AC Adaptor compatibiility

[kinmike]

Guys,

Bought a Tascam CD licks trainer thing and it says to use their AC adapter only, to avoid damage to the unit. Is this BS? Designed to sell more of their brand? I have several AC adapters. Each adapter usually states the output voltage, milliamps and "input" watts. Then the poalrity needs to be correct. As far as I know, I need to keep the voltage consistent at 9 volts, the milliamps don't matter, and I know nothing about the input wattage. Can I use any old adapter provided the volts are equal? Can someone give me a primer on adapters?

Thanks,

Mike

[Plexi]

"" the milliamps don't matter,"" yes it does.. as long as you match the MA rating, voltage,and the polarity,and if its AC or DC.... then you should be able use them. You need to match or even go above on the MA rating to be ok..useing less the adapter will probably overheat and short out,and could damage what you have plugged into it.. someone else may have more info than me on it..but thats what i always thought to be correct.
Richie

[loverocker]

use their AC adapter only, to avoid damage to the unit. Is this BS? Designed to sell more of their brand?

To be fair to Tascam (and the others), they do this because there are numbnuts out there who will plug anything in simply 'because the socket fits'. I was one of those numbnuts - fried a synth a few years back.

Unless Tascam charges a fortune for the adaptor, I'd stick with the original (makes future resale easier too).

[kinmike]

Richie,

I didn't say what I meant on the milliamps issue, sorry. I know milliamps matter, it's just that most AC adapters can supply much more than the effect device itself needs. the VHT website has a list of the required milliamps of several popular effects devices (to illustrate the uses of the Valvulator). They are lower than the milliamps provided by a typical adapter. VHT also says its okay to use 12 volts to power 9 volt accessories given the fluctuations at the outlet and the fact that many 9 volters supply 9 to 13 volts.

I guess I know now more than I thought about adapters. I was hoping someone out there could give me the last word on this subject. I hate to mess up a $150 unit due to ignorance. And yet I don't want to go buy another adapter if I don't have to.

By the way, I only know enough to be dangerous on all this, but managed to build one 18 watter.

Thanks,

Mike