added to the former 9 makes it a massive number of 39 pedals total. Again a lightweight unit, easily mounted and practical to use, especially if you are into a lot of pedals.
Click here to buy the Strymon Zuma right now!
5. Cioks DC7:
The Cioks DC7 comes with 7 isolated outputs that supply a ton of amperage. Talking of size and form, the pedal is only an inch thick, probably the easiest to mount under the pedalboard. With a 48-watt total output supply, this beast can easily feed multiple power-hungry pedals. The unit also comes with a 5-volt USB output, so if you need to charge a phone or Ipad or anything with a typical USB connection – Bingo! As practical as it can get.
On top of all this, if the 7 outputs aren’t enough for you, there is a 24 volt thru output that allows you to connect the DC8 expanders so that you can add even more power to your board! And if you happen to be a Pedaltrain pedalboard user, the pedal is specifically designed for you, giving a ton of advantages!
Grab the Cioks DC7 at $225 only, available now! Click here.
6. Canvas Power 5
You get what you pay for in the world of pro-audio gear. Walrus Audio recently came up with an impeccable design on their Canvas Power 5 isolated low profile power supply for guitar effects pedal. Praised for its durable build, easy installation, compact size, clean power delivery, and expandability; the pedal features 5 isolated 9V outputs, with one being switchable to 12V or 18V, and the ability to link with other PSUs for more current.
So now that you know all you need to about power supply units, what’s stopping you from getting one? Get ready for a seamless gigging experience now that power isn’t the issue you have to think about!
