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28 August 2008
Choosing the correct Mains Adaptor.

Many pieces of portable battery powered equipment such as radios, tape recorders cassette players, personal stereos, calculators and electronics games offer the ability to be powered from MAINS power.

There are four things you need to know to replace your AC/DC Adaptor:

1) Output Voltage and milli-Amps
2) Output Polarity
3) Regulated (Switching) or Un-Regulated (non-switching) Output
4) Output plug size

1) Output Voltage and milli-Amps
Usually the volts and milli-Amps (mA) are printed on the original adaptor, and often also on the device that uses the adaptor.

Choose a voltage equal or lower than required
Choose milli-Amps equal or higher than required

2) Output Polarity
This applies only to adaptors that convert AC to DC. The AC to DC adaptors will have a negative centre or a positive centre. To determine the polarity of your adaptor look for a symbol like this:

This symbol shows a positive centre. The - and + signs would be reversed for a negative centre. NEVER choose an adaptor with the wrong polarity as this can damage the equipment.

AC to AC adaptors do not have any polarity and so will not have a polarity symbol.

3) Regulated (Switching) or Un-Regulated (non-switching) Output
Most AC adaptors are un-regulated, meaning that they do not have any way to cause the output voltage to remain constant. Most electronic equipment have internal circuitry to deal with this.

Some electronic equipment such as digital cameras or security cameras are very sensitive to the input voltage and so require a Regulated (otherwise known as switching) AC adaptor. A regulated AC adaptor guarantees that the output voltage will always be constant.

A regulated adapter can be used in placed of an un-regulated adaptor. However NEVER replace a regulated adaptor with an un-regulated adaptor as this may damage the equipment.

4) Output plug size
There are hundreds of different applications that use mains adaptors and you will note that there are a number of different output plugs. We offer a range of universal adaptors each supplied with a range of Jack Plugs that should fit most of the applications. A plug size of 2.1 x 5.5mm means that the inner diameter is 2.1mm and the outer diameter is 5.5mm.

Here is a quick reference quide to which output plugs are supplied with our universal adaptors:

Ansmann products
Adaptors with the product code beginning with AP are Ansmann product and come supplied with 8 output connectors:

S: Hollowplug - 0.75mm x 2.35mm x 10mm
J: Hollowplug - 1.75mm x 4.75mm x10mm
H: Hollowplug - 1.35mm x3.5mm x10mm
I: Hollowplug - 1.7mm x 4mm x10mm
D: Hollowplug - 2.1mm x 5mm x 12mm
G: Hollowplug - 2.5mm x 5mm x 12mm
A: Jackplug - 2.5mm x 13mm
B: Jack plug - 3.5mm x 15mm

Uniross Products
Uniross product come with different sets of output connectors for the different adaptors in their range, the various connectors available are summerised below.

UO152693 and UO152747 ,

Measurements: Internal Diameter x External Diameter x Length

  • Black: Male plug - 3.5mm x 13mm
  • Yellow: 0.75mm x 2.35mm x 11mm
  • Black: 1.35mm x 3.5mm x 10.5mm
  • Yellow: 1.7mm x 4.0mm x 9.5mm
  • Blue: 2.1mm x 5.0mm x 11.5mm
  • Black: 2.5mm x 5.5mm x 11.5mm

AD101704, UO152778, AD101708

Measurements: Internal Diameter x External Diameter x Length

  • Red: 2.5mm 5.5mm x 12.0mm
  • Yellow: 2.1mm x 5.5mm x 12.0mm
  • Yellow: 0.7mm x 2.35mm x 10.0mm
  • Blue: 1.4mm x 3.5mm x 10.0mm
  • Yellow: 1.7mm x 4.0mm 9.5mm
  • Yellow: 1.75mm x 4.75mm x 9.5mm

We currently offer the following range of plug in AC adaptors from Ansmann and Uniross:

AC/DC Unregulated Adjustable Plug-in Power Supply with an output voltage range of 3-12 volts and ouput current rated at 300mA max.
AC/DC Regulated Adjustable Plug-in Power Supply with an output voltage range of 1.5-12V and output current rated at 1000mA max.
AC/DC Switch-mode Adjustable Plug-in Power Supply with an output voltage range of 3-12V and output current rated at 1200mA max.
AC/DC Switch-mode Plug in Power Supply with an output voltage range of 3-12V and output current rated at 1600mA max.
AC/DC regulated Universal mains adaptor with an output voltage range of 3-12 volts and output current rated at 300mA max.
AC/DC regulated Universal mains adaptor with an output voltage range of 3-12 volts and output current rated at 500mA max.
AC/DC regulated Universal mains adaptor with an output voltage range of 3-12 volts and output current rated at 800mA max.
AC/DC regulated Universal mains adaptor with an output voltage range of 3-12 volts and output current rated at 1250mA max.
AC/DC regulated Universal mains adaptor with an output voltage range of 3-7 volts and output current rated at 2500mA max.
   

Desktop Power Supplies
We also stock a range of desktop power supplies which can provide higher power than the plug in adaptors; these are all made by ansmann and come with the standard 8 output connectors as outlined above:

AC/DC Regulated desktop Power Supply with an output voltage range of 12-24V output current rated at 2300mA max.
AC/DC Regulated desktop Power Supply with an output voltage range of 5 - 24V and output current rated at 5000mA max.

Cell Pack Solutions Ltd
Unit 218 Tedco Business Works, South Shields, Tyne and Wear, NE33 1RF. UK.
Tel: +44 (0)191 4274577 - Fax: +44 (0)191 4274606
VAT No: 708 9179 02 - Company No: 4177772

E-mail: batteries@cellpacksolutions.com

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