on 12/28/03 14:42, Dan Crutcher at dcrutcher at loumag.com wrote: > For the electrically savvy MacGroupers: > > I have an OrangeLink Firewire PC Card that I use with a Powerbook G4 > that has a dead Firewire port. In order to connect some devices that > require Firewire power, I must connect an AC adaptor to this card. The > manual says that I need an adaptor that meets the following specs: > > Output 12V - 30V, 1 amp, positive tip. > > I have an adaptor that would fit the adaptor port on the Firewiire > card, but its specs are: > > Output 12VDC, 1200 mA. > > There is also a symbol representing polarity that looks something like: > _ _ _ > ( - )-------( o -------( + ) > > (The two outside symbols are circles, the left one has a minus sign, > the right one a positive sign. The middle symbol is a semicircle, with > the right side missing.) > > My question: Would this adaptor work with my Firewire card? The only > difference seems to be that this adaptor is 1200 mA rather than 1 amp. > (I'm assuming that 1 amp = 1000mA.) I'm guessing that the symbols mean > that the polarity is positive. > > What say ye? Would using a 1200 mA adaptor on a device that calls for > 1000 mA work? Would it fry the device if I tried it? > > > > > | The next meeting of the Louisville Computer Society will > | be January 27. The LCS Web page is <http://www.kymac.org>. > | This list's page is <http://erdos.math.louisville.edu/macgroup>.
Dan, Found the firewire 800 card for notebooks on Orangemicro's web site. This card requires an external AC supply for firewire ports that require power. Looking at the requirements, the adapter you describe should power the card OK (12 vdc center tip positive). To directly answer your question, a 1200 ma adapter will only supply 1000 ma to a load that requires it. Let us know how the firewire 800 works out if that's what your using.... Bill | The next meeting of the Louisville Computer Society will | be January 27. The LCS Web page is <http://www.kymac.org>. | This list's page is <http://erdos.math.louisville.edu/macgroup>.
