Tip & How-To about Electronics - Others

Checking an AC-DC Power Transformer as the cause of a device failure

After a couple of personal experiences, I found that many electronic devices that use a wall plug in AC to DC power transformer ( commonly known as a power brick) are the most common cause of failure to the electronic device they are connected up to.
NEVER just check this for voltage. A power brick can easily show you it's supplying the right voltage BUT lacks the Amperage that your device requires. It's usually the amperage that fails.
THIS IS THE RIGHT WAY TO CHECK A POWER BRICK:
Invest in a purchase of a multi voltage universal power brick from an electronics store or Amazon.
Buy one that has voltage adjustments from 3 - 5 - 7.5 - 9 - 12 DC volts
MOST IMPORTANT that this new brick be rated for 2.5 or 3.0 AMPS ( also known as 2500 - 3000 MaH).
It should also be the type which comes with a variety of tips to plug into different devices.
....Before you declare that your electronic device is no good......
Replace the power brick with the new one you invested in.
Adjust the voltage to the same voltage as what was supplied on the original power brick. Install the right tip to properly plug into your device AND MAKE SURE THAT IT IS PROPERLY POLARIZED. On the orig. brick or on your device it shows the proper position of + and - voltage for proper connection. Usually the center is + but check first.
Don't worry about amperage. A 3 amp brick covers just about every need for different devices and your device will only use what it needs. It will NOT over power your device. But again make sure the voltage is properly set.
Now with the brick plugged into the wall and plugged into your device, power up your device and see if it now works. If it doesn't, it's the device. if it does, it's your original brick going out.
What I do is buy a dedicated power brick to replace my test brick so I can use it again for the next time I need to check something.
You'll be surprised at how many times you can salvage your electronic device by using this simple test method.

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Power adapter i can us

What does a power adapter do?
An AC adapter, AC/DC adapter, or AC/DC converter is a type of external power supply, often enclosed in a case similar to an AC plug. ... AC adapters are used with electrical devices that require power but do not contain internal components to derive the required voltage and power from mains power.
OR
power adapter. A power supply for electronic devices. Also called an "AC adapter" or "charger," power adapters plug into a wall outlet and convert AC to a single DC voltage. Computers use multiple DC voltages, and the power adapter is the external part of the power supply for a laptop.
https://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/power-adapter
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WHAT ARE TRANSFORMERS

Wall socket power (high voltage) is known as AC (Alternating Current). Battery power (low voltage) is known as DC (Direct Current). Transformers are electrical converters that change AC input to DC output or DC input to AC output. This is required to charge or to supply mains power for most portable devices that use batteries when not plugged in, or devices that do not have batteries but still require DC power input. Examples of such devices are laptops, phones, tablets, printers, print servers etc. A transformer for your print server is most likely a black box in line with the power cable. In this case you will need a new power cable which will include the transformer. Some transformers are within the device itself with a power socket in the back of the device. If this is the case then replacement of the transformer (or sometimes the whole device) is required depending on the price of parts, sometimes replacing the whole device is cheaper.
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DC to AC power cord Do they still make them if so under what name or product name?

"DC to AC" cords are not really a common item. They are called "Inverters". Typical inverters are 12VDC to 120VAC and are found in mobile applications to operate houshold current type (120VAC) devices. Inverters cost many times more than thier "AC to DC" or "AC to AC" sisters.

An "AC to DC" and "AC to AC" cord however, is a very common item. They are usually called simply "AC Adapters" and are sold in many electronics stores (Best Buy, Fry's, etc.) and electronic specialty stores (Radio Shack) and electrnics suppliers (MCM, etc.) Nearly all of them are designed to reduce the voltage in your home (120 VAC volts alternating current) to a different but usually lower voltage that is either AC or DC.

In order to select the proper AC adapter, you need to know:
(1) Input Voltage - this is the outlet voltage - often 120 volts in N. America, (2) Output voltage - this is the voltage the device needs and is often indicated near the jack, The adapted must match this voltage. (3) the device voltage type - this will be either AC or DC. The adapter must match the type as they are NOT interchangeable. (4) the size and type plug on the cord that will allow it to mate properly with the jack. There are many, many types and it should be tested for fit prior to plugging in and must match the device jack (5) the power requirements - this is usually shown as a number in Watts (w) and / or Amps (a). It is very important that the apdapter power rating is equal to or greater than the amount specified by the device. Failure to meet the requirements above can cause failure of the device, adapter or both.

I hope this helps and good luck!
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