Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus⁚ Overview
The Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus is a premium power supply designed for guitar effects pedals. It offers isolated outputs, short-circuit protection, and filtered, regulated power, ensuring reliable and noise-free operation for a wide range of pedals.
The Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus stands as a pinnacle of power solutions for guitar effects, addressing the common challenges of noise and unreliable power delivery. This power supply is meticulously crafted to cater to the diverse needs of pedalboards, offering a robust and versatile platform for powering various effects units. Its design focuses on providing clean, consistent, and isolated power to each pedal, eliminating ground loops and minimizing unwanted noise that can degrade the overall sound quality.
With its eight 9V outputs, the Pedal Power 2 Plus is compatible with a vast array of battery-operated effects, ensuring seamless integration into existing pedalboard setups. Moreover, its short-circuit protection, filtering, and regulation capabilities ensure stable and secure operation, safeguarding pedals from potential damage caused by power fluctuations or surges. This power supply offers guitarists a reliable and high-performance solution for powering their pedalboards.
Key Features and Benefits
The Pedal Power 2 Plus boasts isolated outputs that eliminate ground loops, short-circuit protection for safety, and filtered, regulated power for consistent performance. These features ensure optimal pedal operation and noise reduction.
Isolated Outputs
The Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus features eight 9V outputs, each completely isolated to prevent ground loops and ensure pristine signal quality. This isolation is crucial for eliminating unwanted noise and hum that can arise when using multiple pedals with a shared power source. Each output operates independently, preventing interaction between pedals and maintaining tonal clarity.
Isolated outputs are particularly beneficial for sensitive pedals like vintage fuzzes and wahs, which are prone to noise issues. By providing clean, isolated power, the Pedal Power 2 Plus allows these pedals to perform at their best, delivering their intended sound without unwanted interference. This isolation contributes to a cleaner, more professional sound on stage or in the studio, allowing the nuances of each pedal to shine through. Furthermore, the Pedal Power 2 Plus’s isolated outputs ensure consistent performance, regardless of the other pedals in your setup.
Short-Circuit Protection
The Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus incorporates robust short-circuit protection for each of its outputs, safeguarding both the power supply and connected pedals from damage. In the event of a short circuit, the affected output will automatically shut down, preventing any further current flow and potential harm. This protection mechanism is crucial for maintaining the longevity and reliability of your pedalboard setup.
This feature is particularly valuable in live performance settings, where accidental cable issues or pedal malfunctions can occur. The short-circuit protection ensures that a single faulty pedal won’t bring down the entire power supply, allowing you to quickly identify and resolve the problem without interrupting your performance. Furthermore, this protection extends the lifespan of your pedals by preventing them from being exposed to excessive current or voltage fluctuations, offering peace of mind and protecting your investment.
Filtered and Regulated Power
The Pedal Power 2 Plus delivers filtered and regulated power to each of its outputs, ensuring a clean and stable voltage supply for your effects pedals. This meticulous power conditioning eliminates unwanted noise and hum, resulting in a pristine audio signal. The filtering process removes high-frequency interference, while the voltage regulation maintains a consistent voltage level, regardless of fluctuations in the mains power supply.
This clean and stable power is crucial for achieving optimal performance from your pedals. Many effects are sensitive to voltage variations and can produce unwanted noise or erratic behavior when not properly powered. By providing filtered and regulated power, the Pedal Power 2 Plus allows your pedals to operate at their full potential, delivering the intended tone and responsiveness. This results in a professional and polished sound, free from distracting artifacts.
Powering Different Pedal Types
The Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus offers versatile power options to accommodate various pedal types. It handles standard 9V pedals, high-current units, and even simulates worn batteries for unique tonal effects.
9V Outputs and Compatibility
The Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus boasts eight 9V outputs, making it compatible with a vast array of guitar effects pedals. These outputs are designed to power standard pedals that operate on 9 volts DC, ensuring reliable and consistent performance. Each output is isolated, preventing ground loops and unwanted noise, which is crucial for maintaining signal clarity.
The 9V outputs are suitable for powering a wide range of pedals, including overdrive, distortion, chorus, flanger, and many other common effects. With eight dedicated 9V outputs, the Pedal Power 2 Plus can easily accommodate a diverse pedalboard setup. This eliminates the need for multiple power adapters and reduces cable clutter, resulting in a cleaner and more organized rig. The compatibility extends to various brands and models, making it a versatile power solution for guitarists of all styles. Always refer to your pedal’s specifications to confirm voltage requirements before connecting it to the Pedal Power 2 Plus.
High Current Outputs
The Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus includes dedicated high current outputs designed to accommodate power-hungry pedals. These outputs provide increased amperage to pedals that require more current than standard 9V outputs can deliver. This is particularly useful for digital effects, modeling pedals, and certain analog pedals with higher power demands.
The high current outputs ensure that these pedals receive the necessary power for optimal performance, preventing issues such as signal degradation or malfunction. By providing ample current, the Pedal Power 2 Plus allows these pedals to operate at their full potential, delivering the intended sound and functionality. This is essential for maintaining the integrity of your pedalboard’s signal chain.
These outputs are specifically engineered to handle the demands of modern effects pedals, offering a reliable and stable power source. This makes the Pedal Power 2 Plus a versatile solution for powering a wide range of pedals with varying power requirements.
Simulating Worn Batteries with Variable Voltage
The Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus offers unique variable voltage outputs, allowing users to simulate the sound of worn batteries. These outputs enable you to dial back the voltage, creating a “dying battery” effect, which can add a distinct tonal character to certain pedals, particularly fuzzes and overdrives.
As batteries drain, their voltage decreases, leading to a change in the pedal’s sound. This can result in a warmer, softer tone with reduced headroom and increased sag. The variable voltage outputs on the Pedal Power 2 Plus replicate this effect, providing a convenient way to achieve these desirable sonic characteristics without relying on actual batteries.
By adjusting the voltage, you can fine-tune the pedal’s response and create a range of subtle to dramatic tonal variations. This feature provides a creative tool for shaping your sound and exploring new sonic textures. It offers precise control over the “dying battery” effect.
Using Optional Cables
Optional cables expand the Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus’s capabilities. Voltage doubler cables power 18V/24V pedals. Reverse polarity cables accommodate pedals with center-positive polarity, offering greater flexibility in pedalboard setup.
Voltage Doubler Cables for 18V/24V Pedals
The Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus offers versatility beyond standard 9V operation, thanks to its compatibility with voltage doubler cables. These optional cables allow you to combine the voltage from two outputs to power pedals requiring higher voltages, such as 18V or 24V. This is particularly useful for certain overdrive, distortion, and modulation effects that benefit from the increased headroom and dynamic range provided by higher voltage operation.
By using a voltage doubler cable, you can effectively transform two 9V outputs into a single 18V output. Similarly, combining two 12V outputs (available on some Pedal Power 2 Plus models or through modifications) with a specialized reverse polarity Y-cable can deliver 24V, catering to vintage EH pedals like the Deluxe Memory Man. Always consult your pedal’s manual to confirm its voltage requirements before using voltage doubler cables. Incorrect voltage can damage your pedals.
Reverse Polarity Cables
Certain vintage and boutique effects pedals require reverse polarity power, where the center pin of the DC power jack is positive (+) instead of the standard negative (-). The Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus typically provides center-negative power, so using standard cables with reverse polarity pedals can cause damage. To address this, Voodoo Lab offers optional reverse polarity cables.
These cables invert the polarity, allowing you to safely power pedals that require a center-positive configuration. It’s crucial to identify whether your pedal needs reverse polarity before connecting it to the Pedal Power 2 Plus. Consult your pedal’s manual or the manufacturer’s specifications. Using the wrong polarity can lead to malfunction or permanent damage to your valuable effects. Reverse polarity cables are an essential accessory for users with diverse pedal collections.
Troubleshooting and FAQs
Encountering issues with your Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus? This section addresses common problems and frequently asked questions. If your pedals aren’t receiving power, first check that the power supply is properly connected to a functioning outlet and that the power switch is on. Ensure that all cables are securely plugged into both the Pedal Power 2 Plus and your pedals.
If a specific output isn’t working, verify that it’s not short-circuited. The Pedal Power 2 Plus has short-circuit protection, so a faulty pedal or cable can trigger this. Try disconnecting pedals one by one to isolate the issue. If you’re unsure about voltage or polarity requirements, consult your pedal’s manual or the Voodoo Lab website. Remember, using incorrect settings can damage your pedals. For further assistance, refer to the user manual or contact Voodoo Lab’s customer support.
Accessing the User Manual
The Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus user manual is an invaluable resource for understanding and maximizing the potential of your power supply. You can easily access the manual through several convenient methods. The most direct way is to visit the official Voodoo Lab website. Navigate to the “Support” or “Downloads” section, where you’ll find a PDF version of the manual available for download.
Alternatively, a quick online search for “Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus manual” will yield numerous results, often including links to the official manual or user-uploaded versions on various forums and documentation sites. It’s always recommended to download the manual from the official Voodoo Lab website to ensure you have the most accurate and up-to-date information. The manual provides detailed instructions, troubleshooting tips, and specifications, essential for optimal use.