US to SA Adaptor

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gtway

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Hi,

I just purchased a musical keyboard from America. It comes with an American power adapter:

INPUT: AC voltage 120V 60 Hz

OUTPUT: DC12V 1.5A

I purchased a converter, but it's not working. The South African equivalent of the power adapter also has an output of DC12V 1.5A. I don't know much about these things, but it should work right? It's not going to "blow up" the keyboard is it?

Thanks...
 
so the one you are using has an input of 220volt and output of DC12V and 1.5Amp? if so it should work
 
gtway said:
Thanks! Polarity?!?
Click to expand...

Meaning the positive and negative wires are connected correctly. It possibly has input protection anyway so just would not work if this was incorrect, but best to check anyway.

If it has a standard DC input jack the positive is normally the internal connector pin, the negative the outer one.
 
Last edited:
gtway said:
Thanks! Polarity?!?
Click to expand...

what he means is dont put the negative to the positive etc but you whouldnt have to worry as i doubt you are cutting and joining cable?

( generally the centre is the positive, it is very rare they swap it around but best double check )

it should have an image by the jack that looks like this: (doesnt always have)

positive_polarity_tip.jpg
 
gtway said:
Hi,

I just purchased a musical keyboard from America. It comes with an American power adapter:

INPUT: AC voltage 120V 60 Hz

OUTPUT: DC12V 1.5A

I purchased a converter, but it's not working. The South African equivalent of the power adapter also has an output of DC12V 1.5A. I don't know much about these things, but it should work right? It's not going to "blow up" the keyboard is it?

Thanks...
Click to expand...

What do you mean that you purchased a converter? Is it a converter to convert 220V 50Hz to 110v 60Hz, or just a converter where you plug the US plug in, in order to plug into the standard South African wall socket? If it is the former it should work, but if you did the latter your power supply are most probably blown.
 
Hmm, I thought most power adapters were "universal" in these days of switch-mode power supplies (95 to 250 V AC odd), but maybe that that trend has not reached America yet ;)
 
If it's a transformer that is expecting American power, it will blow up immediately.

Just get a transformer with the same rating and polarity, as people have already pointed out, but don't try use the American one.
 
Just in case of not working, check thickness of the pin. Some jacks have thinner pin and do not connect properly. In such case cut wire and re-wire plug from US unit.
 
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