Determining correct AC/DC adapter for equipment

[[email protected]]

My new family owns a large selection of light toys collected over the
years. Unfortunately, in many cases the adapter is missing. Now, we
also a cache of old adapaters of varying voltages, ampages (is that a
word?) and polarities - AC/DC and AC/AC. Without the benefit of manuals
and, in some cases, no information on the toy casing either, I have had
a few mishaps blindly attempting to match up adapters to toys (mishaps
involving the smell of burning component).
My question is, in the absence of the usual information (or a
multi-tester), is there a way to determine what adapter is required for
a particular toy/appliance? Maybe opening up the toy and calculating
something from the components used inside?
In hope
Dean

 

[Dan_Musicant]

On 1 Dec 2006 16:24:02 -0800, [email protected] wrote:

:My new family owns a large selection of light toys collected over the
:years. Unfortunately, in many cases the adapter is missing. Now, we
:also a cache of old adapaters of varying voltages, ampages (is that a
:word?) and polarities - AC/DC and AC/AC. Without the benefit of manuals
:and, in some cases, no information on the toy casing either, I have had
:a few mishaps blindly attempting to match up adapters to toys (mishaps
:involving the smell of burning component).
:My question is, in the absence of the usual information (or a
:multi-tester), is there a way to determine what adapter is required for
:a particular toy/appliance? Maybe opening up the toy and calculating
:something from the components used inside?
:In hope
ean

Usually the device has on it the power requirements, for example:

3v DC, 1.25 amp. In general you want your AC adaptor to provide the
correct type of voltage (AC vs. DC, and they are usually DC), the
correct voltage (if it says 4.5v for example, you want your adapter so
designated), and at least the amperage (that's the word!) asked for. I
too have a good collection of adapters gotten from here and there.

Another thing you usually need is for the connector to match up. Has to
be basically the same thickness and reasonable length to make the
connections.

I have one or two multipurpose AC adapters with switches to change the
voltage and with multiple connectors to fit various equipment. They
don't work with everything, but do fit a whole lot of stuff. Of course,
they are kind of klunky (big), but they work. You can get them at Radio
Shack, independent electronics stores and such.

Dan

 

[Homer J Simpson]

My new family owns a large selection of light toys collected over the
years. Unfortunately, in many cases the adapter is missing. Now, we
also a cache of old adapaters of varying voltages, ampages (is that a
word?) and polarities - AC/DC and AC/AC. Without the benefit of manuals
and, in some cases, no information on the toy casing either, I have had
a few mishaps blindly attempting to match up adapters to toys (mishaps
involving the smell of burning component).
My question is, in the absence of the usual information (or a
multi-tester), is there a way to determine what adapter is required for
a particular toy/appliance? Maybe opening up the toy and calculating
something from the components used inside?

If all else fails, I hook up a multi voltage unit and check the current
being drawn. I set the polarity for maximum current, then increase the
voltage to either a reasonable current if charging a battery or until the
device works.

 

[[email protected]]

On 1 Dec 2006 16:24:02 -0800, [email protected] wrote:

:My new family owns a large selection of light toys collected over the
:years. Unfortunately, in many cases the adapter is missing. Now, we
:also a cache of old adapaters of varying voltages, ampages (is that a
:word?) and polarities - AC/DC and AC/AC. Without the benefit of manuals
:and, in some cases, no information on the toy casing either, I have had
:a few mishaps blindly attempting to match up adapters to toys (mishaps
:involving the smell of burning component).
:My question is, in the absence of the usual information (or a
:multi-tester), is there a way to determine what adapter is required for
:a particular toy/appliance? Maybe opening up the toy and calculating
:something from the components used inside?
:In hope
ean

Usually the device has on it the power requirements, for example:

3v DC, 1.25 amp. In general you want your AC adaptor to provide the
correct type of voltage (AC vs. DC, and they are usually DC), the
correct voltage (if it says 4.5v for example, you want your adapter so
designated), and at least the amperage (that's the word!) asked for. I
too have a good collection of adapters gotten from here and there.

Another thing you usually need is for the connector to match up. Has to
be basically the same thickness and reasonable length to make the
connections.

I have one or two multipurpose AC adapters with switches to change the
voltage and with multiple connectors to fit various equipment. They
don't work with everything, but do fit a whole lot of stuff. Of course,
they are kind of klunky (big), but they work. You can get them at Radio
Shack, independent electronics stores and such.

Dan

Many thanks for the reply, Dan. Unfortunately, my problem is that on so
many of the devices that require adaptors there isn't even the basic
voltage information indicated near the adaptor socket, or anywhere
else. Is there a way I can determine a device's power requirements -
voltage and amperage - just by examining the components inside? Or do I
need equipment like a multi-tester or some such?

 

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Many thanks for the reply, Dan. Unfortunately, my problem is that on so
many of the devices that require adaptors there isn't even the basic
voltage information indicated near the adaptor socket, or anywhere
else. Is there a way I can determine a device's power requirements -
voltage and amperage - just by examining the components inside? Or do I
need equipment like a multi-tester or some such?

The current the device draws can be determined after setting the voltage.
So if you have say a 1 amp supply with variable voltage that should work
for most things. Start at the lowest voltage and work up until it operates
normally. Capacitors are one easy way to determine polarity. A DC supply
can be used where the original was AC in many cases, but not the other way
round.

 

[[email protected]]

My new family owns a large selection of light toys collected over the
years. Unfortunately, in many cases the adapter is missing. Now, we
also a cache of old adapaters of varying voltages, ampages (is that a
word?) and polarities - AC/DC and AC/AC. Without the benefit of manuals
and, in some cases, no information on the toy casing either, I have had
a few mishaps blindly attempting to match up adapters to toys (mishaps
involving the smell of burning component).
My question is, in the absence of the usual information (or a
multi-tester), is there a way to determine what adapter is required for
a particular toy/appliance? Maybe opening up the toy and calculating
something from the components used inside?
In hope
Dean

Junk the ac output adaptors, because dc output wll work for pretty much
all devices, including those dedigned to take ac, whereas ac will
damage many.

Normally the v i and polarity are marked semi-invisibly near the
socket, the info is shallowly moulded into the casing, so holding it
upto the light usually reveals a fair bit.

Opening it and looking for a diode or capacitor will indicate polarity.

Start at lowest voltage, say 3v, and increase until it works.

You'll succeed in nearly all cases this way.


NT

 

[[email protected]]

Junk the ac output adaptors, because dc output wll work for pretty much
all devices, including those dedigned to take ac, whereas ac will
damage many.

Normally the v i and polarity are marked semi-invisibly near the
socket, the info is shallowly moulded into the casing, so holding it
upto the light usually reveals a fair bit.

Opening it and looking for a diode or capacitor will indicate polarity.

Start at lowest voltage, say 3v, and increase until it works.

You'll succeed in nearly all cases this way.


NT

Thank you all for replying, a nice consensus of information. I'll see
how I get on.

 

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Junk the ac output adaptors, because dc output wll work for pretty much
all devices, including those dedigned to take ac, whereas ac will
damage many.

AC adaptors are handy for home build projects. They tend to be higher
output, like for like. So send any junked ones here. ;-)

 

[Bennett Price]

My new family owns a large selection of light toys collected over the
years. Unfortunately, in many cases the adapter is missing. Now, we
also a cache of old adapaters of varying voltages, ampages (is that a
word?) and polarities - AC/DC and AC/AC. Without the benefit of manuals
and, in some cases, no information on the toy casing either, I have had
a few mishaps blindly attempting to match up adapters to toys (mishaps
involving the smell of burning component).
My question is, in the absence of the usual information (or a
multi-tester), is there a way to determine what adapter is required for
a particular toy/appliance? Maybe opening up the toy and calculating
something from the components used inside?
In hope
Dean

For those items that also ran on batteries, you can calculate the needed
voltage as # of batteries times 1.5. Batteries are DC. You might be
able to trace the battery wiring to the jack to determine polarity.

 

[[email protected]]

[email protected] wrote:

For those items that also ran on batteries, you can calculate the needed
voltage as # of batteries times 1.5. Batteries are DC. You might be
able to trace the battery wiring to the jack to determine polarity.

or use a multimeter to find that one of the battery conections connects
directly to one of the input jack connections.


NT

 

[jakdedert]

AC adaptors are handy for home build projects. They tend to be higher
output, like for like. So send any junked ones here. ;-)

I have a large bin full of them. I'd let you have half, just to thin
the herd, so to speak.

Alas, they're too heavy to ship economically....

jak

 

[Homer J Simpson]

I have a large bin full of them. I'd let you have half, just to thin the
herd, so to speak.

Alas, they're too heavy to ship economically....

Flat rate envelope?