Will this work??

[jlatenight]

Hi! I have a camcorder that I need an AC adapter for, and I found a
universal AC adapter at BestBuy that should do the trick accept for one
thing: the voltage needed by the camera is 7.9v at 1.4amps. The
universal adapter has two voltage settings that are close, but not
exact. The adapter will supply enough current, so I know I'm fine
there. One's 6.5v and the next one is 8.4v. So..if it seems to run ok
at 8.4 volts am I ok?? I mean, do I run the risk of frying my
Camcorder b/c I'm pumping too much voltage through it? Half a volt
doesn't seem like a lot, but I thought I'd ask to be safe. The
instructions for the adapter say "[this device] is fully regulated
using high efficiency switching technology and features overload and
short circuit protection."

 

[Tom MacIntyre]

Hi! I have a camcorder that I need an AC adapter for, and I found a
universal AC adapter at BestBuy that should do the trick accept for one
thing: the voltage needed by the camera is 7.9v at 1.4amps. The
universal adapter has two voltage settings that are close, but not
exact. The adapter will supply enough current, so I know I'm fine
there. One's 6.5v and the next one is 8.4v. So..if it seems to run ok
at 8.4 volts am I ok?? I mean, do I run the risk of frying my
Camcorder b/c I'm pumping too much voltage through it? Half a volt
doesn't seem like a lot, but I thought I'd ask to be safe. The
instructions for the adapter say "[this device] is fully regulated
using high efficiency switching technology and features overload and
short circuit protection."

That's about a 6-7% difference, which "should" be okay. YMMV...

There are ways to regulate the 8.4 down to 7.9 also.

Tom

 

[3T39]

Hello, jlatenight!
You wrote on 9 Sep 2005 13:00:39 -0700:

j> Hi! I have a camcorder that I need an AC adapter for, and I found a
j> universal AC adapter at BestBuy that should do the trick accept for one
j> thing: the voltage needed by the camera is 7.9v at 1.4amps. The
j> universal adapter has two voltage settings that are close, but not
j> exact. The adapter will supply enough current, so I know I'm fine
j> there. One's 6.5v and the next one is 8.4v. So..if it seems to run ok
j> at 8.4 volts am I ok?? I mean, do I run the risk of frying my
j> Camcorder b/c I'm pumping too much voltage through it? Half a volt
j> doesn't seem like a lot, but I thought I'd ask to be safe. The
j> instructions for the adapter say "[this device] is fully regulated
j> using high efficiency switching technology and features overload and
j> short circuit protection."

Be sure to check polarity before connecting up.
There may be an indication of polarity next to the connector. The camera
will work fine at either setting, providing the polarity is correct.

With best regards, 3T39. E-mail: [email protected]

 

[Darmok]

Hi! I have a camcorder that I need an AC adapter for, and I found a
universal AC adapter at BestBuy that should do the trick accept for one
thing: the voltage needed by the camera is 7.9v at 1.4amps. The
universal adapter has two voltage settings that are close, but not
exact. The adapter will supply enough current, so I know I'm fine
there. One's 6.5v and the next one is 8.4v. So..if it seems to run ok
at 8.4 volts am I ok?? I mean, do I run the risk of frying my
Camcorder b/c I'm pumping too much voltage through it? Half a volt
doesn't seem like a lot, but I thought I'd ask to be safe. The
instructions for the adapter say "[this device] is fully regulated
using high efficiency switching technology and features overload and
short circuit protection."

You should be fine .. that voltage is probably sent through some kind
of regulator inside the camcorder anyway. (probably 6vdc circuitry
inside).

If you are really paranoid, just get yourself a 3amp silicon switching
diode (1N4001), and break the + line, and feed through the diode.
When you draw current through the diode, you will get a .5 to .6
voltage drop, putting you right around the 7.9vdc you were looking
for.

 

[[email protected]]

Hi! I have a camcorder that I need an AC adapter for, and I found a
universal AC adapter at BestBuy that should do the trick accept for one
thing: the voltage needed by the camera is 7.9v at 1.4amps. The
universal adapter has two voltage settings that are close, but not
exact. The adapter will supply enough current, so I know I'm fine
there. One's 6.5v and the next one is 8.4v. So..if it seems to run ok
at 8.4 volts am I ok?? I mean, do I run the risk of frying my
Camcorder b/c I'm pumping too much voltage through it? Half a volt
doesn't seem like a lot, but I thought I'd ask to be safe. The
instructions for the adapter say "[this device] is fully regulated
using high efficiency switching technology and features overload and
short circuit protection."

If the adapter is close to the 1.4 amp rating of the camcorder then it
may be ok. Universal adapters and many other cheap brick adapters
have very little voltage regulation. One of these adapters rated at 7
volts at 2 amps will be 7 volts when drawing 2 amps. Take that same
brick and reduce the current and you'll see the voltage go up to 10
volts or more. It is best to check the no load voltage first before
using it on an expensive piece of equipment.

* If your universal adapter is rated higher than 1.4 amps then you
might want to select the 6.5 volt setting. This setting may actually
be very close to 7.9 volts at your camcorders 1.4 amp requirement.

 

[Dave D]

just get yourself a 3amp silicon switching
diode (1N4001)

That will work quite well, but not for long- the 1N4001 is only rated at 1
Amp!
Maybe you meant a 1N5401?

Dave

 

[James Sweet]

Hi! I have a camcorder that I need an AC adapter for, and I found a
universal AC adapter at BestBuy that should do the trick accept for one
thing: the voltage needed by the camera is 7.9v at 1.4amps. The
universal adapter has two voltage settings that are close, but not
exact. The adapter will supply enough current, so I know I'm fine
there. One's 6.5v and the next one is 8.4v. So..if it seems to run ok
at 8.4 volts am I ok?? I mean, do I run the risk of frying my
Camcorder b/c I'm pumping too much voltage through it? Half a volt
doesn't seem like a lot, but I thought I'd ask to be safe. The
instructions for the adapter say "[this device] is fully regulated
using high efficiency switching technology and features overload and
short circuit protection."

If the adapter is close to the 1.4 amp rating of the camcorder then it
may be ok. Universal adapters and many other cheap brick adapters
have very little voltage regulation. One of these adapters rated at 7
volts at 2 amps will be 7 volts when drawing 2 amps. Take that same
brick and reduce the current and you'll see the voltage go up to 10
volts or more. It is best to check the no load voltage first before
using it on an expensive piece of equipment.

* If your universal adapter is rated higher than 1.4 amps then you
might want to select the 6.5 volt setting. This setting may actually
be very close to 7.9 volts at your camcorders 1.4 amp requirement.

Anything for a camcorder is probably a switching regulator (lightweight box,
not a big heavy transformer) so the regulation should be decent.

 

[Darmok]

That will work quite well, but not for long- the 1N4001 is only rated at 1
Amp!
Maybe you meant a 1N5401?

Dave

Touche'

Bill, KB8EB

 

[jlatenight]

Anything for a camcorder is probably a switching regulator (lightweight box,
not a big heavy transformer) so the regulation should be decent.

Thanks everyone for your responses. Here is the one I bought:
http://www.simacorp.com/products/item.ep.html?session=e53cac0513088967baa590bf6e541136&id=493

Specifications SUP-60
Input Voltage 120 VAC
Output Voltages / Maximum Current
3.3 Volts / 2.1 Amps
4.2 Volts / 2.0 Amps
5.0 Volts / 1.9 Amps
6.5 Volts / 1.7 Amps
8.4 Volts / 1.6 Amps
9.5 Volts / 1.5 Amps
Dimensions 3.0" x 1.5" x 0.8"

I'll measure the voltage and current at 6.5v & 8.4v and see which one's
closer at no load. Just wondering how to know if the camera can handle
..5v or so higher than it needs. And it does say "[this device] is
fully regulated using high efficiency switching technology and features
overload and short circuit protection."

 

[James Sweet]

Anything for a camcorder is probably a switching regulator (lightweight box,
not a big heavy transformer) so the regulation should be decent.

Thanks everyone for your responses. Here is the one I bought:
http://www.simacorp.com/products/item.ep.html?session=e53cac0513088967baa590bf6e541136&id=493

Specifications SUP-60
Input Voltage 120 VAC
Output Voltages / Maximum Current
3.3 Volts / 2.1 Amps
4.2 Volts / 2.0 Amps
5.0 Volts / 1.9 Amps
6.5 Volts / 1.7 Amps
8.4 Volts / 1.6 Amps
9.5 Volts / 1.5 Amps
Dimensions 3.0" x 1.5" x 0.8"

I'll measure the voltage and current at 6.5v & 8.4v and see which one's
closer at no load. Just wondering how to know if the camera can handle
.5v or so higher than it needs. And it does say "[this device] is
fully regulated using high efficiency switching technology and features
overload and short circuit protection."

You're talking a cheap consumer grade camcorder, I'd be surprised if the
output of the original power supply is tight enough tolerance to be within
0.5v of the spec, you'll be just fine a volt or two either way as the camera
is certain to have it's own internal regulator.

 

[Mike Berger]

I'd measure the voltage under load connected to the camcorder
to see how close it really is. Those universal AC adapters
are usually way way off.

 

[Tom MacIntyre]

Thanks everyone for your responses. Here is the one I bought:
http://www.simacorp.com/products/item.ep.html?session=e53cac0513088967baa590bf6e541136&id=493

Specifications SUP-60
Input Voltage 120 VAC
Output Voltages / Maximum Current
3.3 Volts / 2.1 Amps
4.2 Volts / 2.0 Amps
5.0 Volts / 1.9 Amps
6.5 Volts / 1.7 Amps
8.4 Volts / 1.6 Amps
9.5 Volts / 1.5 Amps
Dimensions 3.0" x 1.5" x 0.8"

I'll measure the voltage and current at 6.5v & 8.4v and see which one's
closer at no load.

No load means zero current.

Tom

Just wondering how to know if the camera can handle
.5v or so higher than it needs. And it does say "[this device] is
fully regulated using high efficiency switching technology and features
overload and short circuit protection."