I’m new to posting here, Hi Everyone. So I was looking at powering my QC on a pedalboard using a PSU in some manner and the overwhelming choice seemed to be Cioks DC7 into a Crux via the 24V output (not sure what the amperage is). When I looked at how it’s done, I started thinking about my PP3+ which has 2 X-link outputs marked 12V 1A. First I thought that I could use a current doubler to output 12V 2A but the QC is labeled as 12V 3A so not enough current, I thought. I kept digging and it appears that Neural has stated that the QC draws about 1.8A not 3A, so the X-Link outputs from my PP3+ started to look good. Then I saw a video from Voodoo that seemed to show that the QC can be powered with just one of the X-link outputs. A little more digging revealed that the two X-Link outputs are not isolated and they share the 2A so as long as I left one of the outputs free, I could simply run a pedal connector from one X-Link output to the QC power jack (same 2.1mm connector). I connected the cable and plugged in the PSU and the QC powered up and seems to work fine.
I’m really happy that I do not have to purchase additional PSU gear to run my QC on my board. But I am surprised that this solution has not become more well known and publicized. I’ve seen a million YT videos showing how to connect the DC7 to the Crux to the QC but none showing the Voodoo Lab rig. The setup with the PP3+ is way simpler than the Cioks solution. Is anybody else doing this? (If the image uploaded right, it shows the connection as shown in the Voodoo video)
QC owner, Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 3 Plus owner, and electrical engineer here. I’m probably the best person to address your comment.
It is true that a lot of people power their QC with a DC7 by current-doubling the outputs to max out to 2A. For most people that’s fine, but I have heard of people burning out their DC7s this way.
If you’re a “power user” of the QC and running CPU-heavy presets + using all of the inputs and outputs, there’s a possibility that you could be running at or above the 2A current mark. [Some person is about to say Nuh-UH! I don’t have any problems…] Not a good idea in general to run your power supply at max on a regular basis. Putting 1.8A load on a 2A-max supply makes me a little skittish, but again, for most users that’s not a problem.
Voodoo Lab’s PP3+ manual says that the X-Link ports are not filtered (because they’re intended for expansion supplies with filtering in them). It’s up to you to decide if you can live with that when powering your QC this way. I chose to use a separate 3.6A supply for my QC and my PP3+ for external pedals.
The other thing is to make sure you’re not exceeding the total output power rating for the power supply. If you’re running the QC + maxing out all of the other outputs with high-current digital pedals, then be on the lookout. If not, then you’re almost certainly fine.
As for Voodoo Lab vs. Cioks, I’m scratching my head over why Cioks is so popular right now. Voodoo Lab have been doing their thing for way longer and really established the market for isolated power supplies. Kids these days.
DiffractionCircuit strikes again with the know-how! Killer insight 
@DiffractionCircuit Thanks for all that insight. I would like to find a beefier AC adapter for the QC for home use just because it seems the OEM one will wear down at some point, like phone power cords do. But for gig use, I’d rather have a one plug solution for the pedalboard and anything that sits on it, which is why I want to power the QC via the PSU.
Good points about using a lot of the resources (multi I/O, multi row presets esp. with multi amps). I am usually not that complicated in my rigs so I’m comfortable that I’m probably going to stay under 2A. And the only other hardware I connect via the PSU is usually just a wah (don’t really think the QC wahs via expression pedal are the best) so I’m not worried about pushing the current limit of the PP3+.
However, I would still like to personally check the amperage draw of the QC when powered by the PP3+. I do have a multimeter but I’ve really only used it to check pickup resistance so would you be able to describe how to connect it to the rig in order to see the current drawn as it’s being used? My multimeter has both probes and alligator clips, if that’s helpful.
That’s exactly how I run my QC. I’ve had it that way since I bought it (about a year and a half ago) and have had zero problems.
I’ve been using the Walrus Audio Canvas Power HP to power my QC with great success.
Really wish the Walrus power supplies didn’t have an annoying extra power adaptor. Huge detractor that they don’t have a real IEC cable. Kinda ruins the idea of the Walrus stuff seeming compact
OK, so I followed the lead from a video I saw and sliced open an old daisy chain 1Spot connector cable, jumpered the multimeter into the path, and used the 10A setting. Bootup maxed out around 1.74A and running presets seemed to range from 1.1A-1.3A. Even with the most CPU-heavy presets, I could not get past 1.4A so I am 100% comfortable with powering the QC directly from one of the two X-link outputs on my Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 3 plus. You just want to be sure to leave the other X-link output unused as the two outputs share 2A of current even though the label on the PSU X-link is a little misleading. But what I found is in-line with what is documented (see below)
Nice work! That’s some real quick-and-dirty engineering lab technique right there.
I’m still gonna keep my QC separate from my Voodoo Lab supply, but it’s good to see some real numbers. Cheers.
Is this with the screen brightness all the way up? Curious if that would affect the power amount
It definitely affects the power draw. Even more than presets with different CPU usage.
Here is the old video that shows similar measurements to what InGainWeTrust reported (1.74A on boot and around 1.2A with low brightness and different presets).
Around 01:40 they put the maximum brightness to 100% and the current peaks at around 1.7A.
Would be interesting to know if that maximum has increased since 2021.
This is exactly how I use my QC, works great. Would love to test with a dedicated supply to see if the unfiltered power is introducing any noise, but certainly seems quiet to me.
OK, I re-enacted my current draw test, this time including the screen brightness in the test and I took a lot of pictures. Quick summary, largest draw was 1.76A during boot up. Largest draw when using a preset, 1.40A. No significant increases in current draw when using CPU-heavy presets, more output volume, or max brightness display. After this test, I have complete confidence in utilizing 2.0A max current to power my QC. I mean, the most marketed solution CIOKS Crux, specifies that it outputs at 12V and has a max output of 24W so it’s providing max 2.0A of current to the QC and no one seems to question its capabilities. The PP3+ provides that same current in a much more streamlined form. +1 for Voodoo Lab!
Pictures follow with captions above.
Boot up sequence:
CPU-heavy preset (78%):
Typical screen brightness (14/32):
Using preset with volume=0, brightness=14:
Using preset with volume=50, brightness=14:
Using preset with volume=100, brightness=14:
Max screen brightness (32/32):
Using preset with volume=0, brightness=32:
Using preset with volume=50, brightness=32:
Using preset with volume=100, brightness=32:
Awesome! Thanks a lot for taking the time and the detailed info.