>Since the output connector is one of those cross-shaped plugs (with a
>2.5mm jack plug, 3.5mm jack plug, 2.1mm coax power connector and 2.5mm
>coax power connector) along with a separate 1.3mm coax power connector
>(used for personal stereos I am told) and a 9V-like battery clip, it's
>very easy to get accidental short circuits just by having the separate
>connectors touch each other. Therefore IMHO the PSU has to be safe under
>short-circuit conditions. They are not.
>
>And the plastic cases are very brittle and canf break, exposing live
>parts. Unplugging one that's been accidentally kicked, for example, is
>not easy.
Not saying the ones in the US are safe or good, but they are not like the
one you describe. They are a white plastic, rather "soft and durable"
material. You can smack then and kick them and step on them, and they
stay in one peice. Also, they don't sell that cross tipped one like you
describe any more (at least I haven't seen one in a long long time).
Rather, all of them end in a jack, and they include one tip of your
choice (for most, some include multiple tips). So you pick the connector
style you need, and then that plugs into the jack on the cord. It is
marked on the cord with "TIP" and the connector has a "+" on it, so you
can align it for either positive or negative tip.
Fairly decent setup, and so far, all their newer style white ones (they
have been selling them for a few years now), have held up well, at least
for me.
As to short circuits and how safe they are... I can't really say. I've
never opened one, and I can't think of a time that I have done anything
other than accidentally set a multi-voltage one to the wrong voltage and
watched my device get toasted (leaving the power wart just fine of
course).
-chris
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Received on Fri Jun 07 2002 - 14:09:14 BST