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AC Adapter Ports. Positive or Negative?

Synomenon

Synomenon

Lifer
I have an external hard drive that did not come with an AC adapter. The PC's that I use it with most often do not have enough power in their USB ports to power the drive, so I need to get an AC adapter or USB power cable. Addonics has two USB power cables and the differences between them are that one has "center positive" and the other has "center negative". Here are pictures of the AC adapter port on the external hard drive:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v637/IsLNdbOi/Ports.png

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v637/IsLNdbOi/Ports.jpg


Here's the center negative cable:
http://www.addonics.com/shopad...ault.asp?ic=AAUSBPCN24


Here's the center positive cable:
http://www.shopaddonics.com/redirect.asp?ic=AAUSBPCP24


The manual says that the optional power adapter (which I cannot find anywhere) provides 5V/2A. Will either of those cables from Addonics work with my external hard drive? I'd rather have one of those USB power cables instead of an AC adapter brick. Thanks for any help.
 
It is center negative. Or if you can find an AC adaptor, it would sometimes be called tip negative.

btw: if your USB hub can't power the HD, then why are you wanting a power cable that is fed from usb? 😕

 
I was thinking that maybe it needs one port for data and one port for power. I guess it doesn't work that way. 😛

So the center negative cable should work?
 
Well I got the cable from Addonics, but the thing (the tip) is too small / thin to plug into the AC adapter port on the enclosure. All the other specs. match what the manufacturer recommendeds. Would it be possible to buy an AC adapter tip (the correct size to plug into the enclosure's AC adapter port) from say Radio Shack and cut off the one on the Addonics cable and solder the AC adapter tip from Radio Shack onto the Addonics cable?

Also, would they have something on their packaging indicating if it has center negative or positive? Or is that all depended on where the wires are soldered?

Thanks again.
 
That diagram shows negative tip polarity. If you got the wrong size, you should be able to find an adaptor at an electronics store.

RoD
 
Originally posted by: rod
That diagram shows negative tip polarity. If you got the wrong size, you should be able to find an adaptor at an electronics store.

RoD
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip, but I have already searched for such an adapter with no success.
 
Do you know what size the device plug is, and what size the ac adaptor is. If you can do that, I can probably find the adaptor for you.

BtW: The typical sizes are-1mm, 1.3mm, 1.6mm, 1.7mm, 2.1mm, 2.5mm, 3.1mm. They're the internal diameters of the plugs i think.

1.3mm, 2.1mm and 2.5mm are the most common sizes though.

RoD
 
Ok, I just took the measurements. The AC adapter receptacle on the external enclosure 3.1mm. The AC adapter plug on the Addonics cable is 1.3mm.
 
OK. Is that the internal diameter of the hole on the enclosure?

No wonder you had trouble finding the right sizes, 3.1mm is pretty unusual.

Sorry, i g2g 2 work. I'll look for a link to an adapter when i get home.

RoD
 
Originally posted by: rod
OK. Is that the internal diameter of the hole on the enclosure?

No wonder you had trouble finding the right sizes, 3.1mm is pretty unusual.

Sorry, i g2g 2 work. I'll look for a link to an adapter when i get home.

RoD
Click to expand...

The 3.1mm is the size from one edge of the hole to the other edge of the hole on the enclosure. Thanks the help! 🙂


Oh yeah, this is the enclosure:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817145156

http://kc31n.mapower.com.tw/mapower/Product.asp?CateID=63&LineID=9
 
Ok, I found an old AC adapter with a plug that fits perfectly into the receptacle in the enclosure. The actual outer diameter of the plug is 4mm. The outer diameter of the plug on the Addonics cable is 2.5mm. The first measurements I took were with an old ruler. I measured them again today with a more accurate instrument and those are the measurements I got.
 
Just goto radio shack they have a dongle of generic power plugs like this and just play with them until you find one that fits nicely. You can even get the power adapter/plug from radio shack (but is usually expensive) but once you know the size you can order the correct stuff fairly cheaply.

FYI the USB cable thing might work considering it is a laptop drive enclosure, and it shouldn't suck too much power.

 
I saw those Radio Shack adaptaplug things. You need the special adaptaplug cable to use the different adaptaplug tips. I don't think they can be used as simple adapter to go from one size to another.
 
Ok, I've given up trying to find adapters so I called the manufacturer to ask them if they could sell me a compatible AC adapter for my enclosure. I have one on the way now. The AC adapter has the same specs. as the Addonics cable: center negative AC plug, 5V and I think 2A.

Can I just cut the AC plug / tip from the AC adapter and cut the AC plug / tip from the Addonics USB power cable and solder the one from the AC adapter onto the Addonics USB power cable?
 
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