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AC Adapters

As is the case with most folks, I suppose, I have an assortment of AC
adapters left over from a variety of now defunct electronic gizmos. The
adapters vary in terms of output voltage and current, but I'm wondering
if they can be used for other than the cell phone, radio, whatever they
were intended for, or are they now just items for the junkpile? I'd
guess that they can't be used for items that are rated for higher
voltage and current, but can they be used if the item's requirements
are less than, or close to, the rated output for the adapter?

Thanks.

Lynn Willis
Indianapolis
 
B

Beachcomber

Jan 1, 1970
0
As is the case with most folks, I suppose, I have an assortment of AC
adapters left over from a variety of now defunct electronic gizmos. The
adapters vary in terms of output voltage and current, but I'm wondering
if they can be used for other than the cell phone, radio, whatever they
were intended for, or are they now just items for the junkpile? I'd
guess that they can't be used for items that are rated for higher
voltage and current, but can they be used if the item's requirements
are less than, or close to, the rated output for the adapter?

Thanks.

Lynn Willis
Indianapolis

Check the output ratings that are marked on each adapter. You might
find AC or DC outs and voltages 3v 6v 9v 12v and others. There is
also typically a maximum current rating in mA.

You can use like voltage and AC or DC rated adapters with appliances
that require similar power. Some equipment is more sensitive to tight
voltage tolerance (ex. cell phone chargers) than others.

Also be aware that DC adapters are either regulated or un-regulated
with respect to voltage. A regulated 9V. adapter will put out 9V, no
matter what the load up to and including its max rating.

An unregulated 9v adapter may put out 12 volts with no-load and still
be high with a light load.

It helps to have a good voltmeter to check these things.

Also, there is no standard on the polarity plug for the DC adapters.
The center conductor might be negative or positive. Usually it is
marked with a diagram on the adapter. Or you can check polarity with
a voltmeter set to DC volts.

Most DC devices will not operate unless the incoming DC polarity is
correct and some may be damaged by inverted polarity.

Beachcomber.
 
S

Stormin Mormon

Jan 1, 1970
0
In the modern generation, charge plugs known as "wall warts" are like
coat hangers of the last generation. I've taken to labelling mine with
a sticker and some writing.

The odds of finding similar voltage and plug design is very slight. If
the new device is the same voltage, you can use a charge plug with a
higher available amperage, in most situaitons.

--

Christopher A. Young
You can't shout down a troll.
You have to starve them.
..

As is the case with most folks, I suppose, I have an assortment of AC
adapters left over from a variety of now defunct electronic gizmos.
The
adapters vary in terms of output voltage and current, but I'm
wondering
if they can be used for other than the cell phone, radio, whatever
they
were intended for, or are they now just items for the junkpile? I'd
guess that they can't be used for items that are rated for higher
voltage and current, but can they be used if the item's requirements
are less than, or close to, the rated output for the adapter?

Thanks.

Lynn Willis
Indianapolis
 
C

Chris Lewis

Jan 1, 1970
0
According to Stormin Mormon said:
In the modern generation, charge plugs known as "wall warts" are like
coat hangers of the last generation. I've taken to labelling mine with
a sticker and some writing.

The odds of finding similar voltage and plug design is very slight. If
the new device is the same voltage, you can use a charge plug with a
higher available amperage, in most situaitons.

It's not quite "very slight", but it isn't great ;-)

That said, I've become quite annoyed with the whole thing, and am
seriously thinking of building a desk wiring harness that has a single
(possibly 20VAC) supply, with plug in (eg: 1/4" phone jacks
or somesuch) adapters that contain the different voltage/AC-DC/plug
converters.
 
S

Stormin Mormon

Jan 1, 1970
0
Well, if you want to diddle up and down, we can henpeck and quibble
over the choice of words. But, mostly, I'd think that the odds of
reusing a wall wart rate between "no effing way" and "who do you think
you're kidding!".

Exceptions are based on purchasing the same brand and type of
equipment. Many Nokia or Motorola cell phones use the same charger. As
also with some answering machines.

At the moment, I've got wall warts for

- Battery Manager Ultra, battery charger
- battery charger for AA and AAA only
- Answering machine
- Motorola cell phone
- Nokia cell phone
- Last cell phone, can't remember what it was.
- NEC cell phone, still have the old analog phone.
- Panasonic 9.6 volt drills (don't any of them hold a good charge, and
you can't get that model at Home Depot any more).
- Tape recorder

And several other chargers. Like old keys, they don't fit anything any
more, but too good to throw out.


--

Christopher A. Young
You can't shout down a troll.
You have to starve them.
..

According to Stormin Mormon said:
In the modern generation, charge plugs known as "wall warts" are like
coat hangers of the last generation. I've taken to labelling mine with
a sticker and some writing.

The odds of finding similar voltage and plug design is very slight. If
the new device is the same voltage, you can use a charge plug with a
higher available amperage, in most situaitons.

It's not quite "very slight", but it isn't great ;-)

That said, I've become quite annoyed with the whole thing, and am
seriously thinking of building a desk wiring harness that has a single
(possibly 20VAC) supply, with plug in (eg: 1/4" phone jacks
or somesuch) adapters that contain the different voltage/AC-DC/plug
converters.
 
G

Goedjn

Jan 1, 1970
0
In the modern generation, charge plugs known as "wall warts" are like
coat hangers of the last generation. I've taken to labelling mine with
a sticker and some writing.

The odds of finding similar voltage and plug design is very slight. If
the new device is the same voltage, you can use a charge plug with a
higher available amperage, in most situaitons.


They make multi-tap transformers with a slide-switch
in increments of 1.5 volts, and a set of round
plug-adapters in 3-4 sizes. Those will work for
most things.
 
A

Al Bundy

Jan 1, 1970
0
They make multi-tap transformers with a slide-switch
in increments of 1.5 volts, and a set of round
plug-adapters in 3-4 sizes. Those will work for
most things.


I picked one up one of thise at WalMart (about $16) for an old flatbed
scanner I have. Works fine. Regulated? I dunno. A good thing was that it
has the ability of when you put the round adapter on, you can set the
center pin as + or -.

OP: If you get one of these just get one with a high mA rating. That way
it will be able to run many different things. If you get one that has the
proper voltage and say is rated at 600mA and you try to run something
that requires that voltage but 1000 mA, it may not work/will burn out
adapter/damage device or any combo of that.
 
B

Bob F

Jan 1, 1970
0
Stormin Mormon said:
Well, if you want to diddle up and down, we can henpeck and quibble
over the choice of words. But, mostly, I'd think that the odds of
reusing a wall wart rate between "no effing way" and "who do you think
you're kidding!".

I buy wall warts all the time for gadgets I get at thrift shops
or garage sales. It is not that difficult to find a wart with the
correct voltage and connector/polarity and sufficient current
capacity. Most thrift shops have boxes of them. No problem
re-using them at all.

Bob
 
P

Pete C.

Jan 1, 1970
0
Stormin said:
Well, if you want to diddle up and down, we can henpeck and quibble
over the choice of words. But, mostly, I'd think that the odds of
reusing a wall wart rate between "no effing way" and "who do you think
you're kidding!".

Odd, I mix and match wall warts all the time. I find I have oodles of
12V ones that are all interchangeable.

Pete C.
 
S

Stormin Mormon

Jan 1, 1970
0
This is workable in a home with a technically minded user. And no
folks who like to play with things. Hate to see the 3.5 volt cell
phone go up in smoke when someone slides the volts over to 12.5 or so.

Radio Shack has a multiple tap gadget for charging cell phones. $30,
plus $10 for the specific tip for the phone. I politely declined.
Remembering I'd seen cell phone chargers across the street at Home
Depot. 5.97 later, I had my charger. Incidentally, phone chargers also
available on Ebay, for about as cheap.

--

Christopher A. Young
You can't shout down a troll.
You have to starve them.
..

Al Bundy said:
They make multi-tap transformers with a slide-switch
in increments of 1.5 volts, and a set of round
plug-adapters in 3-4 sizes. Those will work for
most things.


I picked one up one of thise at WalMart (about $16) for an old flatbed
scanner I have. Works fine. Regulated? I dunno. A good thing was that
it
has the ability of when you put the round adapter on, you can set the
center pin as + or -.

OP: If you get one of these just get one with a high mA rating. That
way
it will be able to run many different things. If you get one that has
the
proper voltage and say is rated at 600mA and you try to run something
that requires that voltage but 1000 mA, it may not work/will burn out
adapter/damage device or any combo of that.
 
I have done a lot of this, changed plugs oon them too.

What the government should do is mandate a standard, 12 volts AC with
standard plug

have the device convert it to DC if necessary, change the voltage
whatever.

since AC has no polarity and a standard plugwe would cut down n the
amount of trash, and simplify things.
 
M

mm

Jan 1, 1970
0
They make multi-tap transformers with a slide-switch
in increments of 1.5 volts, and a set of round
plug-adapters in 3-4 sizes. Those will work for
most things.

I have 3 of those things, each somewhwat different from the other,
that I use to see if something I got used or in the trash will work.

If it does, I keep my eyes open for a simple adapter that will only
fit the new thing, so the multi-thing will be available for the next
new thing.

Radio Shack used to be iirc a decent place to buy these things, but
now they are very expensive. There is a guy who shows up once a year
at the bigger Timonium hamfest who had them at a reasonable price.
Otherwise, I'm still using the ones I bought in NYC more than 23 years
ago.
 
M

mm

Jan 1, 1970
0
BTW, my new Motorola "Go Phone" phone came with a wall wart that has
two rings on the plug, plus the center hole. I was going to measure
the voltage soon, but since w'ere on the topic, can anyone tell me
anything about it. The label just says the output is 5.0V with the DC
symbol.

Why do they need two rings, and is the car charger whose plug fits the
jack, that I bought for 50cents at the Carroll County Hamfest, likely
to work or to ruin the phone?
 
M

mm

Jan 1, 1970
0
I have done a lot of this, changed plugs oon them too.

What the government should do is mandate a standard, 12 volts AC with
standard plug

have the device convert it to DC if necessary, change the voltage
whatever.

since AC has no polarity and a standard plugwe would cut down n the
amount of trash, and simplify things.

What gets me are all the small transformers running all the time using
a little bit of current each. Even when the transformer is inside the
radio, etc, and the on/off swtich could turn off the whole thing, it
never does. Only the secondary.

They should have everything run on 12 volts or whatever, and have one
12 volt transformer at the fuse box that runs everything, with outlets
in every room for 12 volts AC and whatever DC. Heck, they should use
the doorbell transformer for all of this.
 
T

Tony Hwang

Jan 1, 1970
0
As is the case with most folks, I suppose, I have an assortment of AC
adapters left over from a variety of now defunct electronic gizmos. The
adapters vary in terms of output voltage and current, but I'm wondering
if they can be used for other than the cell phone, radio, whatever they
were intended for, or are they now just items for the junkpile? I'd
guess that they can't be used for items that are rated for higher
voltage and current, but can they be used if the item's requirements
are less than, or close to, the rated output for the adapter?

Thanks.

Lynn Willis
Indianapolis
Hi,
If you can match voltage, current, polarity of the plug, and lastly
watch the output whether it is AC or DC.
 
G

Guest

Jan 1, 1970
0
Stormin Mormon said:
Well, if you want to diddle up and down, we can henpeck and quibble
over the choice of words. But, mostly, I'd think that the odds of
reusing a wall wart rate between "no effing way" and "who do you think
you're kidding!".

Exceptions are based on purchasing the same brand and type of
equipment. Many Nokia or Motorola cell phones use the same charger. As
also with some answering machines.

At the moment, I've got wall warts for

- Battery Manager Ultra, battery charger
- battery charger for AA and AAA only
- Answering machine
- Motorola cell phone
- Nokia cell phone
- Last cell phone, can't remember what it was.
- NEC cell phone, still have the old analog phone.
- Panasonic 9.6 volt drills (don't any of them hold a good charge, and
you can't get that model at Home Depot any more).
- Tape recorder

And several other chargers. Like old keys, they don't fit anything any
more, but too good to throw out.
I keep a box of orphan wall warts for recycled electronic items that lack
same. I find mates for 2 or 3 items a year, easily. It doesn't take much
space, and the wall warts cost me nothing, so what the hell....

aem sends...
 
J

jasen

Jan 1, 1970
0
It's not quite "very slight", but it isn't great ;-)

i'd go as far as fairly good, on my desk I have 3 devices that operate from
12V DC , one from 9.3V AC and one 6VDC
That said, I've become quite annoyed with the whole thing, and am
seriously thinking of building a desk wiring harness that has a single
(possibly 20VAC) supply, with plug in (eg: 1/4" phone jacks
or somesuch) adapters that contain the different voltage/AC-DC/plug
converters.

watch out for earth loops between interconnected devices, especially when
the other end of the loop isn't ground.
 
J

jasen

Jan 1, 1970
0
This is workable in a home with a technically minded user. And no
folks who like to play with things. Hate to see the 3.5 volt cell
phone go up in smoke when someone slides the volts over to 12.5 or so.

a bit of superglue, hot-melt, or sticky tape, would stop that.

Bye.
Jasen
 
Wow! Thanks to all for the responses. It looks as though a little
mixing and matching is OK with these adapters if one knows how to use a
voltmeter. I guess I'll give it a try.

Thanks again.

Lynn Willis
Indianapolis
 
G

Goedjn

Jan 1, 1970
0
What gets me are all the small transformers running all the time using
a little bit of current each. Even when the transformer is inside the
radio, etc, and the on/off swtich could turn off the whole thing, it
never does. Only the secondary.

They should have everything run on 12 volts or whatever, and have one
12 volt transformer at the fuse box that runs everything, with outlets
in every room for 12 volts AC and whatever DC. Heck, they should use
the doorbell transformer for all of this.

Power-over-ethernet, 24V, 12Watts. (thus 1/2 amp?)
 
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