ART ISO-8U Isolated Pedalboard Power Supply with USB

The ART ISO-8U is a compact pedalboard power supply with eight isolated DC outputs and a 10-watt USB port, built for guitarists and bassists who want a quiet, tidy board without paying boutique prices. If your rig has grown past a daisy chain and you are hearing hum or whine, this is the kind of supply that fixes it.

Why isolated outputs matter

A daisy-chain adapter feeds every pedal from one shared supply, so all your pedals share one ground. When digital and analogue pedals sit on that same line, the result is often hum, hiss or a high-pitched whine. The ISO-8U gives each of its eight outputs its own isolated feed, which removes those ground loops at the source. Each output is also current-limited and protected on its own, and a status light warns you if an output hits a short, draws too much current or overheats, so one faulty pedal or cable will not take down the rest of the board.

9V or 12V on every fixed output

Seven of the eight outputs can be switched between 9 V and 12 V. Many overdrives, boosts and compressors are rated to accept higher voltage, and running them at 12 V can give more headroom and a cleaner, louder top end before they break up. Always check your pedal’s manual before switching: only use 12 V on pedals that the manufacturer says can take it.

The “dying battery” output

Output 1 can run at a fixed 9 V or be turned down as low as 4 V. Lower voltage starves vintage-style circuits, and fuzz pedals in particular respond with a sputtering, gated, broken-up tone that players used to get from half-flat batteries. With the ISO-8U you can dial that sound in on purpose and bring it back to normal any time.

Current for analogue and digital pedals

Six outputs supply up to 100 mA and two supply up to 250 mA. Most analogue drives and fuzzes draw well under 100 mA, while many delays, reverbs and modulation pedals with digital chips need more. Put the hungrier pedals on the 250 mA outputs.

How to plan your power budget

• Find each pedal’s current draw (mA) and voltage on its label or in its manual.
• Assign anything above 100 mA to one of the two 250 mA outputs.
• If a single pedal needs more than 250 mA, it needs its own dedicated adapter.
• Check the pedal’s polarity; the included reverse polarity cable covers centre-positive pedals.

18V and 24V pedals

Some pedals run at 18 V or 24 V. The ISO-8U includes a Y cable that joins two outputs into one feed, giving you 18 V from two 9 V outputs or 24 V from two 12 V outputs. This uses up two of your eight outputs for that one pedal, so factor it into your layout.

Built for real pedalboards

The metal enclosure has recessed sides that protect the switches and jacks from boots and cases, plus cable-tie slots so you can route power cables neatly. The front USB-A port delivers up to 10 W, handy for keeping a phone running a tuner app, set list or click track charged through the gig. It runs from a universal power supply, so the same unit works at home and on tour.

Who is it for?

• Good fit: players with 4–8 pedals who are moving off a daisy chain, boards that mix analogue and digital pedals, and anyone chasing lower noise without a big spend.
• Also a good fit: fuzz fans who want the low-voltage sound without hunting for old batteries.
• Not the best fit: boards with several current-hungry digital pedals above 250 mA each, or rigs with more than eight pedals, which will need a larger supply or a second unit.

Isolated supply vs daisy chain

A daisy chain is cheap and works for a couple of simple analogue pedals. Once you add digital effects, the shared ground is the usual cause of noise, and one overloaded chain can starve every pedal on it. The ISO-8U costs more than a daisy chain, but it isolates each output, protects each one separately and adds 12 V, variable voltage and USB charging, which a basic chain cannot do. Browse more options in our guitar effects pedals range, and see our power accessories for cables and adapters.

Key Features

• 8 isolated DC outputs: 6 x 100 mA and 2 x 250 mA
• Outputs 2–8 switchable between 9 V and 12 V
• Output 1: fixed 9 V or variable down to 4 V
• Individual current limiting and circuit protection on every output
• Fault status indicator for shorts, overcurrent and overheating
• USB-A charging port up to 10 W
• Metal enclosure with recessed sides and cable-tie slots
• Universal power supply
• Includes barrel, 3.5 mm, battery clip, reverse polarity and Y cables

Why buy from 10dB

Orders leave the 10dB warehouse the same day as your purchase and travel by Australia Post, usually arriving within 3–5 days. Explore the full instruments section for the rest of your rig.

FAQ

Will the ART ISO-8U stop my pedalboard hum?

If the hum comes from a shared ground on a daisy chain, isolated outputs usually remove it. Hum from single-coil pickups, bad cables or nearby lighting is a different problem that a power supply cannot fix.

Can I run 18V pedals on it?

Yes. The included Y cable combines two outputs: two 9 V outputs give 18 V, and two 12 V outputs give 24 V.

Can it power digital pedals?

Yes, as long as each one draws 250 mA or less and sits on one of the two 250 mA outputs. Pedals rated under 100 mA can use any output.

Is it safe to set every output to 12V?

Only for pedals that are rated for 12 V. Many pedals are designed for 9 V only, so check each manual before switching.

Does it work with centre-positive pedals?

Yes. A reverse polarity cable is included for pedals that use centre-positive power.

What is the variable output for?

It lowers the voltage to imitate a weak battery, which changes the response of fuzz and other vintage-style pedals. Set it to 9 V for normal use.