Get Juiced
Sanyo’s KBC-9V3U Pedal Juice is housed in a sleek, white plastic box
reminiscent of an Apple computer peripheral and comes with a handy
nylon carrying case. This relatively diminutive power supply has the same
dimensions—2.5" x 4.7" x 1.7"—as those of a standard effects pedal, so
it’ll fit neatly into an open slot on a pedalboard. Weighing in at a mere .9
pounds, the box adds inconsequential weight to a rig, and it’s waterproof
and shock resistant to boot.
Unlike the other units in this roundup, the Pedal Juice is rechargeable.
With its lithium-ion battery technology, it can be fully powered in 3.5
hours and deliver up to 50 hours of continuously clean power for a 10
mA effects pedal, up to 27 for a 100 mA pedal, and around five hours
for the 500 mA current draw typical of a large multi-effect unit. An LED
on the top of the box indicates the battery’s power level—a green light
shows that the battery power is above 60 percent; orange, between 30
percent and 60 percent; and red, less than 30 percent.
Containing just two 9V DC output jacks, the Pedal Juice is the least
flexible of the three power supplies reviewed here. If you want
to power more than two pedals, you’ll have to daisy-chain them
together with cables (not included), making sure not to plug pedals
with opposite polarity into the Pedal Juice. (A polarization cable is
included with the unit.) For users with just a handful of pedals, or a
single pedal and multi-effects processor, the Pedal Juice is perfect—
especially in situations where you’re a considerable distance from an
electrical outlet.
After charging the Pedal Juice, which actually only took about 2.5
hours, I auditioned it using my Frantone overdrive and Boss digital
delay, connecting the pedals to the power supply with the included
cables. With its single on/off button, the power supply was su-per-easy
to use. It provided clean power without any humming and coloring of
my guitar tone, and the charge remained in the green for a full weekend
of playing.
Buy if...
you’ve got only a couple or a few pedals
to power.
Skip if...
your pedals are numerous and your
power requirements are more complex.
Rating...
