trying to fix or replace a bad power adapter - please help

[newtoCaps101]

Okay I have a small problem here, I was given a creative set by a friend and the power adapter on the decoder seems to be broken. Its

Creative Power brick

PRL: 240V ~50Hz 100mA
SEC: 16V ~ 600mA

16V

I have an old Toshiba adapter rated 15V

Input 100V - 240V ~ 0.95A - 0.55A 50 - 60Hz
Output 15V 3A (it has a Line _____ and dot dot dot --- below the line.

15V

Anyway, I cut opened the broken power brick, is there any way to fix it? or can I swap the Toshiba Brick with it? I did try to power the decoder with it for a few seconds. It works but quickly unplugged it as I dont want to risk it since it says 16V and my toshiba power brick is only 15V so dont know although I am sure the toshiba 15V x 3A should have more then enough power opposed to the 16V x 700mA.

But its a audio decoder, very rare too and the Line and Dots under neath it made me doubt before taking the risk until I am absolutely sure or if I can't fix whats wrong with the existing power brick.

I attached some pictures, as you can see the creative power brick has no caps or anything inside, just the transformer? I checked but its not getting any power.

[jamesbo]

Re: trying to fix or replace a bad power adapter - please help

Your Toshiba adaptor has a DC output, but the Creative Adaptor is just a trnasformer and has an AC output. It is really not a suitable replacement. But you could buy a 16V transformer at an electronics store and make your own. Did you happen to check the transformer output using an AC voltmeter?

[newtoCaps101]

Re: trying to fix or replace a bad power adapter - please help

Your Toshiba adaptor has a DC output, but the Creative Adaptor is just a trnasformer and has an AC output. It is really not a suitable replacement. But you could buy a 16V transformer at an electronics store and make your own. Did you happen to check the transformer output using an AC voltmeter?

That's why I didn't want to take the risk of using it. Is there any way to repair it? Can I just replace it with a 16V transformer with 1A or more? where do I buy it? online? I am not in the us. and how exactly do I make my own? I mean there is just the transformer and what else. I could just swap it or..I just want to play it safe, dont want to risk burning or damaging my device.

my multimeter is with a friend so I used a 120mm computer case fan to briefly test it, worked with everything else but not this one

[newtoCaps101]

Re: trying to fix or replace a bad power adapter - please help

is there anything online I could use to directly replace this? you know swap it? I looked locally and didnt see much online...can you link me something off ebay perhaps? you know then I could maybe just solder the terminals and be done with it? find me something that would be adequate please? Thanks

[budm]

Re: trying to fix or replace a bad power adapter - please help

You can use higher current rating but not less, higher current will be bigger, but it will run cooler. I do not see anything much on EBAY either.
The computer fan is an AC fan?

[budm]

Re: trying to fix or replace a bad power adapter - please help

http://www.idealpower.co.uk/external...16-i20388.html

I do not know what country you are in.

[newtoCaps101]

Re: trying to fix or replace a bad power adapter - please help

i'm in new zealand, anywhere else I can buy this? do you guys have one locally where you live? maybe if I paid you to buy me the transformer?

[newtoCaps101]

Re: trying to fix or replace a bad power adapter - please help

I found one in ebay but its 120V for US. So I will need a Step Down transformer with it. Should I get that or can this be done cheaper?

[budm]

Re: trying to fix or replace a bad power adapter - please help

Can't you get the one from UK in the link I gave?

[budm]

Re: trying to fix or replace a bad power adapter - please help

What is the model number of this decoder/amplifier?, any pictures?

[mariushm]

Re: trying to fix or replace a bad power adapter - please help

The Toshiba adapter is 15v 3A DC output.

The Creative adapter is 16v 0.6A AC output.

It's quite hard to convert the Toshiba adapter to be AC output, but it may be the case that the Creative device using that power brick converts the AC input it receives from the brick into DC power the moment it comes inside the device, using 4 diodes or a bridge rectifier.

If this is the case, you could just connect the cables from the Toshiba adapter to the end of two of those four diodes, skipping the ac-dc conversion step on the board inside.

It's possible they used an AC adapter simply because it was cheaper to get.

However, it's also possible that the Creative device inside rectifies the AC voltage in such a way that it generates +/- 8v DC from that 16v AC, in which case again using that Toshiba adapter is a bit harder (but I think it's possible to hack it so that it outputs +/- 7.5v instead of 15v).

The slight voltage difference shouldn't be a problem in most cases. The Creative adapter is not regulated, meaning if there's little load on the transformer, the voltage may be as high as 18-20v AC, going down to about 15-16v as it gets closer to those 600mA it's rated for.

If you can, post some clear pictures of the board inside the Creative thing, at least to show the power input jack and what's around it.

If you don't want to / can't open it, say exactly what Creative device it is, maybe we can figure it out from service manuals if there is one for what you have.

[joshnz]

Re: trying to fix or replace a bad power adapter - please help

I'm in New Zealand, anywhere else I can buy this? do you guys have one locally where you live? maybe if I paid you to buy me the transformer?

Where about in NZ are you I'm in the south island.

Plug pack $41.50

just the transformer most likely won't fit in old case $19.40

Might be cheaper to fix the transformer. Often is the thermal fuse or broken lead.

[budm]

Re: trying to fix or replace a bad power adapter - please help

I was going to have him unwrap the Primary side tape to get to the thermal fuse but do not feel comfortable since I do not know how much experience he has and worry about safety also.

[newtoCaps101]

Re: trying to fix or replace a bad power adapter - please help

I am in Auckland, NZ. I have plenty of experience, have my own little soldering station and I do small time hobby jobs every now and then when I recover stuff from trash or salvage parts or try to fix broken things.

Come on help me out guys. I have repaired broken PCB and stuff before so if you can help me fix this one it will save me $50 USD (that's how the guy on ebay wants for the 120V replacement shipped) and on top of that I will need to spend another $20 on a step down 120V to 240V step down transformer. haven't heard anything from that UK stores website yet, I emailed them though.

I also think it may be the thermal overload protection on the transformer adapter. If you give me a step by step I can overcome the thermal fuse.

Attaching some pictures on the decoder with labels on the back and whats on the inside and everything.

[newtoCaps101]

Re: trying to fix or replace a bad power adapter - please help

Where about in NZ are you I'm in the south island.

Plug pack $41.50

just the transformer most likely won't fit in old case $19.40

Might be cheaper to fix the transformer. Often is the thermal fuse or broken lead.

Hey are you sure this will work?
http://newzealand.rs-online.com/web/...upply/2304073/

if nothing works I would go for it, since its in NZ and around $50 altogether..but you know it would be great if I could just dig out the fuse and solder the led together and put some heat shrink and bypass the thermal fuse. I have never done this but some instructions and pictures will be helpful. The Primary is the side with Red wires connecting directly from the power outlet right? So I cut the tape and do something...


need some help from you guys..

[newtoCaps101]

Re: trying to fix or replace a bad power adapter - please help

I have cut the tape on the primary side and located the thermal fuse there are two tiny copper wire strands connected to the two legs of the fuse. the two legs are also connected to the two red wires...one leg has come off..so where do I go from here? do I cut off the fuse and solder the legs togather using a piece of wire? do I heat shrink it or...

attaching more pictures

[joshnz]

Re: trying to fix or replace a bad power adapter - please help

Hey are you sure this will work?
http://newzealand.rs-online.com/web/...upply/2304073/

Your original adapter is 16 Volts 0.6 Amps ac that is 9.6 Watts.
The adapter in the link above is 16 Volts 1.5 Amps ac that is 25 Watts
only issue is they do not list input voltage. has twice the capacity of the old one so won't get hot.

With the transformer you have I have 2 tests for you to do to it.
1. put meter to 1k ohm setting then attach probes to primary of transformer with it disconnected from mains and device and post reading here

2. put meter to 200 ohm setting then attach probes to primary of transformer with it disconnected from mains and device and post reading here.

[newtoCaps101]

Re: trying to fix or replace a bad power adapter - please help

Your original adapter is 16 Volts 0.6 Amps ac that is 9.6 Watts.
The adapter in the link above is 16 Volts 1.5 Amps ac that is 25 Watts
only issue is they do not list input voltage. has twice the capacity of the old one so won't get hot.

With the transformer you have I have 2 tests for you to do to it.
1. put meter to 1k ohm setting then attach probes to primary of transformer with it disconnected from mains and device and post reading here

2. put meter to 200 ohm setting then attach probes to primary of transformer with it disconnected from mains and device and post reading here.

but my multimeter is with my friend. I wont have it until another week..

how about I just remove the thermal fuse and connect the thin copper wires to 1 per red wire and then put it back together? thats how its supposed to work right? with out the thermal fuse? I could probably heat shrink it and then...ummm how would I seal the tape back? any ideas?

what do you guys think?

[joshnz]

Re: trying to fix or replace a bad power adapter - please help

ok my above post is not valid now as you have already ripped into it as we kiwis do.
you should find one wire is connected directly to the primary of the transformer and the other wire to the thermal fuse then to the other end of the primary winding.

In your above post you made it sound like the thermal fuse was across phase and neutral

[joshnz]

Re: trying to fix or replace a bad power adapter - please help

yes one enameled wire per plastic coated wire be advised that this transformer will now become a fire hazard.
as to insulate it insulation tape is ok better to use transformer tape.