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Really easy question

P

perez

Jan 1, 1970
0
Sorry for the really easy question but I am clueless when it come to
this stuff.

Problem:
I am in the UK and I have an American made Kawaii keyboard that has
been working fine for years. Recently, the power adaptor gave up. It
was American and was attatched to a rubbish adaptor for British
sockets (which I think was a shaver adaptor!).

I bought a new AC adaptor (with variable voltage switch) and that was
fine until recently when it gave up too. I had it set at 12v which was
fine.

I know there is a compatibility problem with UK current (or whatever,
I really don't know) and US appliances, but is it now a problem with
the keyboard or is there a simple adaptor I can get that will work
better??

Thanks,
 
L

Lord Garth

Jan 1, 1970
0
perez said:
Sorry for the really easy question but I am clueless when it come to
this stuff.

Problem:
I am in the UK and I have an American made Kawaii keyboard that has
been working fine for years. Recently, the power adaptor gave up. It
was American and was attatched to a rubbish adaptor for British
sockets (which I think was a shaver adaptor!).

I bought a new AC adaptor (with variable voltage switch) and that was
fine until recently when it gave up too. I had it set at 12v which was
fine.

I know there is a compatibility problem with UK current (or whatever,
I really don't know) and US appliances, but is it now a problem with
the keyboard or is there a simple adaptor I can get that will work
better??

Thanks,

Find a switching supply that has the same polarity at 12V as the original
power supply and an equal or greater current capacity. The idea here is
that most modern switching supplies are smaller and lighter than an
iron core transformer and they are universal input which allows for
either American or British power standards. Some, like Viewsonic
uses with their LCD monitors, have both standard power cords. Others
will require an external socket adapter.
 
K

Kitchen Man

Jan 1, 1970
0
Is it possible that this second adapter did not have a large enough
current capacity? said:
Find a switching supply that has the same polarity at 12V as the original
power supply and an equal or greater current capacity. The idea here is
that most modern switching supplies are smaller and lighter than an
iron core transformer and...

I extract the key clause:
...they are universal input which allows for
either American or British power standards....

This will get you around your "rubbish" adapter. There are two big
differences between European and American house current. The first
problem is the voltage - ~220 vs. ~115. The second (and most critical),
problem is the frequency - 50 vs. 60. A switching power supply
eliminates both problems. They're readily availible, I did a Google on
the text:

switching power supply universal input

And got a page full of on-line vendors.
 
J

John Fields

Jan 1, 1970
0
This will get you around your "rubbish" adapter. There are two big
differences between European and American house current. The first
problem is the voltage - ~220 vs. ~115. The second (and most critical),
problem is the frequency - 50 vs. 60.
 
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