Quote:
Originally Posted by al76slc
I know I should know the answer to this question, but I don't.
Let's say I have a portable electrical device (such as a CD player) that can be plugged into a 4.5VDC 200mA wall mount adaptor. If I use a 4.5VDC 1A adaptor, will I blow it up, or cause other damage?
Related: why does an electrical device that uses 2 AA cells (3VDC) require a 4.5VDC wall mount adaptor? Is there a voltage limiter in the circuit? Could I then safely use a 5-6VDC adaptor?
Thanks
Al
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First is the existing wall wart regulated or unregulated? If it is regulated then you might need to use a regulated supply. If not then you can use regulated or unregulated. Second you need to make sure you have the polarity correct. If backwards you could likely toast something.
As far as your second question, the device is probably using a voltage regulator so it needs some "headroom". This is called "dropout". Also it might have to do with what wall wart was available cheap. Could you use a higher voltage? Maybe! It just depends on what circuitry they have inside. It could cause a component or 2 to overheat.
Mike
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1998 C230 330,000 miles (currently dead of second failed EIS, yours will fail too, turning you into the dealer's personal human cash machine)
1988 F150 144,000 miles (leaks all the colors of the rainbow)
Previous stars: 1981 Brava 210,000 miles, 1978 128 150,000 miles, 1977 B200 Van 175,000 miles, 1972 Vega (great, if rusty, car), 1972 Celica, 1986.5 Supra
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