Perhaps not often talked about in the world of guitar pedal building, as they’re kind of boring as all hell – the humble bench power supply. So why am I bothering you with this?
Apart from being able to dial in most voltages that I need, a bench power supply is actually a handy tool in other ways. As soon as I turn it on and see the current fluctuating or pulling more current than it should be, I know I have a problem with the circuit.
They’re also safer than using a battery, as there’s actually potential for batteries to get really hot and explode if you have a short on the supply and leave them for some time.
So if you don’t have one and are wondering what’s the point when a wall-wart or a 9V battery will do for most things… well, maybe consider one if you see it going cheap.
