Article - How To Chose the Right Power Adapter

Please note that we do not intend to sell our adapters as a replacement adapter for any electronic device on the market. These are high quality, regulated power supply component for electronic equipement manufacturers. However, they can be used as a replacement power adapter for your electronic device. In order to pick the right power adapter, please read the following.






Volt - The most important thing is volt. On the bottom of your electronic device there should be a label indicating power requirement. Voltage needs to match. If your equipment requires 12V input, you need a 12V power adapter. No more, no less.


Amp - Amp rating of the power adapter must be equal or greater than the device requires. If your equipment requires 2 amp, than any power adapter with 2 amp or greater will work. Less than 2 amp the power adapter may not supply enough power.


For example, if your portable DVD player requires a 9V 1A power supply, any power adapter that's 9 volt, and greater 1 amp will work. A 9 volt 3 amp power supply will work and not harm your DVD player, but it is much more expensive than a 9V 1.5A or 9V 1A power adapter.


Polarity - Polarity must match. Most of the power adapter uses a barrel shape connector. When we say the power adapter is center positive, it simply mean it's positive on the center of the barrel. Please see Illustration 2 on the image at upper left. (Click to enlarge). The symbol of positive or negative center is as shown. *Note - most device today uses center positive.


Connector Size - By connector we refer to the part that plugs into your equipment. This is perhaps the most difficult part to determine as there are no clear standard, and most equipment's label do not show the connector size. Not to mention there are many propietary design.
Our adapters mostly uses barrel shape connector. Please see Illustration 1 on the image (click to enlarge). When we indicate a connector as 2.1mm x 5.5mm, we are saying the inside diameter is 2.1mm length, and outside diameter is 5.5mm length. The best way to find out the size of connector is to measure based on the old power adapter, or go to an electronic shop, which should have several plug size available, to test and see the right connector size. Many of our adapter is 2.1mm x 5.5mm barrel, which is the 'most' commonly use connector size. We also have plug converters that can extend our 2.1mm barrel into different plug size. Please visit our plug converter page for more detail.


Our Apologies - But we really don't know what type of connector every electronic device uses, nor have we compile a database on which of our power adapter is compatible to which device. Picking the right power adapter is the sole responsibility of the customer.