Power adapters

[FP]

I have a few devices that use the small round power adapter and I also have a few of the power adapters that fit those devices however I don't remember which one goes to which.

Is it safe to interchange the adapters? The rating on the back of each one is slightly different, should I just use the highest rated one for each device? I would assume (probably incorrectly) that the device will only use the power it needs, much like a light bulb that is rated for less than the socket.

 

[So]

Originally posted by: FP
I have a few devices that use the small round power adapter and I also have a few of the power adapters that fit those devices however I don't remember which one goes to which.

Is it safe to interchange the adapters? The rating on the back of each one is slightly different, should I just use the highest rated one for each device? I would assume (probably incorrectly) that the device will only use the power it needs, much like a light bulb that is rated for less than the socket.

Not really. There is no standard for barrel connectors, but it's fairly simple to figure out. All you need to know is whether or not the device is center positive or center ground, how many volts the device takes and how many mA it draws, pick an adapter to fit.

 

[Lean L]

Originally posted by: So

Originally posted by: FP
I have a few devices that use the small round power adapter and I also have a few of the power adapters that fit those devices however I don't remember which one goes to which.

Is it safe to interchange the adapters? The rating on the back of each one is slightly different, should I just use the highest rated one for each device? I would assume (probably incorrectly) that the device will only use the power it needs, much like a light bulb that is rated for less than the socket.

Not really. There is no standard for barrel connectors, but it's fairly simple to figure out. All you need to know is whether or not the device is center positive or center ground, how many volts the device takes and how many mA it draws, pick an adapter to fit.

I didn't google this, but I don't think anyone would make the outside of the barrel positive, it would become a hazard as almost anything can short it.

 

[Colt45]

Originally posted by: iamanidiot

Originally posted by: So

Originally posted by: FP
I have a few devices that use the small round power adapter and I also have a few of the power adapters that fit those devices however I don't remember which one goes to which.

Is it safe to interchange the adapters? The rating on the back of each one is slightly different, should I just use the highest rated one for each device? I would assume (probably incorrectly) that the device will only use the power it needs, much like a light bulb that is rated for less than the socket.

Not really. There is no standard for barrel connectors, but it's fairly simple to figure out. All you need to know is whether or not the device is center positive or center ground, how many volts the device takes and how many mA it draws, pick an adapter to fit.

I didn't google this, but I don't think anyone would make the outside of the barrel positive, it would become a hazard as almost anything can short it.

Except that they're isolated, so it's only positive with reference to the center of the connector, not earth. So there's nothing for it to short to.


OP - polarity, voltage, current draw. It should be labelled on the device.

 

[Lean L]

how is that possible?

 

[Colt45]

It's isolated due to the transformer. So say you have a 5v, centre negative.
The outside of the barrel is 5V more positive then the centre, right? now if it was flipped it would be 5V more negative. Whatever. the point is, since it's isolated from earth, you can ground the either positive or negative, and there is no short, because it doesn't form a circuit. It's not referenced to earth in any way, just to the other part of the barrel connector. The only way to short them is to short from the outside of the barrel to the inside. If that makes sense.

 

[Lean L]

wow, that is really interesting. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isolation_transformer

Wish it were more detailed though, as it doesn't explain how it actually works.

 

[gigahertz20]

I'm glad this thread was created, I just came across something I did not have an adapter for today and was unsure if another adapter would work.



I have a linksys Wireless-G Game Adapter WGA54G, but I could not find the power adapter for it. I went to the linksys website and found out the requirements for the power adapter are "Power 12V, 0.5A"

I have two spare power adapters, one has this on it "Output:+5.0V 2.0A" and my other spare adapter says "Output: 13V DC 0.8A"


I tried the 5V 2.0A adapter on the linksys game adapter and it seemed to work fine, I'm not sure why it would work though, because the linksys website said it needed a 12V 0.5A power adapter.....????


I am hesitant to use the other spare 13V 0.8A adapter since it outputs 1 more volt then the 12 volt official linksys power adapter.

 

[Lean L]

Originally posted by: gigahertz20
I'm glad this thread was created, I just came across something I did not have an adapter for today and was unsure if another adapter would work.



I have a linksys Wireless-G Game Adapter WGA54G, but I could not find the power adapter for it. I went to the linksys website and found out the requirements for the power adapter are "Power 12V, 0.5A"

I have two spare power adapters, one has this on it "Output:+5.0V 2.0A" and my other spare adapter says "Output: 13V DC 0.8A"


I tried the 5V 2.0A adapter on the linksys game adapter and it seemed to work fine, I'm not sure why it would work though, because the linksys website said it needed a 12V 0.5A power adapter.....????


I am hesitant to use the other spare 13V 0.8A adapter since it outputs 1 more volt then the 12 volt official linksys power adapter.

Strange that is, although many routers are known to be able to use lower voltage adaptors. I think either will do fine although might decrease its lifespan. 1V may or may not cause damage.

If you are paranoid and have a computer that you always keep on, just tap into that power supply.

 

[feralkid]

Originally posted by: iamanidiot
volts out must be the same amp out can be greater than the device but not less than, otherwise as long as it fits, use it

Meltdown if amp out too high. "Everyone knows this."

 

[Lean L]

Originally posted by: feralkid

Originally posted by: iamanidiot
volts out must be the same amp out can be greater than the device but not less than, otherwise as long as it fits, use it

Meltdown if amp out too high. "Everyone knows this."

? your computer psu prolly has a 30+ amp 12V rail. You are not using that much, yet you are not on fire from the meltdown. You are thinking of Volts.

 

[lxskllr]

Most DC electronics are flexible with their input voltage. I'd wouldn't have an issue using 13V when it's requirement is 12V.

 

[PottedMeat]

Originally posted by: iamanidiot

Originally posted by: gigahertz20
I'm glad this thread was created, I just came across something I did not have an adapter for today and was unsure if another adapter would work.



I have a linksys Wireless-G Game Adapter WGA54G, but I could not find the power adapter for it. I went to the linksys website and found out the requirements for the power adapter are "Power 12V, 0.5A"

I have two spare power adapters, one has this on it "Output:+5.0V 2.0A" and my other spare adapter says "Output: 13V DC 0.8A"


I tried the 5V 2.0A adapter on the linksys game adapter and it seemed to work fine, I'm not sure why it would work though, because the linksys website said it needed a 12V 0.5A power adapter.....????


I am hesitant to use the other spare 13V 0.8A adapter since it outputs 1 more volt then the 12 volt official linksys power adapter.

Strange that is, although many routers are known to be able to use lower voltage adaptors. I think either will do fine although might decrease its lifespan. 1V may or may not cause damage.

If you are paranoid and have a computer that you always keep on, just tap into that power supply.

Many routers use a simple buck switching regulator to power their internal components at 5V/3.3V/1.8V?. Something like a MC34063 which can take anywhere from 40V to ~2V over the output regulated voltage. The manufacturer wants you to come to them to buy a missing wall wart when in fact as long as you have a power supply that can give 40V to close to the internal output voltage will work. However sometimes the components in line before the regulator may not be rated for that high a voltage - maybe the input capacitors are rated for ~10V ( lower voltage -> cheaper capacitor, also probably higher capacitance ).

 

[PottedMeat]

Originally posted by: feralkid

Originally posted by: iamanidiot
volts out must be the same amp out can be greater than the device but not less than, otherwise as long as it fits, use it

Meltdown if amp out too high. "Everyone knows this."

If the component is being supplied the correct voltage, it will only take the current that it needs, no more.

 

[feralkid]

Oops,I mis-spoke, had it ackwards.

 

[gigahertz20]

Originally posted by: lxskllr
Most DC electronics are flexible with their input voltage. I'd wouldn't have an issue using 13V when it's requirement is 12V.

Ok, so it will be no problem if I use the 13V 0.8A power adapter on the Linksys Game Adapter that only needs 12V, 0.5A? I don't want to fry anything