1. Home
  2. Hobby Electronics Basics
  3. Really easy question

Really easy question

Sorry for the really easy question but I am clueless when it come to this stuff.

Problem: I am in the UK and I have an American made Kawaii keyboard that has been working fine for years. Recently, the power adaptor gave up. It was American and was attatched to a rubbish adaptor for British sockets (which I think was a shaver adaptor!).

I bought a new AC adaptor (with variable voltage switch) and that was fine until recently when it gave up too. I had it set at 12v which was fine.

I know there is a compatibility problem with UK current (or whatever, I really don't know) and US appliances, but is it now a problem with the keyboard or is there a simple adaptor I can get that will work better??

Thanks,

Reply to
perez
Loading thread data ...

Find a switching supply that has the same polarity at 12V as the original power supply and an equal or greater current capacity. The idea here is that most modern switching supplies are smaller and lighter than an iron core transformer and they are universal input which allows for either American or British power standards. Some, like Viewsonic uses with their LCD monitors, have both standard power cords. Others will require an external socket adapter.

Reply to
Lord Garth

Is it possible that this second adapter did not have a large enough current capacity? > the keyboard or is there a simple adaptor I can get that will work

Well, the quesion isn't all that simple! This is a good answer:

I extract the key clause:

This will get you around your "rubbish" adapter. There are two big differences between European and American house current. The first problem is the voltage - ~220 vs. ~115. The second (and most critical), problem is the frequency - 50 vs. 60. A switching power supply eliminates both problems. They're readily availible, I did a Google on the text:

switching power supply universal input

And got a page full of on-line vendors.

--
http://www.xmission.com/~tiger885/motorbike/NART/nart.html
Reply to
Kitchen Man 

--
Really? Plugging a 60Hz adapter into 50Hz is likely going to make the
adapter run a little warmer and reduce its output current capability
by about 17%, but plugging a 120V adapter into 240V is certainly going
to result in something much more severe happening.
Reply to
John Fields

ElectronDepot website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.