Basics of Pedal Power Supplies and Circuit Protection

Lesson Overview: Basics of Pedal Power Supplies and Circuit Protection

This is the lesson where your pedal gets the juice—and your circuit stays safe.

Before your build can do anything, it needs power—and the wrong kind can ruin everything. In this session, we unpack the fundamentals of how guitar pedals are powered, the difference between battery and adapter use, and the protective components that keep your circuit from frying under stress.

In this lesson, you’ll learn:

• The pros and cons of batteries vs. DC adapters for pedal power.
• Why 9V became the standard—and why not all 9V supplies are created equal.
• The critical difference between linear and switching power supplies.
• How to avoid common mistakes that lead to noisy, unstable, or damaged circuits.
• Essential protection components like reverse-polarity diodes and power filtering caps.

With the right power setup and a few simple safeguards, your pedal will be more reliable, more consistent—and more gig-proof.