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electrical:12v:wallwart

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electrical:12v:wallwart [2021/05/02 18:22]
frater_secessus [Devices with power adapters]
electrical:12v:wallwart [2021/05/02 18:48] (current)
frater_secessus [common device voltages]
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 ====== Devices with power adapters ====== ====== Devices with power adapters ======
  
-It is a common misconception that inverters are needed for everything that [[electrical:shore_power|plugs into a wall]].  Inverters are generally required only for devices that run off wall power with cord that runs permanently into the device Example: table lamp +{{ https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1ZNnNLXXXXXbyXpXXq6xXFXXXd/12V-2A-EU-Plug-AC-Adapter-DC-Power-Supply-Plug-EURO-Regulation-Wall-Wart-Charger-5.jpg?125}} 
 +It is a common misconception that inverters are needed to run devices with wall adapters.  That is usually not the case.  Devices that have a plug that has a block at the end (or elsewhere) are typically using **DC power**, which is what is already in your carNo inverter neededThe adapter is there only to change 120vac to the required amount of DC voltage.((ie, "rectification"))   
  
-{{ https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1ZNnNLXXXXXbyXpXXq6xXFXXXd/12V-2A-EU-Plug-AC-Adapter-DC-Power-Supply-Plug-EURO-Regulation-Wall-Wart-Charger-5.jpg?125}}Devices that have a "wall-wart" power adapter that can disconnect from the device are typically using **DC power**, which is what is already in your car.  The adapter is there only to change 120vac to the required amount of DC voltage.((ie, "rectification"))   If you inspect the device or adapter it will usually indicate something like:+Inverters are generally required only for devices that run off [[electrical:shore_power|wall power]] with cord that runs permanently into the device.  Example: table lamp 
  
-  * 12vdc, 2A (24w) 
-  * 5vdc, 1A (5w, typical with usb) 
  
 +**How to decide**:  //If you need an inverter for other reasons// it is often reasonable to run DC adapters from that inverter.((Exception:  really big inverters with high [[electrical:12v:loads|parasitic loads]] running small adaptes))  It is rarely reasonable to buy an inverter solely to run DC adapters. 
  
-===== common device voltages =====+ 
 + 
 +===== device voltages provided by adapters =====
  
  
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 ==== 5vdc ==== ==== 5vdc ====
  
 +{{ https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41tHeiafxSL._SY90_.jpg?125}}5vdc is most often seen in USB.  If your device needs 5v((up to ~2A)) you can likely run it from a USB to plug adapter.  [[https://amzn.to/2RlNbEp|Example]].   You will have to assess the plug size.
 ==== other voltages ==== ==== other voltages ====
  
 +Other voltages like 9v and 6v are less common.  If you have multiple devices that use the same odd voltage you might want to buy a DC-DC "buck" converter and adjust it for the desired voltage.  
 +
 +Inexpensive ones ([[https://amzn.to/2QFmHOx|example]]) typically have a "pot" (screw to turn on a potentiometer) to adjust voltage, so bring your multimeter.  They are so inexpensive you might keep a few pre-tuned and labeled for specific voltages.
 +
 +Fancier ones ([[https://amzn.to/3aY4r9N|example]]) might have LED readouts and allow you to configure the output with buttons.  
 +
 +If you have an adapter with a weird output voltage and don't want to mess with buck converters a very small, inexpensive inverter might be the thing.  Even one small enough to run from the cigarette lighter ([[https://amzn.to/3gWOKni|example]]).
 +
 +==== boost converters ====
 +
 +It's rarer still for devices to use adapters that make more than 12vdc.  Increasing voltage from 12vdc to a higher DC voltage requires a "boost" converter ([[https://amzn.to/33bM39j|example]]).  The laptop adapters mentioned earlier are boost converters.
  
  
electrical/12v/wallwart.1619994142.txt.gz · Last modified: 2021/05/02 18:22 by frater_secessus