12 volt Mains adaptor - query re amps

The mains adaptor for my router (a Cisco Wireless-G WAG54G) has just
died a death - the router's power requirements are 12volts at 1amp. I
have a spare 12volt mains adaptor but it's only rated at 500mA. I've
tried it and all seems well, but am I likely to experience problems
using it with the 1amp router?

If so, would the worst thing to happen be the failure of the mains
adaptor?

Just to be on the safe side, should I obtain one rated at 1 amp?


Thanks

matt wrote:

> The mains adaptor for my router (a Cisco Wireless-G WAG54G) has just
> died a death - the router's power requirements are 12volts at 1amp. I
> have a spare 12volt mains adaptor but it's only rated at 500mA. I've
> tried it and all seems well, but am I likely to experience problems
> using it with the 1amp router?
>
> If so, would the worst thing to happen be the failure of the mains
> adaptor?
>
> Just to be on the safe side, should I obtain one rated at 1 amp?
>
>
> Thanks

does it get hot????

--

matt wrote:

> The mains adaptor for my router (a Cisco Wireless-G WAG54G) has just
> died a death - the router's power requirements are 12volts at 1amp. I
> have a spare 12volt mains adaptor but it's only rated at 500mA. I've
> tried it and all seems well, but am I likely to experience problems
> using it with the 1amp router?
>
> If so, would the worst thing to happen be the failure of the mains
> adaptor?
>
> Just to be on the safe side, should I obtain one rated at 1 amp?
>
>
> Thanks

does it still produce 12volts. what AC or DC??

--

On Mon, 17 Apr 2006 19:46:54 GMT, matt-(E-Mail Removed) (matt)
wrote:

>The mains adaptor for my router (a Cisco Wireless-G WAG54G) has just
>died a death - the router's power requirements are 12volts at 1amp. I
>have a spare 12volt mains adaptor but it's only rated at 500mA. I've
>tried it and all seems well, but am I likely to experience problems
>using it with the 1amp router?

---
More than likely what'll happen, long term, is that you'll overheat
the transformer in the adaptor and it'll fail prematurely. Also,
you could exceed the ripple current spec of the reservoir capacitor,
causing it to fail prematurery.
---


>If so, would the worst thing to happen be the failure of the mains
>adaptor?

---
Who knows? if it's not fused and it overheats and catches fire,
there might go your house.
---

>Just to be on the safe side, should I obtain one rated at 1 amp?

---
Of course.

--
John Fields
Professional Circuit Designer

On Mon, 17 Apr 2006 15:37:12 -0500, John Fields
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:


Thanks for the replies - I'll buy one rated at 1A then.

BTW, it's 12 volts DC.

On Mon, 17 Apr 2006 19:46:54 +0000, matt wrote:

> The mains adaptor for my router (a Cisco Wireless-G WAG54G) has just
> died a death - the router's power requirements are 12volts at 1amp. I
> have a spare 12volt mains adaptor but it's only rated at 500mA. I've
> tried it and all seems well, but am I likely to experience problems
> using it with the 1amp router?
>
> If so, would the worst thing to happen be the failure of the mains
> adaptor?
>
> Just to be on the safe side, should I obtain one rated at 1 amp?
>

Yes - that's the proper way to do it. You say you've tried the 500 mA
adapter and it "seems" well, but I'd check how hot it's getting - if
you only run the router at 50% duty cycle or less, you might get away
with it, at least until the adapter melts. ;-)

Good Luck!
Rich