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nenl
Strangest


Registered: 07/16/08
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electronics / amps / watts question
#8901332 - 09/09/08 10:21 AM (15 years, 5 months ago) |
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I hope this makes sense - I'm not an electrician and am thouroughly confused by this stuff.. I have an electronic device that came with a 120v in / 12v 55 watt (4.6 amps, right?) output. The converter broke and I need to replace it. I learned from nearly burning down my house that if the output amps from the converter is too low, the converter will overheat. What about if I get a converter that pumps out too many amps/watts? Is that bad for the device I'm plugging in? Does the amps need to be identical or is it ok if it's higher? I've found converters that will output 12v 9 amps, but I don't want to use it unless I know it's not going to damage the device. I've read up what I could find and understand and it seems like the device will pull the amps it needs, so more amps coming from the converter is fine, right???
Thanks all
-------------------- hehe
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Platinum
Psychonautical Engineer




Registered: 06/04/08
Posts: 7,575
Loc: New York
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Re: electronics / amps / watts question [Re: nenl]
#8901408 - 09/09/08 10:38 AM (15 years, 5 months ago) |
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The voltage needs to be the same, the amps doesn't really matter.
Volt's jolt... Amps kill
Incorrect/high voltage will destroy an electronic, amps will not. High amps will kill a human, volts will not.
The electric chair is 10,000 volts. One of those hand buzzer game things is 100,000
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FollowTheMusic
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Re: electronics / amps / watts question [Re: nenl]
#8901546 - 09/09/08 11:07 AM (15 years, 5 months ago) |
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I assume that when you say "converter" you mean an AC/DC converter -- one of those "wall-warts" which goes between the device and a wall outlet. Assuming that's what you mean --
You're correct that the voltage needs to match exactly. The amp rating on the converter isn't how much it will always put out -- it's the *maximum* it can put out. So if the converter's rated for 9amps, you can use any device pulling less than or equal to 9amps. Any more and you will, as you found out, overheat the converter.
So yes, the converter you found will work fine.
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D4NK
Omni-Potent




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Re: electronics / amps / watts question [Re: FollowTheMusic]
#8902838 - 09/09/08 04:05 PM (15 years, 5 months ago) |
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If the amperage rating is high, it doesn't matter. That's the max average current able to be pulled from that converter. If the current being pulled is less than that maximum rating, less heat, less problem.
The voltage as a rule of thumb should be the same. Sometimes you can get away with having a bit or a bit less voltage, but I wouldn't risk it unless you know what you're doing, which I would assume you don't.
-------------------- Moderation is key "There is no god higher than truth."
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