Help ID Wallwart Switcher or Linear

It's a switcher:

As a guess, your problem may stem from the fact (?) that you appear to be switching the supply AC input instead of switching an already stable DC output from the supply.

Can you do the following?

------- / AC---|PHC2200|---o o-------+ | | Tstat | | | Switch [Pump] | | | AC---| |--------------+ -------

Instead of this:

/ ------- AC---o o---|PHC2200|------+ Tstat | | | Switch | | [Pump] | | | AC----------| |------+ -------

Also, this idea could help if you must switch the AC side:

/ +---o o-----------------+ | | +12 ---+------+--[Rly]--+------+ | | | | | | [3.3K] +---|

Hi Ed, Thanks for the input, I saw the "auto switching " term on another site, but it didn't give my the feel of solid information. On this site you found it does say "state of the art switching technology" I think that is solid enough! I'm helping someone else try to get to an understanding of what he has. I'll try to send them here to see your ascii art. Thanks for the help, Mike

It is very likely a linear, but I will not declare it as such from a mere photo and common sense.

Lessee, 1-Switching 1-Linear, ok next vote must be right! Mike :-)

A box like that usually has a transformer in there. Is it heavy, like there might be some laminated mµ metal plates in there? ie transformer.

If so, I do not know of many transformer fed switchers, but anything is possible.

Ya, it's a lack of solid info, it looks like the standard wallwart with a stepdown transformer, but description says "state of the art switching technology". The price seems more consistant with a stepdown transformer style. Wouldn't be hard to figure if I had it in my hands. Mike

The first line on the product's retail display card is:

"Universal Regulated Switching AC/DC Adapter"

Input voltage range is 100-240VAC.

An electro-mechanical pump's loading will not look anything like a portable rechargeable battery-powered consumer device, for which this adapter is marketed. This is because batteries are expected to be present in the circuit to handle operating transients. Largish output filter caps might help it power more dynamic loads unassisted.

Switching the output (after any extra filter caps), rather than the input, might be safer.

As I recall, a household type thermostatic controller normally expects to switch 24VAC control lines, not AC mains directly. You might read the info that came with it - this type of info will be printed pretty clearly on the instructions.

RL

This system is designed to run a pump for a solar water heating system. I think it is made to switch a 120vac to run a pump. In this case the fellow is running a 12vdc pump. Mike

If it's in a blister pack that can hang on a display hook, it must be a switcher.

Cheers! Rich

I'm being told this is rated at 2200mah as in 2.2amp/hours. This is because it is a multi voltage PS. Does this make sense? Mike

No. mAh ratings are applied to batteries or other energy storage devices only.

Adapters will have a voltage compliance limit, a power rating and a current limit. Depending on the battery voltage, the power limit will translate into a charging current P/V, below the current limit. The voltage compliance represents open-circuit output or maximum float voltage.

The adjustment required for different non-smart battery systems is float voltage.

If there is some kind of intelligence in the adapter that relates to a

You need more info.

Similar low power (