The music equipment needs proper connections to make sure there are no compromises on sound quality and music production. Similarly, the power supply is important to power up the electronic musical equipment, and 1 SPOT is actually the most popular name for Truetone power supply products.
They have designed a 9V power supply that’s used with the pedalboards, irrespective of which brand and model you are using. However, there are some performance issues with these power supplies that you should know about!
Common Problems With 1 SPOT Power Supply
- It Doesn’t Power Up
1 SPOT is a great power supply, but many users have complained about their equipment not turning on when they use this power supply, and the power supply doesn’t turn on itself. Irrespective of which error you are facing, it’s caused by a damaged power supply and cord.
For this purpose, it’s recommended that you check all the cables with the help of an ohmmeter (it’s a great tool for determining the continuity of the cable). If there is no continuity, you have to change the cable to make sure the power cord is ready to transmit the electrical signals.
Before checking the continuity of the cables, you should also determine if the cables are damaged and frayed because such cables lead to performance issues. If the power cables seem damaged, you must replace them with new yet compatible cables.
Last but not least, if changing the power cord doesn’t work out, you have to disassemble the unit that’s connected to the cable and make sure its internal components are working well and aren’t burnt.
You might have to check the continuity of every component separately with an ohmmeter. In case some components are failed, you must replace them as well.
- Loses Trigger
If you have connected 1 SPOT to the pedalboard and it seems like the pedalboard is losing the signals or response is slower, the culprit is the battery. In particular, a weak battery causes slow and delayed connection, so just recharge the battery for a few hours before you use the power supply.
On the contrary, if charging the battery doesn’t work, you must get it replaced. It’s better to check the user manual to determine the compatible battery.
- No Sound At All
In case you have connected the battery and power cords to the audio source, but there is no sound coming from the pedalboard, you must check the amp. That’s because the sound issue is not caused by the power supply but by the amp’s tubes.
The overheated and damaged tubes can lead to sound issues, so just inspect the amp for such tube issues and replace the damaged ones. On the other hand, if the amp seems overheated, you only need to let it rest to ensure it achieves room temperature.
As far as tube replacement is concerned, you can get the compliant tubes from the music shop to make sure the amp works well and produces sound. However, if these steps don’t work, you must replace the patch cables.
- Low Voltage Issues
If the power supply is not performing and the output voltage levels are constantly low, you must connect the power supply to the ohmmeter and check the voltage when the system is under load (operate the pedalboard and amp connected to the power supply).
If the voltage is less, you must replace the capacitors in the power supply unit to make sure it’s not storing voltage more than necessary (excessive storage of voltage can lead to low output voltage).
However, you must hire an electrician to replace the capacitors because they store voltage charges for a long time, which means you might get electrocuted if you don’t follow the correct process. Lastly, you need to be extremely particular about the outputs.
That’s because if the pedal has a higher milliamp draw, you should opt for outputs ranging from 8 to 11. However, to use outputs 10 and 11, you must install a CL6 converter for proper polarity.
- Humming In The Music Output
Various users have complained about humming in their music output when they connect the amp to 1 SPOT power supply because as soon as they shift to another power supply, the hum is eliminated. While it’s possible to replace the power supply, it’s more cost-effective if you just separate the signal-carrying cords and power cords.
This is because when these cords and supplies are installed in parallel form, it can lead to signal interference, which results in humming. So, re-route the cables properly. On the contrary, if changing the cords’ position doesn’t fix the problem, there are chances that the pedalboard is acting up.
That’s because it needs an isolated output, and 1 SPOT doesn’t provide an isolated output. In this case, the only solution is to replace the power supply with a new one. Secondly, you need to avoid the ground loop. The ground loop usually occurs when you connect multiple devices to one outlet and are using multiple effects.
The solution is to choose different power outlets for every device, as it eliminates the chances of a ground loop. Also, if there are some unused sockets on the outlet, it’s best to cover them with an EE tape to prevent arcing because it results in hum as well.
Thirdly, you have to opt for the TRS cables. These cables are designed with an independent wire for ground transfers, and you have to desolder the ground wire’s one end to set the ground to flow towards the amp. As a result, the humming will stop.
- Pedal Not Working With Power Supply
If you have connected 1 SPOT to the pedal and it passes the signals in a bypass mode, but there is no gate, it’s a compatibility issue. There is a list of incompatible pedals available on the 1 SPOT’s official website, so make sure you check the pedal compatibility.
In most cases, it doesn’t support the pedals that have their own switching power supplies, huge digital processing sections, and DC current drains. On the other hand, it works fine with an analog pedal but make sure there is reverse polarity protection.
Even if you are using the compatible pedals, make sure their polarity is correct because the wrong polarity can kill the pedal. Last but not least, it’s better that you connect the power supply with one pedal only, and if you have to connect multiple pedals, you must plug them into different power supplies to make sure the signal transmission isn’t hindered.
- Screeching Sounds
When you connect your audio gear with the power supply, and it starts creating screeching sounds, you should try to run everything on batteries if you don’t have time for a full repair. When you can afford a repair, the only thing you’ve to do is to shift to a 9V adapter.
In addition to this, you must disconnect the gear from power strips because they are designed with surge suppressors that produce noise in various electronics (try connecting the power supply directly to the power outlet).
- Interfering With Other Devices
If you have connected this power supply, but it’s causing interference to TV reception, you need to relocate or reorient the antenna to optimize the reception.
In addition to this, you need to put the power supply away from the TV and always use different power outlets. Usually, when there is interference, the TV will reboot spontaneously.
- Overheating
Last but not least, if the power supply is constantly overheating, it can also cause connectivity issues. If that’s the case, it’s recommended that you disconnect the power supply from the outlet and let it cool down. In addition, you should never use extension cords and power strips to connect 1 SPOT.
The Bottom Line
This is a great power supply for musicians since it works well with the pedalboard as long as you are careful about the number of pedals. However, the connectivity and performance issues can be easily fixed with cable replacement.
On the other hand, if you have to replace some electrical components, you must hire a professional electrician.