I have a Network Router from USA. This shows 5V 2.5A on the power supply. I spoke to UK division who said theirs (idenical product) has
5V 600mA. US support confirms that the units are the same accept for the power supply in different countries.
I find this a bit strange and the only explanation I have is that the US one must be used for a variety of different units. That is one for all application.
The relevant question is how much power does the router itself consume? If the Yanks provide a power supply which is more than adequate, it probably doesn't matter. As you suggest, they are probably standising on a single power supply across a range of products.
I've noticed this on a couple of things recently, my ADSL router came with a
12V 500ma power supply, though sticking a meter on it it only draws 250ma. Linear power supplies are CHEAP in bulk, and overspeccing on the power draw will help with reliability.
I guess the question I had was why such a difference in 2.5A and 600mA for the same product accross the pond? Am I correct in assuming that MOST routers would consume in the region of 600mA? I would have thought 2.5A is a lot for such hardware.
Power supplies are cheap when bought in the 100,000s. If in the US they had a range of other products requiring a greater capacity only stocking one power supply may be cheaper - albeit with a specification exceeding that required by the product in question.
So is it safer to go with 5V 2.5A here on the grounds that the Router will only draw 600mA and the power adaptor is unlikely to be worked hard and not heat up?
On Sat, 03 Apr 2004 00:39:55 +0100, in uk.d-i-y snipped-for-privacy@nospam.yahoo.com strung together this:
Have you got the US power supply? It's highly likely that it will accept a wide voltage input, 100-250V ish. If you haven't then if the units are identical any psu from 600mA will suffice. Although the heat buildup will probably be slightly decreased with a 2.5A psu the 600mA, as specced by the manufacturer, won't be excessively hot otherwise it wouldn't be on sale.
Unlike Taiwnese psu which very rarely have enough iron in the transformer core and run very hot due to all the eddy currents and which then overheat the internal thermal fuse.
OK. USR helpfully, don't have a power specification on their web site as far as I could find.
However, similar 802.11g wireless router products from Linksys have either 12v, 1A or 5v, 2.5A supply requirements.
Another from D-Link is 5v, 2.5A
In other words, all in the 10-15W range.
I think that it's unlikely that 600mA at 5V would be correct as that equates to 3W. The implementations in this class of products is remarkably similar between vendors.
I would go for a 5v 2.5A supply. As has already been noted, the supply may be autoranging (110/240v), in which case you can find a way to hook it up to the mains. Alternatively, I would look for a regulated switched mode power supply from somewhere like Maplin.
e.g. PG85G
Check the size and polarity of the DC connector though
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