Is this safe or a potential fire hazard?

[seven7seven]

Hi,

Any electronics expert know how safe is it to run a D-Link DSL-2500U modem/router off a 15V DC power supply instead of 15V AC?

The router (h/w rev: A1) says "15V AC ~ 0.7A" on the back.

I don't have the original power adapter so I hooked it up to a 15V DC 2.5A power supply I had lying around (an old laptop psu).

The router seems to be working 100% but is it safe to do so or could this somehow cause it to catch on fire lol?

It's been running for a couple hours and the router & psu are only warm to the touch.


Btw, I got quoted R220 for a new D-Link power supply (when a new router costs R250) hence running it off the spare laptop psu.

Thanks very much.

 

[OverKill69]

er... 0.7A vs 2.5A is what you should be worried about.

The power supply would transform the AC to DC for your router to work... so you're fine there.

The issue is the amount of current going to the router. Especially since a router is something you usually leave on permanently. I wouldn't say it is a fire hazard, but it won't be good for the router.
It'll seriously decrease the life of the router.
D-Links tend to get hot as it is.

 

[J25]

The router will only draw as much current as it needs.

 

[fragtion]

Shouldnt be a problem. If the adaptor is AC output, it usually means the router has an AC-DC rectifier inside. If you feed DC current into there it shouldn't be a problem at all as long as the output in amps at least matches (yours is greater, which is fine) the original, and voltage is the same.

 

[Tango]

The router will only draw as much current as it needs.

J25 is right, the unit will only draw as much current as it needs. Should be safe to run it like that.

 

[Tacet]

Shouldnt be a problem. If the adaptor is AC output, it usually means the router has an AC-DC rectifier inside. If you feed DC current into there it shouldn't be a problem at all as long as the output in amps at least matches (yours is greater, which is fine) the original, and voltage is the same.

+1
This is purely guessingwork, but I suspect that after the rectifier it would have a 12V regulator. Which means that the unit itself runs of 12V, not 15V, which explains why yours is still working. But while this kind of setup is very common, it is not always the case, so don't assume that it will necessarily work for other devices as well.

 

[sal12344]

Ummm, looking at the same model router right now. The power supply says Output 15V DC 700ma.

 

[Voicy]

J25 is right, the unit will only draw as much current as it needs. Should be safe to run it like that.

Yep, Volts / Potential difference will be forced upon it, but current gets drawn BY it.

 

[seven7seven]

Awesome thanks for the replies.

D-Link support told me it will "damage the unit if you are going to use the 15V ~ 2 .5A because the amp is to high" which doesn't make sense since like you guys said, it will only draw as much current as it needs so the higher amperage isn't an issue.

Ummm, looking at the same model router right now. The power supply says Output 15V DC 700ma.

LOL ok thats just weird! What does the back of your actual router say (above the power input jack) - cause mine says 15 V AC?

 

[Rooikop]

With 15V DC into the 15VAC input it should be fine - in fact it may be on the low side but as you said it works you will be OK. (The actual peak with 15VAC input is closer to 21V). The higher current rating on the DC brick means it will run a bit cooler - it will only draw as much as is needed as said above. The polarity is also not an issue as the AC input has a rectifier on the inside so either polarity will be good.