Power Supply/ Adapter for Dummies?

Fire_Fox

I have just received a skincare gadget (A) from a friend in China, I *think* the product was made for the US market. The two pins of the power supply plug into a US to UK adapter plug but the gadget does not work. I don't know if the power supply is faulty or simply not compatible with the UK electricity supply.

I have another skincare gadget (B) with a two pin power supply definitely made for the US market. If I use gadget B's power supply, gadget A's lights come on but I am scared of damaging something if I use these together.

Gadget A instruction manual says:
Max Power 8w (p: mix >= 400mw/ cm2)
Power Supply AC100 - 240V/ 50Hz - 60Hz ~ DC24V/ 750 mA

In teeny tiny writing the gadget B power adapter says:
Input AC 100 - 240V
50/60Hz 0.25A Max
Output 9.0V DC 400 mA

Are these compatible please or do I need to do my best bimbo impression in Maplin tomorrow? Thank you! :beer:

Kernel_Sanders

Have you tried plugging it into a dedicated shaver socket (if you do not frequent gentlemen's lavatories, you might have problems finding one)

Fire_Fox

Thanks: I am female and don't have access to a shave socket. Gadget A does seem to function in that the lights come on, it's just I don't know if I can safely use it with the power adapter borrowed from gadget B.

Rabbir1

No, they are not compatable, you will most likely damage gadget B's power supply.
Gadget A requires a 230Volt AC to 24Volt DC 750mA transformer.
Gadget B's power supply only produces 9Volt DC at 400mA so not enough voltage or current for gadget A.

Fire_Fox

Thank you. So does that mean Gadget A's power supply is broken since the gadget does not work with it?

Lifeforms

Not necessarily. Have you tried a shaver socket converter to 3 pin plug? you can buy them in likes of argos pretty cheaply. (I've got to use one with my toothbrush as I'm lacking a shaver socket)

Dussed

Lifeforms wrote: »

Not necessarily. Have you tried a shaver socket converter to 3 pin plug? you can buy them in likes of argos pretty cheaply. (I've got to use one with my toothbrush as I'm lacking a shaver socket)

I agree with this. I'm also using a shaver socket converter for a toothbrush. and also bought it from argos, worked fine.

LucianH

Lifeforms wrote: »

Not necessarily. Have you tried a shaver socket converter to 3 pin plug? you can buy them in likes of argos pretty cheaply. (I've got to use one with my toothbrush as I'm lacking a shaver socket)

Just search for "shaver adaptor" in Argos and Maplin. Lot cheap through likes of amazon or Wilkinsons though.

Fifer

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Thank you. So does that mean Gadget A's power supply is broken since the gadget does not work with it?

It seems a reasonable assumption since the US/UK adapter works with device (B)and device (A) shows at least a light using the device (B) supply. That suggests to me that the device (A) PSU is faulty.

Fire_Fox

Lifeforms wrote: »

Not necessarily. Have you tried a shaver socket converter to 3 pin plug? you can buy them in likes of argos pretty cheaply. (I've got to use one with my toothbrush as I'm lacking a shaver socket)

No I just have a regular US two pin to UK three pin adapter that I purchased in Maplin. Excuse the ignorance but how is a shaver one different?

Thanks to everyone for your replies BTW, very much appreciated. :T

LucianH

Fire_Fox wrote: »

No I just have a regular US two pin to UK three pin adapter that I purchased in Maplin. Excuse the ignorance but how is a shaver one different?

Thanks to everyone for your replies BTW, very much appreciated. :T

Actually, there's probably is not much difference. Are the pins of the two power supplies the same size and diameter? If one power supply works with the US adaptor then I'd expect the other one to work.

To be honest, it's pointing towards power supply A being faulty as Fifer suggested. The only real way of testing it is to find someone with a multimeter. If you don't know anybody who's got one then might find that Maplin could oblige by just checking it. As you mentioned in your post, you may have to do your "best bimbo" impression.