The convention, and the exception
Nine volts DC, center negative, is what almost every pedal expects. Almost — which is why the symbol beside the socket and the figure in the manual are the authority, not this page.
Do the arithmetic once
Add the stated current draw of every pedal on the board and compare it with the supply’s rating, leaving headroom. A supply run at its limit hums, drops out, or behaves differently at rehearsal than at home.
Batteries avoid the question
Most pedals in this class accept a 9 V battery, which sidesteps polarity entirely — at the cost of remembering to unplug the input jack, which is what switches many pedals off.
What not to do
Do not use a laptop or phone charger because the plug fits. Voltage and polarity are not standardized across those, and the pedal will not survive the experiment.
The questions players ask
What does center negative mean?
The center pin of the DC plug is negative and the outer sleeve positive. It is the pedal convention, and the symbol is printed next to the socket on almost every pedal.
Can I daisy-chain pedals?
Yes, if the supply provides more current than the pedals draw in total, with headroom. Digital pedals can ask for several hundred milliamps each, which is where daisy chains fail.
Last reviewed 2026-08-18
