«

I just got an AC adapter for my A510. It's a
GE universal type with selectable voltage.
1.5---3---4.5 etc. On the 3 volt setting the LCD
just flashes for a split second each time I press
the camera's on button. I thought I just got
a bad one so exchanged it but this one does
the same thing. I briefly tried the 4.5 volt setting
and it worked, but I envision clouds of smoke
drifting out of the camera so don't dare actually
leave it on like that. Do I assume correctly that
the 4.5 setting will fry the camera ?

( My SO has a Canon adapter which works
and I notice it says "output 3.15 volts" ).

thanks

wrote:

> I just got an AC adapter for my A510. It's a
> GE universal type with selectable voltage.
> 1.5---3---4.5 etc. On the 3 volt setting the LCD
> just flashes for a split second each time I press
> the camera's on button. I thought I just got
> a bad one so exchanged it but this one does
> the same thing. I briefly tried the 4.5 volt setting
> and it worked, but I envision clouds of smoke
> drifting out of the camera so don't dare actually
> leave it on like that. Do I assume correctly that
> the 4.5 setting will fry the camera ?
>
> ( My SO has a Canon adapter which works
> and I notice it says "output 3.15 volts" ).

Sounds like you have an unregulated power supply.

The voltage in unregulated supplies depends on how
much current you are drawing. The specified voltage
*drops* as soon as you start to draw current, and the
more current you draw, the lower the voltage gets.

Devices like portable radios, mp3 players and such
draw very little current. As a result, the voltage
won't drop much and the 3 volt setting will remain
around 3 volts. Unregulated supplies work well
with devices like this.

Digital cameras draw a lot of current. Your 3 volts
is probably dropping to less than 2 volts. The 4.5
volt setting is probably dropping to around 3 (Which is
why it works).

Canon makes *regulated* power supplies. These supplies
have special internal circuitry that compensates for
the current induced voltage drop. As a result, the
voltage of a regulated supply will remain at a constant
voltage.

I wouldn't recommend using an unregulated supply. If you
grab a voltmeter and measure the unloaded voltage of your
power supply at 4.5 volts, you'll probably see it's closer
to 5. Your camera sees this the instant it's turned on
(before the voltage has time to drop) and over time it can
stress components to the point of failure.

I would use a proper Canon supply or at least get a
regulated power supply.

oops.......... guess I should have included all the info.
The output on her Canon adapter says 3.15 V-------2.0 A

> Devices like portable radios, mp3 players and such
> draw very little current. As a result, the voltage
> won't drop much and the 3 volt setting will remain
> around 3 volts. Unregulated supplies work well
> with devices like this.

> Digital cameras draw a lot of current.

Is 2 amps considered a lot of current ?

> I would use a proper Canon supply or at least get a
> regulated power supply.

Maybe I can use hers more often : - )

wrote:
> I just got an AC adapter for my A510. It's a
> GE universal type with selectable voltage.
> 1.5---3---4.5 etc. On the 3 volt setting the LCD
> just flashes for a split second each time I press
> the camera's on button. I thought I just got
> a bad one so exchanged it but this one does
> the same thing. I briefly tried the 4.5 volt setting
> and it worked, but I envision clouds of smoke
> drifting out of the camera so don't dare actually
> leave it on like that. Do I assume correctly that
> the 4.5 setting will fry the camera ?
>
> ( My SO has a Canon adapter which works
> and I notice it says "output 3.15 volts" ).
>
> thanks
>

A digital camera puts a significant load on a power supply which can
reduce the output voltage of a small, unregulated power supply.
The Canon Adapter specifies its output voltage (3.15 volts) "Under Load"
i.e. the voltage of the supply while it is actually operating the camera
for which it was designed. This load is commonly as much as 1 amp.
The GE adapter specifies its output voltage at some lesser load,
commonly about 0.25 amps. So while the 4.5 volt terminal may put out 4.5
volts under say 0.25 amps, its voltage may drop to the neighborhood of
3.xx under the higher load imposed by the camera.
To be perfectly safe, I would measure the output voltage of the GE
Adapter WHILE it is operating the camera. If the voltage at the 4.5 volt
terminal is less than about 3.3 volts you should be ok. I would be
concerned about using it at anything much greater than that.
The easiest way to measure the voltage under load is to remove the
insulation from a small section of the wire going to the camera (lay
bare a small section of each of the two wires) connect a voltmeter to
each of the bare wires and read the voltage. Don't forget to re-insulate
both of the two bare wires with tape before calling it a day.
Bob Williams

writes:
>oops.......... guess I should have included all the info.
>The output on her Canon adapter says 3.15 V-------2.0 A

Sounds typical for a digital camera power supply.

>> Devices like portable radios, mp3 players and such
>> draw very little current. As a result, the voltage
>> won't drop much and the 3 volt setting will remain
>> around 3 volts. Unregulated supplies work well
>> with devices like this.

>> Digital cameras draw a lot of current.

>Is 2 amps considered a lot of current ?

What is your wall wart rated at? Typical small unregulated power
supplies are often rated 300 mA, 500 mA, or similar - not enough to
supply the current used by the camera in all conditions.

Plus, as the previous reply pointed out, most wall wart supplies are
unregulated, while the Canon one (and any suitable subtitute) provide
regulated output voltage.

Dave

wrote:
> I just got an AC adapter for my A510. It's a
> GE universal type with selectable voltage.
> 1.5---3---4.5 etc. On the 3 volt setting the LCD
> just flashes for a split second each time I press
> the camera's on button. I thought I just got
> a bad one so exchanged it but this one does
> the same thing. I briefly tried the 4.5 volt setting
> and it worked, but I envision clouds of smoke
> drifting out of the camera so don't dare actually
> leave it on like that. Do I assume correctly that
> the 4.5 setting will fry the camera ?
>
> ( My SO has a Canon adapter which works
> and I notice it says "output 3.15 volts" ).

You want to get the Lenmar Pro37
("http://lenmar.com/details.asp?model=PRO37&product=digital&type=acces sories&manufacturer=")
from Amazon
("http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00006JPNL/sr=8-2/qid=1152926172/ref=sr_1_2/102-3077736-9085716?ie=UTF8").

Make sure the polarity is correct.

Dave Martindale wrote:
>
>
> What is your wall wart rated at? Typical small unregulated power
> supplies are often rated 300 mA, 500 mA, or similar - not enough to
> supply the current used by the camera in all conditions.
>
> Plus, as the previous reply pointed out, most wall wart supplies are
> unregulated, while the Canon one (and any suitable subtitute) provide
> regulated output voltage.

Most interesting. Amazon (easy to search) list
the ACK-800 (pukka Canon adaptor) at 42.00 GBP.

I'm assuming that like most branded accessories
this is a rip off.

Can you recommend a "Generic" regulated power supply
at a better price/performance ratio?

BugBear

? "bugbear" <bugbear@trim_papermule.co.uk_trim> ?????? ??? ??????
news:44C4DD04.5040401@trim_papermule.co.uk_trim...
> Dave Martindale wrote:
> >
> >
> > What is your wall wart rated at? Typical small unregulated power
> > supplies are often rated 300 mA, 500 mA, or similar - not enough to
> > supply the current used by the camera in all conditions.
> >
> > Plus, as the previous reply pointed out, most wall wart supplies are
> > unregulated, while the Canon one (and any suitable subtitute) provide
> > regulated output voltage.
>
> Most interesting. Amazon (easy to search) list
> the ACK-800 (pukka Canon adaptor) at 42.00 GBP.
>
> I'm assuming that like most branded accessories
> this is a rip off.
>
> Can you recommend a "Generic" regulated power supply
> at a better price/performance ratio?
I got a 12V 800 mA regulated power supply, for my turntable, for 12 euros
(It's a "MW" brand).Surely you wouldn't find one in a major city, in
Britain?


--
Tzortzakakis Dimitrios
major in electrical engineering,freelance electrician
542nd mechanized infantry batallion
dimtzort AT otenet DOT gr

Ï "Tzortzakakis Dimitrios" <> Ýãñáøå óôï ìÞíõìá
news:ea2v8s$dcr$...
>
> ? "bugbear" <bugbear@trim_papermule.co.uk_trim> ?????? ??? ??????
> news:44C4DD04.5040401@trim_papermule.co.uk_trim...
> > Dave Martindale wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > > What is your wall wart rated at? Typical small unregulated power
> > > supplies are often rated 300 mA, 500 mA, or similar - not enough to
> > > supply the current used by the camera in all conditions.
> > >
> > > Plus, as the previous reply pointed out, most wall wart supplies are
> > > unregulated, while the Canon one (and any suitable subtitute) provide
> > > regulated output voltage.
> >
> > Most interesting. Amazon (easy to search) list
> > the ACK-800 (pukka Canon adaptor) at 42.00 GBP.
> >
> > I'm assuming that like most branded accessories
> > this is a rip off.
> >
> > Can you recommend a "Generic" regulated power supply
> > at a better price/performance ratio?
> I got a 12V 800 mA regulated power supply, for my turntable, for 12 euros
> (It's a "MW" brand).Surely you wouldn't find one in a major city, in
> Britain?
>
Oh-I got it in an electronics hardware store.
>
> --
> Tzortzakakis Dimitrios
> major in electrical engineering,freelance electrician
> 542nd mechanized infantry batallion
> dimtzort AT otenet DOT gr
>
>

"Tzortzakakis Dimitrios" <> writes:

>> Can you recommend a "Generic" regulated power supply
>> at a better price/performance ratio?
>I got a 12V 800 mA regulated power supply, for my turntable, for 12 euros
>(It's a "MW" brand).Surely you wouldn't find one in a major city, in
>Britain?

Check the current rating. In my experience of a few Canon P&S cameras,
the AC adapters are rated at about 1.5 A. So one rated at 800 mA will
supply only half the necessary current. This might actually work fine
if you keep the flash turned off, but if you want full use of the camera
you should look for equal or greater current rating.

I have an Ambico regulated adapter with several output voltages to
choose from that is rated at 2.1 A (2100 mA). It operates my A80
fine. It cost me CDN$20 in the surplus section of a local store (Princess
Auto), but I'd expect that even at full price the Ambico is cheaper than
the "genuine Canon" version.

Dave