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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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