No voltage but device works fine.

Same as a "switching" power supply in a PC: No voltage until a load is detected.

Hi, Heard about seroies voltage regulator? No load, no voltage!

Hi, If the adaptor has a built in series regulator, no load, no vvoltage. Parallel regulator has current sink. Without load it'll show voltage.

Good to know. Thanks all.

does the device have a multi-pin connector i.e. more than 2 pins?

I think that device needs to see a programming resistor to tell it what voltage to output..

No resistor, no output.

It has nothing to do with series vs parallel regulators.

Mark

Hi, May I ask what programming resistor is?

I doubt if its a series regulator or a parallel regulator. I would have to be a switching regulator and these just shut down under no load conditions. This is to protect the internal circuitry of the regulator which would soon let all the smoke out if operated without a load.

Jimmie

Hi, There is no switching regulator. Switching power supply is follwed by a regulator circuit. Crow bar circuit is for protection.

if it is like this one

If you are not skilled in electronics which appears to be the case (no offense) then the best thing for you to do is buy the correct tip that you need for the laptop that you want to use from Targus.

Mark

Yes, 3 pins. It's a Targus, like the ones in the url you posted in reply to Tony.

BTW, it turns out not all Targus tips will fit all Targus adapters. They have indents and things to keep that from happening. I bought this adapter for a friend and then his old Macintosh broke, and I thought I could use the adapter for myself, with a tip I had, maybe from an AC-only adapter. But the tip wouldn't fit in the other adapter. I forget the details, but my friend bought a later model Mac and the second tip fit it, so I gave it to him and everything is fine.**

If you buy one of these things in the store, and it's opened all ready, check for the tip you need before you leave the store. I had bought one early on that was missing one tip.

I know about this now. Wish I knew about 8 months ago when I installed a fancy pendant light. There was a short but I didn't know that and tested the power supply to find no voltage so I assumed the PS was bad until I learned a bit more. Until then, I never heard of such a thing and had to admit I was wrong. How embarrassing.