It's a basic breadboard experiment kit. I think the charge went quick cause the first circuits in the tutorial had no resistors. By the time I was using resistors, no juice.
That explains a lot. I grew up on dollar store batteries, never used any others.
I have a ton of AC-DC wall warts of different voltages including a 6-volt. Can I cut and strip it like this one(then test polarity)? If not why? I would much rather reuse something than buy something I don't need.
http://www.goldmine-elec-products.com/prodinfo.asp?number=G20279
Thanks for help. Its much appreciated. I'll be answering questions in no time.
You certainly can strip the plug off the end of an existing adaptor. There is a bit of a catch though.
There are two kinds of transformers that I'll explain below.
-Switch-mode Adaptor:
These adaptors are small and light. Common examples are cell-phone chargers. They are a very accurate when producing the desired voltage across a range of currents you draw from it. They 'should' be built with some form of isolation, but some are not... you will read horror stories online about some cheap knock-off chargers causing harm or even death. I use these types of chargers and have not had any issues. All of mine have been built properly. It would be wise to use a multi-meter to measure between the low voltage output side and the high voltage prongs to ensure there is no direct current flow.
Additionally, these adaptors work by pulsing the power on and off incredibly quickly and filtering the output to smooth out the voltage. This may cause 'noise' or odd behaviour when working with audio or digital circuits if you do not put in your own filters. (Which is a good practice anyway)
-Transformer:
These adaptors are heavier and larger than the above examples. Common examples are the large brick like chargers a few years back used for computer speakers, pianos, etc... The big things that take up the entire outlet or cover 2 or 3 outlets on a power-bar. They are not as accurate at producing the desired voltage if the current draw changes. You will find that when no load is applied, the voltage will be higher, and as you begin to pull current from it, it will drop to the desired voltage. Because of this, you should be careful when using high current capable transformers for projects. If it's a 12V adaptor rated for 2000mA and you only plan to pull 300mA you may find the voltage hovering in the 14-16V range. (This is only a problem if you don't expect it) However, because of their construction they are ALWAYS isolated from the high voltage side (unless they are intentionally connected internally.) These adaptors work by scaling down the AC voltage and 'rectifying' it, again it uses filters to keep it smooth. The frequency from these devices will be the same or double the mains voltage frequencyyou are powering them from. (Which is usually much less than the switch mode supplies) Again filters should be used, but the power would most likely be cleaner than most switch mode adaptors.
Which on you use is up to you. There are pros and cons to each. It's always a good practice to work with electronics safely. Which means not around water, and never placing yourself electrically between ground and an electric source. (For example.. a computer case is usually grounded. Don't touch an exposed wire of any kind and your computer case.)
I wish you the best of luck in your experiments. Let us know if you have any questions!
