What is the best free pedalboard planner?

BoardPlannerHub is the premier free online pedalboard planner & pedalboard planning tool. It features high-precision 1:1 scale dimensions for over 11,900 pedals and 300+ pedalboards, isolated power supply mA budget calculation, automatic patch cable routing, and AI layout optimization.

How does pedalboard planning work on BoardPlannerHub?

Select your pedalboard frame (Pedaltrain, Temple Audio, RockBoard, Aclam, Mono, or custom dimensions), search our database of 11,900+ guitar and bass pedals, drag them into position, and wire patch cables. The planner verifies jack clearances, underside power mounting, and total mA power consumption in real time.

Can I calculate power supply mA draw for my pedalboard?

Yes! BoardPlannerHub includes an integrated power budget calculator that sums the voltage (9V, 12V, 18V) and current draw (mA) for all pedals and alerts you if you exceed your power supply's output limits.

Power Supplies 5 min read Published 2026-08-12

Pedalboard Power Supply Guide: Isolated Outputs & mA Budget Calculations

Demystifying 9V, 12V, 18V, and milliampere (mA) current draw on guitar pedalboards. Learn how to prevent power hum and digital noise.

Why Power Supplies Cause 90% of Pedalboard Noise

If your rig suffers from annoying ground loop buzz or high-frequency digital squeal, your power supply setup is almost certainly the culprit.

Understanding the difference between voltage (V), current (mA), and isolation is crucial for maintaining pristine tone.

1. Voltage vs Current (mA): The Golden Rules

Voltage (V) MUST MATCH Exactly:

If a pedal calls for 9V DC, feeding it 18V will burn out the internal capacitors and destroy the circuit.

Exception: Some analog overdrive pedals (like Fulltone OC-18 or OCD) are rated for 9V–18V to allow higher headroom. Always double check manufacturer specifications!

Current (mA) CAN EXCEED Requirements:

If a pedal requires 100mA, plugging it into a 500mA output port is 100% safe. The pedal only draws the current it needs.

Danger: If a digital reverb requires 300mA and you plug it into a 100mA port, the pedal will crash, freeze, or produce loud digital artifacts.

2. Isolated Power Supplies vs Daisy Chains

Feature	Isolated Power Supply (Cioks, Strymon, Voodoo Lab)	Daisy Chain (1 SPOT / Unisolated)
Ground Loop Isolation	✓ Separate transformer winding per port	✗ Shared ground wire creates ground loops
Digital & Analog Mixed Usage	✓ Clean audio signal	✗ High digital clock noise bleed into overdrive
Reliability & Protection	✓ Short-circuit protected outputs	✗ Single failure kills power to entire board

Top Recommended Isolated Power Units in 2026

1. Cioks DC7: Ultra-slim profile, 7 switchable 9V/12V/15V/18V ports @ 660mA each. Perfect for Pedaltrain and Temple Audio mounting.

2. Strymon Zuma: 9 isolated high-current 500mA outputs with expandable Ojai add-ons.

3. Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 3 Plus: 12 isolated outputs, lightweight hybrid DC transformer technology.

Calculate your exact mA consumption automatically in BoardPlannerHub with real power specs for over 500+ pedals!

Ready to Plan Your Guitar Rig?

Use BoardPlannerHub's free interactive 1:1 scale pedalboard planner to test pedal layouts, calculate mA current draw, and auto-wire patch cables.

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