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Wall power Power
Adapters

Power adapters (a.k.a. wall transformers or wall-warts) plug into a wall outlet and supply power to your pedals, synthesizers, and accessories.

When a wall wart burns out or gets lost you can often substitute a generic replacement but you have to know THESE FOUR THINGS:

 

 

 

1  —  The Output Voltage

Wall adapters transform the house voltage, 120 V AC, to a lower voltage, usually between 3 V and 18 V.

 

The adapter's OUTPUT may be either alternating or direct current, AC or DC.

 

The OUTPUT specs are printed on the adapter.  Your replacement adapter and the original must match as to OUTPUT:  AC or DC and OUTPUT:  VOLTAGE.

 

For example, a pedal that uses a 9V battery needs an adapter output of 9 V DC since all batteries are DC.  If the output is 9 V AC, it's the wrong adapter.

 




OUTPUT:  15V AC, 320mA
AC has no polarity


OUTPUT:  9V DC, 300mA
POLARITY:  Center positive


OUTPUT:  12V DC, 300mA
POLARITY:  Center negative


 

 

2  —  The DC Polarity

 

 

This photo shows a "coax" plug (short for coaxial).  Coax plugs are commonly used on adapter cables.

They have two metal contacts, a center socket and an outer barrel, separated by a black insulator.

DC Outputs can have either their positive or their negative terminal connected to the center contact.

 

This is the symbol for a center-negative connector.  A center-positive connector would have the plus and minus signs reversed.

 

A backwards polarity can damage your gear so be sure the polarity pictured on the adapter matches the polarity pictured on your gear. 

If you're comfortable repairing electrical cables, you can reverse the polarity of a power adapter.  With the wall wart out of the wall, cut the 2-wire coax cord somewhere in the middle.  Then reconnect the wires in reverse.  Use solder and heat shrink tubing if possible.

 

 

 

3  —  The Pin Size

 

 

Like the plugs, coax jacks have 2 metal contacts:  a center pin and an outer spring.

The pin of the jack must fit snugly into the center socket of the plug.

 

Common pin diameters are 2.1 mm and 2.5 mm.   Barrel diameters also vary so, if you can, take your device with you when you shop for an adapter, making sure its plug fits the device without wobbling.

In some older gear, 1/8" phone plugs and jacks are used instead of co-ax connectors.

 

 

 

4  —  The Current Rating

 

 

Wall adapters can only supply a limited amount of current.  The adapter will overheat and fail if it can't supply all the current your gear needs to operate.  Make sure your replacement adapter can supply at least as much current as the original adapter.

The current rating is listed on the adapter in amps (A) or milliamps (mA).  Fuzz boxes can draw as little as 10  mA of current while chorus and delay pedals can draw several hundred milliamps.  Portable keyboards and synthesizers can draw as much as 1500 mA (1.5 A) or more.

Adapters are designed to output their rated current at their rated voltage.  If more current is drawn, the voltage will sag.  If less current is drawn, the voltage will rise.  For example, the output voltage of a 9 V adapter with nothing connected to it could measure up to 12 V.

The same is true for batteries.  An old fuzz box, for example, might sound better with a carbon-zinc battery installed than with a more modern, alkaline battery.  Alkaline batteries have a higher current rating and so their voltage might not sag to the preferred level.

 

 

 

Universal Adapters

 

 

Also available are "universal" wall adapters like those shown below.  With them, you can select various output voltages, either polarity, and a variety of plug types and pin sizes.

 


Universal Adapter: 3-12 VDC, 500 mA


Universal Adapter: 3-12 VDC, 800 mA



Plugs include coax, 1/8" and 1/16" phone plugs, and battery snaps


Lots of coax sizes and
an 1/8" phone plug

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