Basic
Rules of electricity
when selecting a power supply.
1. Check the label of the device you wish
to power for the spec and Note -
The Voltage -
(Voltage Volts (V) is sometimes specified in fractions
i.e 19.5V or 19.5 Volts).
The Current consumption -
(Current is specified in Amps (A) OR milliamps
mA, 1000mA = 1 Amp or 1A).
The connection POLARITY -
(usually POSITIVE (+Ve) Centre Pin BUT NOT ALWAYS).
2. Check the size (and Type) of the
connector -
There are many 'common' connectors from thousands available,
Don't 'assume it will fit'.
Selecting a power supply -
- The OUTPUT Voltage must ALWAYS Match1,
2
- The OUTPUT Current must ALWAYS be Equal
OR Greater to the device3
- The Polarity must ALWAYS be the same4
When using voltage selectable supplies ALWAYS Select the voltage and polarity
BEFORE connecting to the device.
1
If you connect a supply with (OR Set) to a higher voltage one
of the following may happen -
a) The excess VOLTAGE will probably damage your device.
d) The excess VOLTAGE may cause excessive
CURRENT demand, Overloading the power supply and the device or both.
c) Some devices may operate perfectly until they FAIL due
the excess voltage overstressing components.
2
Too LOW VOLTAGE can also problems -
Too Low Voltage power supply may not operate the device
correctly. Too Low Voltage on some devices with
secondary internal switch mode power supplies (common in many modern devices), the the device may well operate perfectly BUT
the low voltage causes More current demand, if the power supply cannot supply this current then
3 apples.
3
If you connect a supply with too low a current rating for your
device several things may happen. The excess current demand will overload the rating of the power supply which could cause several
different scenarios -
a) The power supply may
have overload protection and cut the output, Appear as DEAD, But it's NOT.
b) The power supply may
still output but at lower voltage casing incorrect operation of your device.
c) The power supply may Work but be over
stressed and fail. c) The
power supply may Work but be cut out and restart when cooler.
e) The power supply may overheat and -
Fail, Blow a thermal fuse, worst case Cause a FIRE!
4
If you connect a supply with the wrong polarity then -
There is a high probability of damaging your device
! Best case is the device
has diode input protection and the device will just appear to be dead.
Rare but some devices could short circuit the supply output
causing overload as in3.
5
Connector dimensions (for concentric 'Barrel' connectors
with centre hole)
e.g
5.5mm x 2.5mm x
11mm - ( if 1 and 2 are
not correct it could fit but not connect )
5.5mm
- the outside diameter of the tip
common sizes are - 6.3mm, 5.5mm, 5mm, 4mm, 3.5mm, 2mm.......
2.5mm
- the inside diameter of the HOLE
common sizes are - 3mm, 2.5mm, 2.1mm, 1.9mm, 1.7mm, 1.3mm.......
11mm - the length of
the tip, this can vary and often not important and not specified,
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