[stuh84]

Just thought I'd post something up, as us guys in the UK have the problem where power conditioners do not have standard 3 way plug sockets, like the below: -



Instead, they have IEC based connectors like so: -



Now for things like amps, most effects units and the like, this isn't a problem, as they already use the IEC standard. However, there are various devices which use their own little transformers, like my Alesis Midiverb and Digitech Whammy.

After a chat with Jagw from these boards (and the band Red Seas Fire) thought about just splicing leads together. Well, some hardware places sell these lead extenders, usually for just making a short lead longer, however it was perfect for this.

All it requires is getting the connectors the right way round (one end is mains, one end is appliance), screwing down 6 wires and making sure the wires are clamped in place, and its done.

Not sure why something like this doesn't exist already, but hey, its an easy job to splice the two cables together, so I thought I'd give a heads up to people who've overlooked this, or just thought it would be difficult to do.

Bill of materials is:
1 IEC 320 Cable (cost about £2)
1 4 Way extension cable (cost £1 from Poundland )
1 Lead extender (£1.30, rated to 10 amps, perfect for this application)

Also, a wire cutter and a screwdriver are required

[-Nolly-]

Weird, I'd been wondering for ages how I was going to get my Decimator hooked up to the conditioner, and this was exactly my plan.

[stuh84]

Works spot on, no issues, not tried hooking up multiple things to it yet, that'll be the test, already running the Alesis off it, gonna see how it takes having the Digitech's adaptor, and a cheap pedal power supply I have in the loft, fingers crossed it all should be fine

[Shikaru]

Thanks for this, Stuart I'm planning on getting a tubescreamer and a noise gate for my rack and was curious as to how I was going to hook them up.

[thesimo]

thanks for this, i was wondering how to do this too
btw what conditioner do you use?

[stuh84]

No worries guys. In terms of the power conditioner, I'm using a Phonic PPC 9000E, 8 switched outlets plus 1 unswitched outlet, 10 amp max output.

It has made a noticeable difference in my tone (wouldn't have believed it), it seems to have lost some noise, and made things a little clearer. I suppose having a constant supply of voltage to the transformer on the amp, rather than having to constantly rectify the signal and not a constant voltage to components will do that

Originally Posted by Shikaru

Thanks for this, Stuart I'm planning on getting a tubescreamer and a noise gate for my rack and was curious as to how I was going to hook them up.

Oh yeah, another thing, there are pedal supplies which work of the IEC connectors, I know the Voodoo Labs one does and the Rothwell Stompjuice does (which I am probably going to get at some point anyway).

I wouldn't particularly use this for standard pedal power supplies as there are better, more efficient ways of doing it, but them awkward pedals and rack units which want their own special requirements on voltage, this works a treat

[-Nolly-]

Originally Posted by stuh84

I suppose having a constant supply of voltage to the transformer on the amp, rather than having to constantly rectify the signal and not a constant voltage to components will do that

Is it an actual voltage regulator as well as a power conditioner?! If so, thats a fair bargain..

[stuh84]

Seems to be, yet to see anything to the contrary put it that way. All I know is everything sounds great with it

[hmmm_de_hum]

Yeah thats exactly how i have my rack wired up, except i have a fused 4 way just for a little extra protection, when all the leads and such are cable tied up it actually looks vaguely neat.

[stuh84]

Aye, although if you are using a power conditioner, it should have a fuse in already, making a dual fuse setup a bit redundant I would expect. Still, you can't protect too much