h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I bought my mum a portable LCD TV but the AC/DC adapter is missing out of the box... it could be a week or more till I can get back to the shop to get it.

Like most households these days, they have a squillion defunct AC/DC adapters lying around the place. There's this one that actually fits the TV, is the right voltage (12V) and has the correct phase - the outer ring is negative on both adapter and TV.

My question is this. Is this adapter safe to use? What else could be incompatable? The only other spec which is on the adapter but not the TV is the Ma rating. Adapter says 900ma (i think). As I can't find what the Ma rating of the TV is (online or in the destructions), should I take the risk of telling them to use this adapter? What would happen if the Ma rating was different?

Oh there's a wattage rating as well.. this is the current that the appliance draws presumably.. how relevant is this to the adapter used?

Should i just wait until I can get the right one...

as long as you have the grey shorts and the cap any old white shirt and tie will do, just dont forget the guitar

Traveller in Time with a brand new Television
"Just do not try it. Most likely the television uses lots more current.

Besides it is the best way to void the warranty . "

Have you rung the company and complained??? Surely they should have supplied it? Your inconvenience is their giving you a discount and trying to help you out, surely?

Yes, do not even think about trying it. Ring them up and give them hell.

If it's the right polarity (outer ring negative, as you say) and the right voltage (12V) then the only other variable is the power (i.e. current or mA) rating. If this is enough for the TV (this may well be stated on a little label on the unit) then all will be well. If it is not enough the adaptor may get hot and/or burn out. If you don't need the adaptor for something else and as long as you keep an eye on it at first to check it isn't overheating I would say try it.

F

Thanks for those.. turns out they went and plugged the thing in anyway and it was OK Will make sure they check adapter isn't over-heating though.

I will of course get the correct one from the shop, but asked the initial question because I didn't want them waiting for days to use their new present...

You should make sure the adapter is capable of supplying enough current. They're pretty good nowadays so it shouldn't burst into flames - but I wouldn't risk it.

Make sure they are in fact both DC - occasionally you get 12V AC adapters that look the same.

The TV specs should say what current (Amps) or power (Watts) it needs. A 900mA adapter would supply 10.8 Watts at 12V (multiply amps by volts to get watts, for DC) - which isn't very much for a TV.

Oops, missed Post 8.

Hi, thanks Dave.. it's only an 11 inch portable flat-panel LCD TV, so maybe that rating seems more reasonable? Will phone them anyway and make sure nothing is burning