I bought a DM5 from a chap in the USA and it arrived yesterday with the USA power plug as expected. No problem there. I'm going to buy a similar plug from Dick Smith but was wondering.... the USA plug is 9VAC with 830mA. If I get a 9VAC with 1amp will that be ok? It's the voltage that matters, not the amps in this case?
Kris.
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9VAC plug
Moderators: rick, Mark Bassett
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Yo Kris
To build on Otto's reply, the power supply amps number is a rating of the maximum current able to be delivered by the supply, rather than a statement about actual electrical current.
The supply delivers 9V, but the actual amps drawn from it depends on the circuit to which its connected (amps = volts/resistance). What the amp rating tells you is that you should not connect it to a circuit that will draw more than 1 amp, or else you'll blow your supply (very quickly, in my experience!).
I tend to favour (within reason) an overengineered power supply anyway - look at how many computer power supplies die becuase they run their tolerances too close to the wire. So in my book, you've actually done the right thing in getting a 12% higher rated supply.
To build on Otto's reply, the power supply amps number is a rating of the maximum current able to be delivered by the supply, rather than a statement about actual electrical current.
The supply delivers 9V, but the actual amps drawn from it depends on the circuit to which its connected (amps = volts/resistance). What the amp rating tells you is that you should not connect it to a circuit that will draw more than 1 amp, or else you'll blow your supply (very quickly, in my experience!).
I tend to favour (within reason) an overengineered power supply anyway - look at how many computer power supplies die becuase they run their tolerances too close to the wire. So in my book, you've actually done the right thing in getting a 12% higher rated supply.
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chris p - Frequent Contributor

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- Joined: Tue May 10, 2005 6:15 pm
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An AC supply is better known to you and me as a transformer.
Something like
http://www.altronics.com.au/index.asp?a ... &id=M2165L
Just stick it in a box with a (say) 200 - 500mA fuse inline on the primaries.
Good luck
Something like
http://www.altronics.com.au/index.asp?a ... &id=M2165L
Just stick it in a box with a (say) 200 - 500mA fuse inline on the primaries.
Good luck
-

chris p - Frequent Contributor

- Posts: 882
- Joined: Tue May 10, 2005 6:15 pm
- Location: Sydney, NSW
7 posts
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