Can Amperage Too Low Damage a Pedal?

[joelorigo]

Can running a pedal at too low on amperage damage a pedal. Specifically, if a pedal’s manual says it needs 1A and it has been used with .7A? And more specifically, this pedal:

Tube Drive Overdrive Pedal - Guitar Effects - Effectrode

This all tube overdrive pedal can create a wide palette of tones from rich, full-bodied blues, to authentic classic rock distortion.

www.effectrode.com

 

[Bricksnbeatles]

My understanding of things has always been that it *can* but it’s not especially likely. By supplying a device with a power supply that doesn’t offer enough current, you risk overheating and damaging the power supply. That damaged power supply can then, in turn provide a voltage that is higher than the device is rated for, and that’s where the possibility of damaging the device comes in. When the current is too low for the device, it generally just won’t work properly until it is powered by an adequate supply

 

[Chuck D. Bones]

Agreed.
Give your power supplies a 2x margin, they will perform better and last a long time. I bought a 9V supply rated for 2A to power my MacGuffin; it draws 1A.

Too much margin can be bad. Switching power supplies don't like to have too light of a load. How light is too light? Who knows, the mfgr usually does not disclose that information. My 2A supply does not regulate properly powering a 1mA pedal.