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Hi All,

We have an external HDD for which we have lost the power adapter
(probably thrown out during a shift recently).

However, we have a plethora of power supplies lying around, and the
drive enclosure states what it needs I think. I would just like to
check with you all as to what it means!

It reads:

12V (DC Symbol) 0-2.0A (Set at 1.5A)

Now I know that 12V means it needs a 12 volt supply, and the symbol I
looked up and it means Direct Current (of course).

It is the amperage that I am concerned about. Does it mean that I can
plug in any supply that puts out 12V DC at anything between zero and
two amps? Is the 1.5A the recommended output?

If I recall correctly from many years ago at school, the device would
determine its power draw (in amps), and so I am thinking that as long
as the supply I plug in can deliver enough amps, it doesn't matter if
it is rated higher. However, I would like to get a second opinion on
that!!

Only other issue is trying all the plugs to find one that fits

Thanks,

--

Alan.

The views expressed are my own, and not those of my employer or anyone
else associated with me.

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"Alan" <> wrote in news:g766jm$t4g$:

> 12V (DC Symbol) 0-2.0A (Set at 1.5A)
> ... so I am thinking that as long as the supply I plug in can
> deliver enough amps, it doesn't matter if it is rated higher.
> However, I would like to get a second opinion on that!!

Yes, correct.
As long as the supply is rated 2A output or higher it's good to go.

The other variable is is it a centre-positive or centre-negative
plug? A little picture on the enclosure should explain which.

(The text: "(Set at 1.5A)" doesn't make any sense tho...
WHAT is set at 1.5A?)

Mark

Alan wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> We have an external HDD for which we have lost the power adapter
> (probably thrown out during a shift recently).
>
> However, we have a plethora of power supplies lying around, and the
> drive enclosure states what it needs I think. I would just like to
> check with you all as to what it means!
>
> It reads:
>
> 12V (DC Symbol) 0-2.0A (Set at 1.5A)
>
> Now I know that 12V means it needs a 12 volt supply, and the symbol I
> looked up and it means Direct Current (of course).
>
> It is the amperage that I am concerned about. Does it mean that I can
> plug in any supply that puts out 12V DC at anything between zero and
> two amps? Is the 1.5A the recommended output?
>
> If I recall correctly from many years ago at school, the device would
> determine its power draw (in amps), and so I am thinking that as long
> as the supply I plug in can deliver enough amps, it doesn't matter if
> it is rated higher. However, I would like to get a second opinion on
> that!!
>
> Only other issue is trying all the plugs to find one that fits
>
As someone else said, you need to ensure if the polarity is correct too!

IE is the centre pin +ive or -ive.

(Just in case you didn't get the other post).

Cheers,

Cliff

--

"I LOVE IT!!" - someone on a newsgroup, somewhere.

"Alan" <> wrote in message news:g766jm$t4g$...
>
> Hi All,
>
> We have an external HDD for which we have lost the power adapter (probably
> thrown out during a shift recently).
>
> However, we have a plethora of power supplies lying around, and the drive
> enclosure states what it needs I think. I would just like to check with
> you all as to what it means!
>
> It reads:
>
> 12V (DC Symbol) 0-2.0A (Set at 1.5A)
>
> Now I know that 12V means it needs a 12 volt supply, and the symbol I
> looked up and it means Direct Current (of course).
>
> It is the amperage that I am concerned about. Does it mean that I can
> plug in any supply that puts out 12V DC at anything between zero and two
> amps? Is the 1.5A the recommended output?
>
> If I recall correctly from many years ago at school, the device would
> determine its power draw (in amps), and so I am thinking that as long as
> the supply I plug in can deliver enough amps, it doesn't matter if it is
> rated higher. However, I would like to get a second opinion on that!!
>
> Only other issue is trying all the plugs to find one that fits
>
> Thanks,
>
> --
>
> Alan.
>
Switch mode power supply is your best bet for getting 12v at up to 2A
rating.

Try here http://www.surplustronics.co.nz

"Mark C" <> wrote in message
news:4896aaf9$0$1827$...
> "Alan" <> wrote in news:g766jm$t4g$:
>
>> 12V (DC Symbol) 0-2.0A (Set at 1.5A)
>> ... so I am thinking that as long as the supply I plug in can
>> deliver enough amps, it doesn't matter if it is rated higher.
>> However, I would like to get a second opinion on that!!
>
> Yes, correct.
> As long as the supply is rated 2A output or higher it's good to go.
>
> The other variable is is it a centre-positive or centre-negative
> plug? A little picture on the enclosure should explain which.
>
> (The text: "(Set at 1.5A)" doesn't make any sense tho...
> WHAT is set at 1.5A?)
>
> Mark

Hi Mark,

The only 'picture' was the DC symbol.

What would happen if I found a supply that was 12V DC output of at
least 2A but was the wrong way round (positive - negative) and plugged
it in?

Would it just not work, or would it cause harm?

Not sure what the '(Set at 1.5A)' means, but that is what it says on
the end of the line that read, in full, as '12V (DC Symbol) 0-2.0A
(Set at 1.5A)' perhaps it means that 1.5A is okay, but 2A is better?

Thanks,

--

Alan.

The views expressed are my own, and not those of my employer or anyone
else associated with me.

My current valid email address is:



This is valid as is. It is not munged, or altered at all.

It will be valid for AT LEAST one month from the date of this post.

If you are trying to contact me after that time,
it MAY still be valid, but may also have been
deactivated due to spam. If so, and you want
to contact me by email, try searching for a
more recent post by me to find my current
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The following is a (probably!) totally unique
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ewygchvboocno43vb674b6nq46tvb

"Mark Robinson" <> wrote in message
news:...
>>
>> What would happen if I found a supply that was 12V DC output of at
>> least 2A but was the wrong way round (positive - negative) and
>> plugged
>> it in?
>>
>> Would it just not work, or would it cause harm?
>
> Untold harm.
>
> Fixed width font time:
> _
> / \
> +ve -------o |------ -ve
> \_/
>
> Look for a symbol like that.
>
>> Not sure what the '(Set at 1.5A)' means, but that is what it says
>> on the end of the line that read, in full, as '12V (DC Symbol)
>> 0-2.0A (Set at 1.5A)' perhaps it means that 1.5A is okay, but 2A is
>> better?
>
> Dunno, that seems ambiguous.
>
> Not having enough power running a drive can be very bad for your
> data.
>
> Whatever supply you use should be (well) regulated.

Okay, I went back and you are all right (of course!) so I scanned the
label with the symbol on it, but it is hard to see:

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/3910/posornegmm6.png

It really is there if you look closely, but hard to see due to being
on black - you might have to zoom in, but there is a symbol that I
think means that it is centre-positive.

Can I check that with someone else here?

Is the thing on the left (two squares, one inside the other) of any
relevance too?

Thanks,

--

Alan.

The views expressed are my own, and not those of my employer or anyone
else associated with me.

My current valid email address is:



This is valid as is. It is not munged, or altered at all.

It will be valid for AT LEAST one month from the date of this post.

If you are trying to contact me after that time,
it MAY still be valid, but may also have been
deactivated due to spam. If so, and you want
to contact me by email, try searching for a
more recent post by me to find my current
email address.

The following is a (probably!) totally unique
and meaningless string of characters that you
can use to find posts by me in a search engine:

ewygchvboocno43vb674b6nq46tvb

Somewhere on teh intarweb "Alan" typed:
> "Mark Robinson" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>>>
>>> What would happen if I found a supply that was 12V DC output of at
>>> least 2A but was the wrong way round (positive - negative) and
>>> plugged
>>> it in?
>>>
>>> Would it just not work, or would it cause harm?
>>
>> Untold harm.
>>
>> Fixed width font time:
>> _
>> / \
>> +ve -------o |------ -ve
>> \_/
>>
>> Look for a symbol like that.
>>
>>> Not sure what the '(Set at 1.5A)' means, but that is what it says
>>> on the end of the line that read, in full, as '12V (DC Symbol)
>>> 0-2.0A (Set at 1.5A)' perhaps it means that 1.5A is okay, but 2A is
>>> better?
>>
>> Dunno, that seems ambiguous.
>>
>> Not having enough power running a drive can be very bad for your
>> data.
>>
>> Whatever supply you use should be (well) regulated.
>
> Okay, I went back and you are all right (of course!) so I scanned the
> label with the symbol on it, but it is hard to see:
>
> http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/3910/posornegmm6.png
>
> It really is there if you look closely, but hard to see due to being
> on black - you might have to zoom in, but there is a symbol that I
> think means that it is centre-positive.
>
> Can I check that with someone else here?

Done. Indeed, centre positive.

> Is the thing on the left (two squares, one inside the other) of any
> relevance too?

Dunno. I've seen it on devices before. At a guess (like you need that) I'd
say that it means that the power going into the enclosure should be isolated
from the mains.

Good luck,
--
Shaun.

DISCLAIMER: If you find a posting or message from me
offensive, inappropriate, or disruptive, please ignore it.
If you don't know how to ignore a posting, complain to
me and I will be only too happy to demonstrate...

On Tue, 5 Aug 2008 16:28:42 +1200, Alan <> wrote in
<news:g78lms$inp$>:

> Okay, I went back and you are all right (of course!) so I scanned the
> label with the symbol on it, but it is hard to see:
>
> http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/3910/posornegmm6.png
>
> It really is there if you look closely, but hard to see due to being
> on black - you might have to zoom in, but there is a symbol that I
> think means that it is centre-positive.
>
> Can I check that with someone else here?

You are correct - centre-positive.


> Is the thing on the left (two squares, one inside the other) of any
> relevance too?

That indicates that the appliance is double-insulated - which is of little
relevance in this context.

--
- Nic.

Thanx to everyone!

--

Alan.

The views expressed are my own, and not those of my employer or anyone
else associated with me.

My current valid email address is:



This is valid as is. It is not munged, or altered at all.

It will be valid for AT LEAST one month from the date of this post.

If you are trying to contact me after that time,
it MAY still be valid, but may also have been
deactivated due to spam. If so, and you want
to contact me by email, try searching for a
more recent post by me to find my current
email address.

The following is a (probably!) totally unique
and meaningless string of characters that you
can use to find posts by me in a search engine:

ewygchvboocno43vb674b6nq46tvb

On 2008-08-04, Alan <> wrote:
>
> Hi All,
>
> We have an external HDD for which we have lost the power adapter
> (probably thrown out during a shift recently).
>
> However, we have a plethora of power supplies lying around, and the
> drive enclosure states what it needs I think. I would just like to
> check with you all as to what it means!
>
> It reads:
>
> 12V (DC Symbol) 0-2.0A (Set at 1.5A)
>
> Now I know that 12V means it needs a 12 volt supply, and the symbol I
> looked up and it means Direct Current (of course).
>
> It is the amperage that I am concerned about. Does it mean that I can
> plug in any supply that puts out 12V DC at anything between zero and
> two amps? Is the 1.5A the recommended output?
>
> If I recall correctly from many years ago at school, the device would
> determine its power draw (in amps), and so I am thinking that as long
> as the supply I plug in can deliver enough amps, it doesn't matter if
> it is rated higher. However, I would like to get a second opinion on
> that!!
>
> Only other issue is trying all the plugs to find one that fits
>
No it is not, polarity is.