AC/DC 12v Adapter Help

paul maddix · Jan 12, 2013, 12:28 PM

I have recently purchased a used p.c flt monitor with NO ADAPTER.
This states that it requires a 12v 3.8a adapter.
I have to hand a 12v 1000mA 12VA adapter.
Another I have is a 12v Max 25va.

Not knowing very much about electronics!
Can I safely use either of these, or are they likely to cause any damage to my hardware?

Frick · Jan 12, 2013, 12:42 PM

If it causes damage it is to the adapter, but nothing else. You're about 2.8A short there, which is quite a lot. It might not even work, so you need a new adapter.

St.Alia-Of-The-Knife · Jan 12, 2013, 02:00 PM

VA stands for volt amps
In your case it roughly translate into watts so the second one is around 2amps, so not enough

paul maddix · Jan 12, 2013, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by St.Alia-Of-The-Knife

VA stands for volt amps
In your case it roughly translate into watts so the second one is around 2amps, so not enough

Thanks for the advice, I suspected that I would have to purchase a NEW ADAPTER!.

Hellraiser1981 · Jan 14, 2013, 06:50 AM

The adapters you have aren't nearly enough.
Tap into your PC's power supply until you get a new adapter. 12v 3.8A = 45.6W or VA

OneMoar · Jan 14, 2013, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hellraiser1981

Tap into your PC's power supply until you get a new adapter. 12v 3.8A = 45.6W or VA

thats actually not a bad idea ... if he knew what he was doing lol

Hellraiser1981 · Jan 14, 2013, 06:59 AM

It's easy enough to fold over a stripped wire and jam it in a molex. Yellow is +12v and Black is GND
I've even powered car amps off PC PSU's lol

de.das.dude · Jan 14, 2013, 07:03 AM

just buy a new adapter for 12V, 60VA or 5Amps

or make yourself one

OneMoar · Jan 14, 2013, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hellraiser1981

It's easy enough to fold over a stripped wire and jam it in a molex. Yellow is +12v and Black is GND
I've even powered car amps off PC PSU's lol

actually the correct and safe way todo it would be to use a crimp on bullet connector ...

paul maddix · Jan 14, 2013, 06:00 PM

Thanks very much for the useful advice chaps.
I will certainly try that, I think I have an old unused PSU around somewhere too.

Frick · Jan 14, 2013, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paul maddix

Thanks very much for the useful advice chaps.
I will certainly try that, I think I have an old unused PSU around somewhere too.

Just be careful. If you dont know your way around electronics/electricity i recommend against it.

Hellraiser1981 · Jan 14, 2013, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paul maddix

Thanks very much for the useful advice chaps.
I will certainly try that, I think I have an old unused PSU around somewhere too.

Green wire to GND is PS-ON signal. Sure be careful, but PSU's have over current protect and doing this is very safe. Note some psu's will shut down if there is inadequate load on some rails.

Frick · Jan 14, 2013, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hellraiser1981

Green wire to GND is PS-ON signal. Sure be careful, but PSU's have over current protect and doing this is very safe. Note some psu's will shut down if there is inadequate load on some rails.

how well those protection works depends on the PSU. If its a really really bad one it could be downright dangerous.

Jan 12, 2013, 12:28 PM	#1
paul maddix Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 3 (0.02/day) Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	AC/DC 12v Adapter Help I have recently purchased a used p.c flt monitor with NO ADAPTER. This states that it requires a 12v 3.8a adapter. I have to hand a 12v 1000mA 12VA adapter. Another I have is a 12v Max 25va. Not knowing very much about electronics! Can I safely use either of these, or are they likely to cause any damage to my hardware? Last edited by paul maddix; Jan 12, 2013 at 01:42 PM. Reason: Found another adapter.

Jan 12, 2013, 12:42 PM	#2
Frick Fishfaced Nincompoop Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Sweden Posts: 7,908 (2.99/day) Thanks: 1,076 Thanked 1,449 Times in 1,155 Posts System Specs	If it causes damage it is to the adapter, but nothing else. You're about 2.8A short there, which is quite a lot. It might not even work, so you need a new adapter. __________________ Typemachine: Acer Aspire One D250 \| Atom N280 1.6 Ghz \| 1GB DDR2 \| 160GB SATA \| 10.1' 1024 x 600 \| Lubuntu 12.10 Oldbox: HP D530 \| Pentium 4 2.8 Ghz \| 1GB DDR \| 40GB \| Windows XP "The 'gentle biker' look is overdone. I'm going for 'psycho hillbilly.' "

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Jan 12, 2013, 02:00 PM	#3
St.Alia-Of-The-Knife Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 191 (0.24/day) Thanks: 25 Thanked 32 Times in 20 Posts System Specs	VA stands for volt amps In your case it roughly translate into watts so the second one is around 2amps, so not enough __________________

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Jan 14, 2013, 06:50 AM	#5
Hellraiser1981 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Green Bay, WI Posts: 298 (0.10/day) Thanks: 6 Thanked 24 Times in 19 Posts	The adapters you have aren't nearly enough. Tap into your PC's power supply until you get a new adapter. 12v 3.8A = 45.6W or VA

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Jan 14, 2013, 06:59 AM	#7
Hellraiser1981 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Green Bay, WI Posts: 298 (0.10/day) Thanks: 6 Thanked 24 Times in 19 Posts	It's easy enough to fold over a stripped wire and jam it in a molex. Yellow is +12v and Black is GND I've even powered car amps off PC PSU's lol

Jan 14, 2013, 07:03 AM	#8
de.das.dude Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Wild Wild East Posts: 4,605 (4.27/day) Thanks: 2,340 Thanked 1,344 Times in 921 Posts System Specs	just buy a new adapter for 12V, 60VA or 5Amps or make yourself one __________________ my wallet isnt hashwell compatiple sad face

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Jan 14, 2013, 06:00 PM	#10
paul maddix Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 3 (0.02/day) Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks Thanks very much for the useful advice chaps. I will certainly try that, I think I have an old unused PSU around somewhere too.

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