Power adapter required - but where to purchase from?
12 December 2008, 06:41 PM
#1
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,623
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Power adapter required - but where to purchase from?
Hi all
Just assembled my Xmas trees and all the goodies with flashing lights to go with them..
We have a snowman which glows in 3 different colours, alternating between the 3. This runs on 3 x AA batteries and they don't tend to last very long. Rather than fart about buying new batteries all the time I noticed it has a socket in the back which indicates it could run from the mains. It's the same kind of socket you would find on the side of most electronic items which run on either batteries or mains.
Anyone know where I could get a power adapter from and what rating I'd need? I remember back in the hand-held electronics game days these were rated at 9v but 3 x AA batteries only produce 4.5v so would I need the same?
Sorry to be thick but don't want to fry Mr Snowman.
Nick
Just assembled my Xmas trees and all the goodies with flashing lights to go with them..
We have a snowman which glows in 3 different colours, alternating between the 3. This runs on 3 x AA batteries and they don't tend to last very long. Rather than fart about buying new batteries all the time I noticed it has a socket in the back which indicates it could run from the mains. It's the same kind of socket you would find on the side of most electronic items which run on either batteries or mains.
Anyone know where I could get a power adapter from and what rating I'd need? I remember back in the hand-held electronics game days these were rated at 9v but 3 x AA batteries only produce 4.5v so would I need the same?
Sorry to be thick but don't want to fry Mr Snowman.
Nick
12 December 2008, 06:42 PM
#2
something like
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/9828915/c_1/2|category_root|Home+entertainment+and+sat+nav|101 99181/c_2/3|cat_10199181|Electrical+accessories|10199205.htm ?Price+Cut=1
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/9828915/c_1/2|category_root|Home+entertainment+and+sat+nav|101 99181/c_2/3|cat_10199181|Electrical+accessories|10199205.htm ?Price+Cut=1
12 December 2008, 06:56 PM
#3
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Nov 1998
Posts: 11,905
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
12 December 2008, 08:23 PM
#4
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: There on the stair
Posts: 10,208
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The problem is the ampage, not the volts. If you pump too many amps through you'll fry everything.
There is usually an info section near to the connector that will show you the correct output from the adapter. If you can't find one I'd be tempted to buy some rechargeables.
There is usually an info section near to the connector that will show you the correct output from the adapter. If you can't find one I'd be tempted to buy some rechargeables.
12 December 2008, 08:28 PM
#5
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Swilling coffee at my lab bench
Posts: 9,096
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Wrong way round 
It's the voltage that needs to be correct - 4.5V for something designed to run off three AA batteries.
The current rating of the adapter is a maximum that it's capable of supplying. The actual current that flows depends on the load. So, you can't damage something by using an adapter with a higher rating than needed, but an adapter with a rating that's too low might overheat.
The Maplin adapter that boxst suggests would probably be fine.
It's the voltage that needs to be correct - 4.5V for something designed to run off three AA batteries.
The current rating of the adapter is a maximum that it's capable of supplying. The actual current that flows depends on the load. So, you can't damage something by using an adapter with a higher rating than needed, but an adapter with a rating that's too low might overheat.
The Maplin adapter that boxst suggests would probably be fine.
12 December 2008, 10:42 PM
#6
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: There on the stair
Posts: 10,208
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Wrong way round
It's the voltage that needs to be correct - 4.5V for something designed to run off three AA batteries.
The current rating of the adapter is a maximum that it's capable of supplying. The actual current that flows depends on the load. So, you can't damage something by using an adapter with a higher rating than needed, but an adapter with a rating that's too low might overheat.
The Maplin adapter that boxst suggests would probably be fine.
It's the voltage that needs to be correct - 4.5V for something designed to run off three AA batteries.
The current rating of the adapter is a maximum that it's capable of supplying. The actual current that flows depends on the load. So, you can't damage something by using an adapter with a higher rating than needed, but an adapter with a rating that's too low might overheat.
The Maplin adapter that boxst suggests would probably be fine.
That's me corrected
I always thought it was the current it would supply, not what it could... I'm gonna dig out some of my myriad adapters and compare them to the kit they fit now 
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post