Where can I get a compatible power daisy chain?

[John the Cloud]

I have a power adapter for the Monotribe which should work with the Volcas. It's rated 2500mA so should power all four. The problem is that I don't have a compatible daisy chain, as the one I use with my guitar pedals is not the same size. I don't want to use 4 separate power supplies, or rely on battery power all the time. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

[hydrallus]

I have a power adapter for the Monotribe which should work with the Volcas. It's rated 2500mA so should power all four. The problem is that I don't have a compatible daisy chain, as the one I use with my guitar pedals is not the same size. I don't want to use 4 separate power supplies, or rely on battery power all the time. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

So this won't work because its the wrong size? I too seek the answer to how I power all 3.

[DrHoo]

There is a guy getting one together, to power all 3. Read it on gearslutz & he said it's on its way so hang in there....Remains to be seen.

[roblabs]

Count me in too! I sometimes fill up 2 power strips and need more! If I end up getting a couple of Volcas, I'd like to see if this is possible, too. More importantly, will it be safe?

[joeyluck]

One power adapter would be cool, but maybe you could also consider one of the effect pedal bricks? Would that work?

[John the Cloud]

One power adapter would be cool, but maybe you could also consider one of the effect pedal bricks? Would that work?

Unfortunately Korg use a different sized jackplug to the standard guitar pedal and the polarity is different too. This is a shame as it prevents you using the same power supply for both. I'm using rechargeable batteries at the moment, but I really am keen to power them all from mains without having to use separate wallwarts.

[DrHoo]

Just putting this out there like. If you're any good with a soldering iron, the tip can be changed to ANY size you like. Don't know about changing the polarity though, someone else might like to advise there. Is it as simple as reversing the POS' NEG' wires ? Or is that a no no with normally fixed psu's ?

[joeyluck]

One power adapter would be cool, but maybe you could also consider one of the effect pedal bricks? Would that work?

Unfortunately Korg use a different sized jackplug to the standard guitar pedal and the polarity is different too. This is a shame as it prevents you using the same power supply for both. I'm using rechargeable batteries at the moment, but I really am keen to power them all from mains without having to use separate wallwarts.

Gotcha. Yeah, that's frustrating. Well, maybe one will turn up soon.
If not, I guess there's always the option of getting three power adapters and one of these...


You could tape it all together to make it permanent and coil it as one weid looking cable, heh.

[joeyluck]

http://www.sweetwater.com/sweetcare/art ... es-module/

From Sweetwater...

The recommended power supply for either three of the Korg Volca series analogue modules is the Korg KA-350.

If you have more than one Volca module, you can also power them all from one power supply by daisy-chaining them together with a Visual Sound One Spot or similar power supply.

[jvd1291]

I have a power adapter that fits the hole, and has the same polarity setup as the volca, outputs Dc and whatnot as well, however it provides "8 amps' of power. I do not want to fry my volca, but the wall wart i bought with it is the wrong type/size/polarity, and as such is useless. So i am wondering, would this fry it? is 8 amps just too much?

[DrHoo]

I have a power adapter that fits the hole, and has the same polarity setup as the volca, outputs Dc and whatnot as well, however it provides "8 amps' of power. I do not want to fry my volca, but the wall wart i bought with it is the wrong type/size/polarity, and as such is useless. So i am wondering, would this fry it? is 8 amps just too much?

Regulated or unregulated ? I mean, if it's unregulated it should in theory be ok but i'm not going to be the one responsible for you damaging your goods.

For the record, i use an unregulated multi ac - dc adapter @ 9v & 3a. The type with those interchangeable end tips. The polarity is switched round by just reversing the end tip. Anyway, it works just fine.

[Rooftree]

There is a guy getting one together, to power all 3. Read it on gearslutz & he said it's on its way so hang in there....Remains to be seen.

Hi everyone. I'm the guy who posted on GS about getting a custom daisy chain built. I've been out of town for a couple of weeks and haven't made much progress. I'll dig much deeper into it this coming week. I'll keep you posted.

[jvd1291]

I have a power adapter that fits the hole, and has the same polarity setup as the volca, outputs Dc and whatnot as well, however it provides "8 amps' of power. I do not want to fry my volca, but the wall wart i bought with it is the wrong type/size/polarity, and as such is useless. So i am wondering, would this fry it? is 8 amps just too much?

Regulated or unregulated ? I mean, if it's unregulated it should in theory be ok but i'm not going to be the one responsible for you damaging your goods.

For the record, i use an unregulated multi ac - dc adapter @ 9v & 3a. The type with those interchangeable end tips. The polarity is switched round by just reversing the end tip. Anyway, it works just fine.

([edit]im just going to get a real power supply)m not sure how to tell if it is unregulated or not. It is a wall wart from a slim playstation 2. It just seems to coincidentally match the volca in voltage and polarity. Nothing on it seems to say whether or not it is. Also, i would never hold someone else accountable for my own actions lol.

[Schprocket]

Just compiling some info into one post:

Just putting this out there like. If you're any good with a soldering iron, the tip can be changed to ANY size you like. Don't know about changing the polarity though, someone else might like to advise there. Is it as simple as reversing the POS' NEG' wires ? Or is that a no no with normally fixed psu's ?

True, then to answer the polarity question (swapping tip/barrel polarity by soldering the wires) it's the same thing as mentioned in your next post:

For the record, i use an unregulated multi ac - dc adapter @ 9v & 3a. The type with those interchangeable end tips. The polarity is switched round by just reversing the end tip. Anyway, it works just fine.

Reversing the tip is exactly the same as reversing the wires on a fixed two-wire DC connector.




Next question from jvd1291

I have a power adapter that fits the hole, and has the same polarity setup as the volca, outputs Dc and whatnot as well, however it provides "8 amps' of power. I do not want to fry my volca, but the wall wart i bought with it is the wrong type/size/polarity, and as such is useless. So i am wondering, would this fry it? is 8 amps just too much?

When the voltage is the correct level and stable, the current drawn can't be exceeded unless something fails internally and short-circuits. You would get the same result using battery power except it's more likely to involve a flash and some smoke if it short-circuits

It's when you start applying a higher or lower voltage that things get messed up...

The current rating is a measure of that supply's ability to power devices at 9Vdc.
8 Amps and rates at 72 Watts output (9V x 8A)
That 8 amp supply could just about power every single 9Vdc powered device Korg has ever made!

In contrast, the KA350 which is 2000mA, or 2A, is 18 Watts.

If it's a wall-wart, are you sure it's 8A and not .8A (800mA) because 8A is unlikely to be a typical wall-wart size unless is a very expensive switch-mode unit?
If it's actually 0.8A, it might drive all three at a stretch but it's only 7.2 Watt supply in this case.


None of this answers directly what I came here looking for, though.
Everyone talks about capacity and connector size but no-one ever seems to pin down the hard facts and as you may tell from my posting above, that's my background.

So my questions are:

1. What exactly is the current draw, in mA for each Volca?
Once you know the minimum power requirements (xxxmA @ (VDC) and allow at least 10% over-capacity, then you can source the most cost effective power supply that you can buy.

2. What are the exact dimensions of the Volca concentric barrel adapter?
Guitar FX pedals are generally 5.5mm by 2.5mm, positive center.
Roland power supplies (or at least the one which suits the Mobile Cube) is the same dimensions but negative center - so Roland aren't "standard" either!

For reference, this chart and this chart indicates all the sizes which are available.

The Korg adaptor plug's dimensions appear to be the 5.0mm x 2.1mm size but it would be nice to have somebody else confirm this because I don't have the other yellow-tipped 5.0mm plug to be able to compare it to.

EDIT: OK, so digging a bit deeper, since EIAJ is a Japanese electronics body, it makes sense for Korg to adopt it. This means that the plug is most likely an EIAJ-03... and as an aside, if you got the KP2 pad, that strange connector will be the EIAJ-04.

I found an Aussie supplier - here's all of the available EIAJ-03 stock they have - http://www.wagneronline.com.au/PowerSearch.aspx?EIAJ-03

Hope this helps

[Rooftree]

Sorry if I'm spamming by replying to all of the threads about Volca power supplies, but I want to be sure everybody has access to the latest information.

I'm selling a factory-made daisy chain cable at my KVgear website that will work with Korg Volcas and any other device on this list:

MS-20 Mini
Wavedrum
microSAMPLER
microKORG XL
Kaossilator Pro
PS60
microSTATION
microPIANO
monotribe
MS1

The daisy chain cable is compatible with the Korg KA350 and the KVgear PS-1 power supplies. I've tested both of these power supplies and they work flawlessly when powering 3 Volcas.

If you prefer the DIY approach, then you could build your own cable. I don't think it would be cheaper, but you'd have the satisfaction of making something yourself.