AC Plug Pack (wall wart) plugs - suggestions please

im pretty sure there are no good options, but I,m just checking

So, your "wall wart" delivers AC?

Can you put a bridge just inboard of the connector and cover the DC +, DC -, and AC cases?

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Try to make the item damage proof if used with a DC pak up to 12V.

..... Phil

First suggestion: make sure the inlet port is clearly labeled, both polarity and voltage, DC or otherwise. Hope for curious folk to find the specification, and test for fit of the mechanical bits.

Less interesting: if you use an AC pack, in-the-device bridge or voltage-doubler rectification, then follow up with a switchmode supply, you can't get the wrong polarity, and maybe can tolerate the highest of the safe-low-voltage input possibilities. I've done this with 36-70VDC telecom power modules, it works (within limits, at a cost).

I once spent 20 minutes on the phone to customer support for a device (a very important IEEE 802.3 to IEEE 1284 converter needed for payroll) because the power pack had gone missing, just while they were telling me that I had to have their genuide power pack, the screwless case came open in my hands to reveal a bridge rectifier, 100uF cap and an LM7805. I soon found a suitable power pack.

One simple solution is run the kit at the highest commonish wart voltage, 3

NT

Use two connectors, one for each pole.

The only vaguely common alternatives I've seen are round DIN plugs or

Alternatively, nearly all the warts I've seen use 2.1 or 2.5 mm centre pins, 5.5 mm outside. Maybe use an odd size, like this one?

Cheers

Phil Hobbs

Sadly, I confess I have done it. An LED clock that used 5volts got it's own wake up call when I plugged 12 volts into it. I really needed the clock and I liked it too.

Yep, I was thinking that would be the best I could do.

Thanks

I think they are used in Android devices.

That will work.

Thank you all. I think clear labels is the only practical and aesthetically acceptable solution. Sometimes you can't fully protect against stupid.

While most manufacturers distribute wall warts that just bear "generic" labeling (Vin@Iin, Vou@Iout), you could actually tag the wall wart with a label indicating its PURPOSE: "Frajistat9000 Power Supply".

Of course, then you can't leverage a common part for multiple devices (and may require the wall wart vendor to label them for you)

I have systematically gone through EVERY wall wart, brick and "other" power adapter, here, and affixed labels declaring their intended mates. I find it makes it a lot easier to ensure the correct power adapter stays with its intended device (as power adapters seem to "congregate" and lose their distinguishing identities!)

I also label *devices* that seem to shy away from clearly identifying their make/model -- so I can later figure out which device mates to a particular wall wart (what good is labeling the wall wart if you can't identify the device??)

Ah, the "benefits" of having everything "Hecho en China"... :<

Is that a Polish joke? :)

-- Never piss off an Engineer!

They don't get mad.

They don't get even.

They go for over unity! ;-)

one shared between 2 poles.

Sure, they're going to be used by somebody, or they wouldn't still be available. The key is to make the conjunction rare.

Cheers

Phil Hobbs

That's why we standardized on +24V. AC won't kill our boxes because of the unidirectional TVS, series Schottky rectifier, and polyfuse. However, as you go lower in voltage, your box will draw more operating current, so it'll require that much more fault current to switch the polyfuse if somebody plugs in the wrong wart.

Cheers

Phil Hobbs

I gather you're retired. ;)

AFAICT the use of AC warts mostly went out with the 56kbaud modem, and for good reason. That approach requires gigundo wet Al filter caps and so on in order to be able to handle 50-60 Hz AC. What a waste.

Cheers

Phil Hobbs

We like 24 because it's unlikely that anybody has a higher voltage wart around, to plug in by mistake.

Of course, my new pulse generator ships with a 48v wart!