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Slight rant
This thread has 20 replies. Displaying posts 1 through 15.
Post 1 made on Friday October 24, 2014 at 12:22
goldenzrule
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Why is it necessary for everything to have a giant wall wart or a giant power block? I'd rather have larger equipment and account for that space in a rack than have 20 devices with huge wall warts and power supplies. I have at least 4 devices in this rack that have wall warts so big they each cover 4 outlets on the power conditioner.
Post 2 made on Friday October 24, 2014 at 12:34
Ernie Gilman
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The company that makes the wall wart gets it through UL. It can then be used with ANY product which, because it's using a wall wart, does not have to deal with the time and expense of UL approval (at least not power voltage type approval) for their products. They can offer new products or modify their current ones without the expense of UL. This also makes it more affordable to make products for which there is little demand.

It just occurred to me that this is also why the wall wart very rarely has the same brand name as the product. I've gotten wall warts for one product confused with those for another product because of this, but hey: it was made by someone else!
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything.
"The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw
Post 3 made on Friday October 24, 2014 at 12:41
Lowhz
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Post 4 made on Friday October 24, 2014 at 12:50
KeithDBrown
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Agreed, and understanding why the problem exists doesn't make it any less annoying. I love the new Wattbox power supply, which can take care of three voltages for you. 12vdc, 5vdc, and one aux output of your choosing.
Post 5 made on Friday October 24, 2014 at 18:23
burtont62
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Hero status granted. On 1414168863, Lowhz said...
Post 6 made on Friday October 24, 2014 at 19:47
3PedalMINI
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On October 24, 2014 at 18:23, burtont62 said...
Hero status granted. On 1414168863, Lowhz said...

the only reason I still deal with stupid wall warts is if one fails it is just one device that goes down, If that unit fails then everything in the rack goes down.

For the large wall warts that that cover up ports on the surge surpressor i use these and tie the warts to a lacing bar [Link: mcmelectronics.com]

Also Middle Atlantic PD series conditioners are spaced out to allow most power bricks not to cover other outlets [Link: middleatlantic.com]
The Bitterness of Poor Quality is Remembered Long after the Sweetness of Price is Forgotten! - Benjamin Franklin
Post 7 made on Friday October 24, 2014 at 20:19
Ranger Home
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On October 24, 2014 at 12:41, Lowhz said...

Discontinued? Must have a newer model. Or amazon is wrong.

[Link: amazon.com]
Post 8 made on Saturday October 25, 2014 at 00:04
cshepard
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Check out S#@pAV's WattBox WB-RPS10-DC-10A
Chris
OP | Post 9 made on Saturday October 25, 2014 at 00:13
goldenzrule
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I'm well aware of these products. No need to link them. My point is why so manufacturers feel this is the better option? A larger product with a DC ps built in internally would be much better and more preferred than big wall warts and third party products required to cleanly install them. I recognize the fact that many products are not designed with CIs or rack mounted in mind, but at the same time many are. Total control gear drives me crazy. They have long cords leading up to a big power brick and then another long power cord from the brick. This IS a product designed for CIs. So why design it like this? For the few slammer that throw the gear on a shelf rather then a rack? I simply don't get it.
Post 10 made on Saturday October 25, 2014 at 23:05
Mac Burks (39)
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On October 24, 2014 at 12:22, goldenzrule said...
Why is it necessary for everything to have a giant wall wart or a giant power block? I'd rather have larger equipment and account for that space in a rack than have 20 devices with huge wall warts and power supplies. I have at least 4 devices in this rack that have wall warts so big they each cover 4 outlets on the power conditioner.

I agree with this sentiment 100%.

On October 24, 2014 at 12:34, Ernie Gilman said...
The company that makes the wall wart gets it through UL. It can then be used with ANY product which, because it's using a wall wart, does not have to deal with the time and expense of UL approval (at least not power voltage type approval) for their products. They can offer new products or modify their current ones without the expense of UL. This also makes it more affordable to make products for which there is little demand.

It just occurred to me that this is also why the wall wart very rarely has the same brand name as the product. I've gotten wall warts for one product confused with those for another product because of this, but hey: it was made by someone else!

This never occurred to me before now but it sure does explain the craziness of 1 pound electronics with 2 pound power bricks.

My current "nightmare" is that i have an iPad3 with the old dock connector, an iPhone 6 with the new connector and a mac book pro with a power brick that sits between a thin magsafe cable and a standard 3 prong power cord. Every time i get to a project and unpack i have a lot of spaghetti and i have to find multiple available power outlets. It would be really nice if i had 1 power cord that had a whip with multiple connectors or just a usb block so i can power phones and tablets.

This product looks like it might be the answer [Link: techtimes.com]

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Post 11 made on Sunday October 26, 2014 at 08:58
Dawn Gordon Luks
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[Link: twelvesouth.com]
Post 12 made on Sunday October 26, 2014 at 09:07
william david design
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On October 26, 2014 at 08:58, Dawn Gordon Luks said...

Cool
Defectus tuus consilium carpere discrimen mihi non constituit.
Post 13 made on Sunday October 26, 2014 at 10:02
Mac Burks (39)
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On October 26, 2014 at 08:58, Dawn Gordon Luks said...

This was posted in my other thread also. The problem is that it cuts my power cord length in half and now i have to find a place to plug the giant power brick in instead of the 3 prong cord. It also puts the USB jacks at the wall wart instead of up closer to the laptop/desk.

This part gets removed:


Avid Stamp Collector - I really love 39 Cent Stamps
Post 14 made on Sunday October 26, 2014 at 10:47
Anthony
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On October 24, 2014 at 12:34, Ernie Gilman said...
The company that makes the wall wart gets it through UL. It can then be used with ANY product which, because it's using a wall wart, does not have to deal with the time and expense of UL approval (at least not power voltage type approval) for their products. They can offer new products or modify their current ones without the expense of UL. This also makes it more affordable to make products for which there is little demand.

It just occurred to me that this is also why the wall wart very rarely has the same brand name as the product. I've gotten wall warts for one product confused with those for another product because of this, but hey: it was made by someone else!

Not really
1) UL certification is not strictly necessary (and so nothing stops a company from selling a product with out it)
2) UL certification can be applied to internal parts just as much as external (for example my desktops internal power supply has been UL certified)
3) UL certification is not only for power supplies

I think it is more for

1) ease of manufacture - think of a wireless router, you won't bring it with you on vacation, it is a fixed universal standardfor everywhere in the world, so it is easier for the manufacturer to build them all 100% the same and then add the right wart to the box depending on where it will be shipped

2) size - people are stupid and say "look how small ____ is" when it does not matter so removing the power supply helps with that

3) heat - power supplies run hot, having them external means it is one less issue to deal with in the design of the product.



But what ever the reasons for why external is better than internal it is not all that interesting.



Since Instead of something like the one on the left with the plug built into the wart and is a bitch to use the manufacturers of the warts could easily build something like the one on the right with a 6" or even 3" cable going to the plug and the issue of why use an external power supply would be mostly moot and the wart issue solved.

Last edited by Anthony on October 26, 2014 11:07.
...
Post 15 made on Sunday October 26, 2014 at 11:44
Anthony
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On October 25, 2014 at 00:13, goldenzrule said...
I recognize the fact that many products are not designed with CIs or rack mounted in mind, but at the same time many are.

don't see why that matters, I don't think it is only an issue for CIs (if anything we are better equipped to deal with it, like others pointed out there are workarounds and we know about them, while Joe might not). Think of a typical home office, there is the PC, maybe a monitor, cordless mouse that has a wall wart on the charger, speakers with a wall wart, cordless (or corded with display) phone with a wall wart, maybe a router ...... I definitely know my desk has a few of those short extender cables.
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