What polarity is the input on the ion IED04 DIGITAL DRUM STAION BY ION. I HAD TO GET A POWER ADAPTER AND DON'T WANT TO DAMAGE UNIT. THERE IS NO PICTURE TO NOTE POLARITY.

The ION IED01 electronic drum kit requires the "brains" module to function properly. The module is responsible for converting the signals from the drum pads and cymbals into MIDI data that can be interpreted by a computer or other device. Without the module, the pads and cymbals will not produce any sound or trigger any MIDI data. Unfortunately, it is not possible to bypass the module and connect the USB cable directly to your laptop. You will need to obtain a replacement module in order to use the drum kit.

Are you using the correct AC adapter? An aftermarket unit will do this if the power is insufficient, or the polarity is wrong (- / +). If you're using an aftermarket unit, it may not be providing the right amount of Amps and Voltage to the unit; causing the display to blink. You can try this cord to help: http://www.powerpayless.com/ac-power-adapter-for-roland-r-8-r8-drum-machine.html

Have you tested your amplifier and speaker for operation with other device. This unit needs to have a decent sound system connected. Do you get sound using the headphones?

Make sure you have the ORIGINAL power adapter for this unit. It should say PA150 on it and provide 12 volts at 1.5 amps (1500ma). I am not sure of the polarity, but if the part number matches, you have the right one.

DO NOT use universal adapters to run these devices. Accidents are too easy and often the universal devices do no have adequate filtering. You are off on the wrong foot to start with as this unit does NOT have a polarity since it REQUIRES an AC adpter, not a DC one. What you have WILL NOT WORK. If you have connected it, it should NOT have caused damage, you just won't get any audio out, even if the unit lights up on one polarity. The unit generates both polarities inside using the AC input.

Here is an example of correct adapter: http://lcdpayless.com/productpage.php?productId=5793

Good job of troubleshooting... I assumed you have tried other triggers into the kick drum input and found it is dead. This leaves the problem in the "brain". Look in your manual for anything to do with sensitivity of the kick drum input. It is likely all the inouts are sampled and digitized by the same A-D convertor via a multiplexor switch. I was unable to find the schematic of your unit so I downloaded one for a Roland TD8. Often the different companies rob designs from eachother so one can glean methods from a different brand. As expected the inouts are conditioned and then go to a MUXX chip that samples the input. The signals are conditioned before going to the MUX by a limiter and before that there is an RF bypass cap on the input. IF you might have had a static discharge, that capcitor(s) may have shorted rendering those inouts dead. This is what I want you to try:with a suitable cable I would like you to pulse the kick input by momentarily connecting a 9 volt batery to it... try both polarities. If NEITHER polarity fires the kick, then I want you to take an ohmmeter and measure the resistance of the input. The Roland schematic has coupling capcitors and if your brand has similar circuits you should see infinite resistance... if you find it very low, say 100 ohms, probablly the RF bypass cap at the input is shorted. These will be surface mounted caps and you need to be a bit adept at electronic repair to replace them. Essentially I believe you will find a failure in teh interface ckt where those inputs come in.

A couple of things to check:
Make sure you have a SOLID surface to place the unit since if the surface bounces it may false trigger another pad. See if there is a sensitivity adjustment... sometimes they have setting for playing with hands or with sticks, The sticks one is less sensitive and less subject to false triggering.

Here is link:http://www.ionaudio.com/stuff/contentmgr/files/0/4af50da567710d08b72b6e0a34e84fa6/file/ied04_quickstart_guide_v2.pdf

You should immediately quarantine what you plugged in and compare it to the correct one.

IF you put too low aq voltage of the CORRECT polarity nothing should have happened.

If you put backwards polarity of any voltage the regulator is probably fried internally and possibly an input bypass cap. Also if you put an AC adapter and it wants a DC the same destruction could happen.

if you put too high a voltage, possibly the power input cap may be bad.

It appears that the correct supply is the PA3C which is a 12 volt, 700ma with positive on the center pin.

solution: get a real drummer!