The Amdek PDK-500 is a power distributor device which can be assembled with the minimum of technical difficulty.

There is nothing worse for the gigging/recording musician than to have a battery powered effects pedal die midway through that vital performance! Replacing batteries is an expensive business, especially if you use several effects devices, and even the best of us can forget to change batteries regularly. The solution is to drive your effects from the mains, ensuring optimum performance from each device as well as removing the need for a continual supply of costly batteries.

The new Amdek PDK-500 Power Distributor lets you achieve just that. It allows up to five external DC9V effects units to be connected and powered via an AC adaptor, from a single mains socket.

The Kit

The Power Distributor is supplied in a bubble pack, complete with all the parts and components necessary for its construction, including a ready made AC adaptor and five short connection cords for linking to external effects units. You will need a fine tipped 15-30W soldering iron, wire-strippers/cutters, crosshead screwdriver and a small pair of pointed nose pliers to assemble the kit. All solder is provided.

Parts should be laid out on a clear surface and checked off against the assembly manual list. Once this has been done assembly of the unit can commence.

The first steps involve cutting and stripping the LED wires to length and then soldering the single resistor and the five mini jacks to the PCB (Steps 1-4). Care should be taken to keep the jacks from tilting whilst soldering them to the board.

PCB preparation is next and requires solder to be applied to the eyelet holes to create a raised dome of solder, as this helps make a clean joint when the wires are attached. The wire left over from the LED needs to be stripped, tinned and one end soldered to the power jack socket and the other to the PCB. Connection of the LED leads to the board completes the soldering work (Steps 5-6).

The next steps (7-10) are to insert the LED holder followed by the LED itself, into the hole on the orange metal cover. Once completed the five 3.5mm mini jacks attached to the PCB can then be pushed into the holes on the chassis and secured with the washers and nuts by using the pliers. Next, the black power jack socket should be slotted neatly into the hole on the chassis, but be careful to orient the jack in the correct direction with the negative terminal towards the top of the slot.

Finally, the orange cover can be connected to the chassis using two M3 (6mm) screws, and the four antislip rubber feet can be attached to the chassis bottom having first peeled off the paper backing (Steps 11-12). This completes the construction process.

Operation

With the AC adaptor connected to the DC9V power jack input and the connection cords feeding similar sockets on the effects units, up to five 9V units can be safely powered with a total power consumption of 200mA. The test unit functioned first time, the red LED lighting up when the mains power is on. It is possible to use the PDK-500 with any standard DC9V effects unit other than Amdek's, provided it is fitted with an appropriate mini jack socket.

Due to the simple nature of the circuitry in this kit, you should encounter no problems at all with construction or operation and the PDK-500 should ensure you obtain the best performance from your effects units. The unit is extremely useful and provides a cost-effective solution to the eternal problem of flat batteries!

E&MM's special offer price for the Amdek Power Distributor Kit is £37.50 inc. VAT and P&P. Please order as: Amdek PDK-500.