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The Musician Forums => Guitar Central => Topic started by: Machine_Head on April 13, 2006, 12:57:44 PM

Title: What's the difference bet AC and DC?
Post by: Machine_Head on April 13, 2006, 12:57:44 PM

I believe my mfx takes in DC as with the Boss pedals. What's the difference between AC and DC? And where can i get a power supply with DC only? Most of them power supplies out there are AC-DC.

Thanks

Title: What's the difference bet AC and DC?
Post by: Poundcake on April 13, 2006, 01:22:16 PM

AC stands for alternating current while DC stands for direct current. from its name, AC means that the instantaneous value of the current/voltage varies with respect to time, cycling 60 times per second (thus, 60 Hz/cycles per second) while DC maintains a constant voltage and current value. AC is provided by the power suppliers (plants, distribution companies, etc.) because it is much easier to produce AC than DC (AC occurs naturally). you won't find direct DC adaptors because the voltage rating provided to the power outlets in our country is 220V AC. the adaptor transforms or steps down the 220V AC, rectifies it and transforms it into pulsating DC (positive peak for both half-cycles) signals before producing the filtered/regulated DC voltage signal that your adaptor is rated to provide. the only way to directly supply DC is via battery. otherwise, you'll have to use a power supply or adaptor. PM me if you have any more questions and i'll gladly help you out :)

here's a waveform diagram that i drew to explain things a bit more clearly:

(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f84/ianb902/ACDC.jpg)

Title: What's the difference bet AC and DC?
Post by: Machine_Head on April 13, 2006, 01:27:54 PM

Thank you very much sir. I already sent you a pm.

Title: What's the difference bet AC and DC?
Post by: sonnyrayvaughn on April 13, 2006, 04:15:51 PM

perfect explanation VenusIsle... are you sure you aint my science teacher before? hehe

me idadagdag ako about boss adapters... kelan ko lang nalaman to. nagtataka ako kasi when i use the standard boss PSA adapter sa Boss GE7 or sa CS3, di umiilaw yung led lights..pero pag nakadaisy chain sya, ok naman... tagal ko nagkamot ng ulo kung baket, until i read this article:

http://www.stinkfoot.se/andreas/diy/articles/bossadapt.htm

i hope it helps too.

Title: What's the difference bet AC and DC?
Post by: Machine_Head on April 13, 2006, 07:22:13 PM

So i should set the adaptor to 12V when using the Boss Digital Delay?  :?:

Title: What's the difference bet AC and DC?
Post by: Poundcake on April 13, 2006, 09:21:11 PM

SRV: hehe di pare, wala kong balak magturo ng science hehehe..

Machine_Head, try using a standard 9V adaptor first. if it's working fine, then use that adaptor. but as far as i know, the DD-3 is a modern Boss pedal and it's compatible with a PSA adaptor. kung wala talaga, ejbasses is the way! he builds quality PSUs for a cheap price :)

Title: What's the difference bet AC and DC?
Post by: sonnyrayvaughn on April 13, 2006, 09:37:37 PM

Quote from: Machine_Head

So i should set the adaptor to 12V when using the Boss Digital Delay?  :?:

My DD3 works well with a boss PSA adapter...

Title: What's the difference bet AC and DC?
Post by: Machine_Head on April 13, 2006, 09:50:13 PM

Quote from: sonnyrayvaughn

Quote from: Machine_Head

So i should set the adaptor to 12V when using the Boss Digital Delay?  :?:

My DD3 works well with a boss PSA adapter...

I use a generic one. It doesnt work.

Title: What's the difference bet AC and DC?
Post by: sonnyrayvaughn on April 13, 2006, 09:57:38 PM

oh... mukhang sakit nga sa ulo yan.
not sure kung baket e... pero one more to check e yung polarity nung adapter compared to the required polarity nung effects...ingat lang baka me masunog :)

Professor Venus, i explain mo nga yung polarities ng adapters haha.

Title: What's the difference bet AC and DC?
Post by: Machine_Head on April 13, 2006, 10:26:52 PM

I tried using both polarities already, still no luck. All i get is this annoyingly loud hum..

Title: What's the difference bet AC and DC?
Post by: Poundcake on April 13, 2006, 10:46:25 PM

hmmm teka teka mahirap na ata i-drawing yung 9V plug ah, Paint lang gamit ko dun sa diagram kanina e hehehe..

Machine_Head, just a thought.. maybe one of your patch cables is grounded or something? in my experience, i didn't have any problems with BOSS pedals as far as input power is concerned. i even used an external fax modem 9V adaptor before as the power source for my BOSS MT-2 and CS-3 and it worked quite well. most of the loud humming problems that i've encountered were associated with faulty/shorted guitar cables. if your cables are ok, then i really suggest that you should buy a new AC adaptor. taga nga lang sa Perfect Pitch, so try Newstar first. kung kapitbahay lang kita, nagdala na ako ng VOM dyan to check your adaptors' output voltages e hehe :)

Title: What's the difference bet AC and DC?
Post by: Machine_Head on April 13, 2006, 10:53:37 PM

Quote from: VenusIsle_5150

hmmm teka teka mahirap na ata i-drawing yung 9V plug ah, Paint lang gamit ko dun sa diagram kanina e hehehe..

Machine_Head, just a thought.. maybe one of your patch cables is grounded or something? in my experience, i didn't have any problems with BOSS pedals as far as input power is concerned. i even used an external fax modem 9V adaptor before as the power source for my BOSS MT-2 and CS-3 and it worked quite well. most of the loud humming problems that i've encountered were associated with faulty/shorted guitar cables. if your cables are ok, then i really suggest that you should buy a new AC adaptor. taga nga lang sa Perfect Pitch, so try Newstar first. kung kapitbahay lang kita, nagdala na ako ng VOM dyan to check your adaptors' output voltages e hehe :)

My main problem is with my Behringer XVamp, the Boss is just sitting around the house. Cge i'll try your suggestion and i'll get a Newstar powersupply. Man i have 3 already, you guys want one? Hehe.. :D Btw, i tried my adaptor on other stuff around the house and it works fine. Muntinlupa ka sir? Hehe layo ko. Binondo ako eh. :)

Title: What's the difference bet AC and DC?
Post by: mr_strap on April 15, 2006, 02:35:32 PM

sir venus, electrical engineer ka ba? :D parang pang lecture un mesage nyo a.. hehe

Title: What's the difference bet AC and DC?
Post by: Al_Librero on April 15, 2006, 05:18:36 PM

AC/DC adaptor == AC input, DC output

i've read the X V-Amp manual. it makes no mention whether the adaptor jack  needs to be center-negative or not (a very important detail). that implies non-polarity, which might mean it requires AC output from its power supply as well. i had this problem with a Digitech RP-100 before.

don't take my word for it solely, though. i don't want to be responsible for burning your pedal.  :lol:

Title: What's the difference bet AC and DC?
Post by: fingertapper1 on April 15, 2006, 06:43:55 PM

ah hindi pala yun "anti-christ, devil's child" or "after christ, devil comes" hehehe. just kidding guys. walang magawa e. happy holy week! hehe.

anyway ac/dc means alternating current and direct current pala. ngayon ko lang nalaman basta alam ko lang sa adapter yun. that clears up everything about where ac/dc got their name from.

Title: What's the difference bet AC and DC?
Post by: Poundcake on April 15, 2006, 10:18:56 PM

Quote from: mr_strap

sir venus, electrical engineer ka ba? :D parang pang lecture un mesage nyo a.. hehe

sir ECE ako, di EE :)

ano Machine_Head, ok na ba setup mo ngayon? balitaan mo na lang kami pre :)

Title: What's the difference bet AC and DC?
Post by: Machine_Head on April 15, 2006, 10:44:48 PM

Sir, its still not working. Im gonna visit electronics depot tomorrow and see what they can do. We have gigs coming up and i really gotta have it up and working.

Title: What's the difference bet AC and DC?
Post by: MIG AYESA on April 16, 2006, 05:33:56 PM

Usually sa mga digitech efx. walang polarity ang mga adaptor nila kaya ac ang gagamitin mo.
    Bihira lang makakita sa mga electronics shop ng ac adaptor, kaya kailangan magpagawa ka sa mga electronics tech. Sa raon maraming gumagawa ng ac adaptor na customize.

Title: What's the difference bet AC and DC?
Post by: skin on April 19, 2006, 05:35:13 PM

Quote from: Machine_Head

Sir, its still not working. Im gonna visit electronics depot tomorrow and see what they can do. We have gigs coming up and i really gotta have it up and working.

baka effects mo yung sira...try to use a tester to check your power supply...kung ok ang power supply, effects mo ang sira...

Title: What's the difference bet AC and DC?
Post by: jeba_03 on April 19, 2006, 06:17:27 PM

AC walang fixed na polarity kaya alternating current. the only way to reduced a 230vac to 9vac locally is to use a step-down transformer.

DC fixed ang polarity (positve at negative) dahil ito sa mga diodes na ang trabaho ay paghiwalayin ang p+ and n- polarities. yung capacitor naman para ma-sustain yung voltage kasi kapag na step-down na, meron pa din + or - sine waves.

yung 1spot at godlyke hindi gumagamit ng transformer. although ac-dc ito. yung step-down part niya ang dapat pagaralan. kasi kino-convert niya yung 230vac to 9vac without the use of transformers.

Title: What's the difference bet AC and DC?
Post by: skin on April 19, 2006, 06:34:04 PM

it's 9 volts AC...

(http://images.misupply.com/products/original/Digitech/59469.jpg)

Title: What's the difference bet AC and DC?
Post by: bugoy on April 19, 2006, 09:53:32 PM

Quote from: skin

it's 9 volts AC...

(http://images.misupply.com/products/original/Digitech/59469.jpg)

brad san nakakabili nito ? ganito mismo kailangan ko eh ? kahit copy lang basta pareho ng amphere at voltage at 220

Title: What's the difference bet AC and DC?
Post by: lykenhowl on April 19, 2006, 09:58:34 PM

Tanong ko rin lang...yun bang newstar na adapter eh regulated o hindi?

Title: What's the difference bet AC and DC?
Post by: mia_00 on April 20, 2006, 02:36:31 AM

there are a lot of generic ac-dc adapters available out there, some with variable voltage outputs and/or multiple/interchangeable dc plug.

correct me if im wrong, pero lam ko po, rating-wise, 2 things your should be aware of are that the dc voltage (V) output should be exact with your equipment. while the current rating (A, mA, etc) of the adapter should be at least equal to the requirement of the equipment. ;)

Title: What's the difference bet AC and DC?
Post by: bugoy on April 20, 2006, 03:00:31 AM

Quote from: mia_00

there are a lot of generic ac-dc adapters available out there, some with variable voltage outputs and/or multiple/interchangeable dc plug.

correct me if im wrong, pero lam ko po, rating-wise, 2 things your should be aware of are that the dc voltage (V) output should be exact with your equipment. while the current rating (A, mA, etc) of the adapter should be at least equal to the requirement of the equipment. ;)

wow !!! smart gal ehehehe  :P

Title: What's the difference bet AC and DC?
Post by: Machine_Head on April 20, 2006, 07:15:16 PM

Thanks for you advice sirs, i'll try to have an AC power supply custom made in raon para di naman sayang yung xvamp. I hope i dint blow it up, dami ko na kasing na plug na power supply jan eh. I really find it weird behringer doesnt sell a replacement power supply, parang di nila naisip na pwdeng masira or mawala yan.

Anyway, its all good now..

Thanks everybody!