Universal power adapter DC plugs (the kind you always lose)

Mar 30, 2011 4 Replies

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'm referring to the end with two pins on it, that normally plug into a small socket on the end of the cable that comes from the wall wart. You can fit it two ways round to change the polarity. I've had a few adapters, some with straight plugs and some right angled and they all seem to fit, which seems to imply there's a standard of some kind, but the article only refers to the end that goes into the appliance.



The pins are a tad over 1 mm thick, a little over 4mm apart point to point, and 6mm long



Is there a name for this connector and does anybody know where you can get them, specifically the female bit? I want to rig an external battery pack that'll fit my camera, mp3 player, phone and anything else that I [still] have the right end for.


I don't know what the name of the 2 pin connector is specifically, but the 2 pin to coaxial adapters are usually referred to as power tip connecters

Did you see the bit lower down about how there's no apparent common standard?

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I'd either pick another standard and solder it to the stubs, or buy a couple of cheap units and canibalise them.

Maplin do them, if I understand your needs correctly. They have several types in kits, an example of which is:

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These sort of connectors are normally moulded to the cable for strength, and if you could get one might be difficult to fit to a cable. And expensive, for what it is.

Why not just buy a suitable wall wart from a car boot sale etc and hack the cable off?

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