Sonic Impact 5017 power adaptor okay for Sonic T amp?

Jonathan · « **on:** 16 Apr 2005, 02:41 am »

Great price, but I'm not sure if it will work with the amp (it's listed in some places as compatible with the amp, but in other places as compatible with their speakers). Any help would be appreciated.

Jon

http://64.233.179.104/search?q=cache:1JRapVJdBiwJ:www.x10.com/electronics/allcategories/electronics/accessoriescablesmedia/sonic_impact.html+sonic+impact+5017&hl=en&client=firefox-a

tianguis · « **Reply #1 on:** 16 Apr 2005, 11:41 am »

Jon:
A quick Google shows that it's output is 5 volts. Won't work.

Regards,
Larry Welsh

Jonathan · « **Reply #2 on:** 16 Apr 2005, 12:52 pm »

Ah, that's what I thought. Thanks for the confirmation.

Jon

JeffB · « **Reply #3 on:** 16 Apr 2005, 06:58 pm »

I can confirm that it won't work. I made the mistake of ordering it. I ordered both the AC power adaptor and USB power adaptor. Neither of them work. Your best move by far though is to buy a 5ah sealed led acid battery and a battery charger. You need a size 'N' power plug, which can be obtained at Radio Shack. The battery produces better detail and resolution. It is a bit like going from 16 color to 256 color for those who remember the old video cards. Or like regular TV to HDTV. Instruments are better placed in a volume space. Dynamics improve a little bit too.

A 5ah will provide about 20 hours of listening before it should be recharged.
Always leave the charger on it when not in use.

I bought this:
http://www.batterymart.com/battery.mv?p=SLA-12V5-F1

and this:
http://www.batterymart.com/battery.mv?p=ACC-12BC1000D-1

Jonathan · « **Reply #4 on:** 16 Apr 2005, 08:33 pm »

Thanks, Jeff, I appreciate the info...

Jonathan · « **Reply #5 on:** 17 Apr 2005, 12:15 am »

Can anyone tell me if this PS will work with a stock SonicT? Thanks,

Jon

http://www.allelectronics.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?item=ACTX-152

tianguis · « **Reply #6 on:** 17 Apr 2005, 12:29 am »

Jon:
The 15v. is within the range, just below the max. HOWEVER, wallwarts aren't regulated and can put out much higher voltages than stated, especially on low current-draw devices like the T-Amp. If you must use a wallwart, go for a 12v. one.

Regards,
Larry Welsh

tianguis · « **Reply #7 on:** 17 Apr 2005, 12:34 am »

Jon:
The link you gave is for a transformer, which delivers AC voltage. The T-Amp requires 12v. DC.

LW

Jonathan · « **Reply #8 on:** 17 Apr 2005, 02:05 am »

Hmmm, I guess I should have seen that 15Vac description.

Can anyone direct me to an *affordable* wall wart for the SonicT? Thanks a million!

Jon

Dave G · « **Reply #9 on:** 17 Apr 2005, 03:26 am »

Jonathan,

Try this:
AC adaptor from Parts Express It works for me.

Dave

ellogan · « **Reply #10 on:** 17 Apr 2005, 04:04 am »

Jonathan:
If you live close to a Walmart, you can check their electronics department for a Phillips wallwart that comes with a variety of adapters, including the N adapter the SI needs. It costs about $12 and I think is rated at 12v and 1A (I think the SI needs a minimum of 0.8A). However, you should follow the SLA route. There is such a dramatic difference between the sound with a wallwart and the SLA that it is not even close. Go SLA. That way you will not have to wonder what you are missing (which will be quite a bit).
Take care.

Dave G · « **Reply #11 on:** 18 Apr 2005, 12:08 am »

JeffB,

Do you have a part number for the "size 'N' power plug" from Radio Shack that would connect the SLA battery to the SI amp? Thanks.

Dave

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #12 on:** 18 Apr 2005, 02:09 am »

Quote from: Dave G

JeffB,

Do you have a part number for the "size 'N' power plug" from Radio Shack that would connect the SLA battery to the SI amp? Thanks.

Dave

Dave,

Most every walkman I've know of uses that same plug size...if you have any old ac adaptors around for old walkman, just snip off the wall wart part, get to the bare wire and crimp a .205-.250" female quick disconnect (at any Radio Shack) to it. That size fits the standard F1 size terminal on most SLA's.

Just make sure you have positve hooked up to positive, etc...as the SLA will blow the little SI immediately, otherwise. On my snipped wall wart, the positive wire had a nice white strip down it signyfying it. I don't know if all do, tho.

Jonathan · « **Reply #13 on:** 18 Apr 2005, 03:08 am »

thanks for the link to the Parts Express wall wart. I have seen this one, but I was hoping to find one for a few bucks less. There seem to be lots of ~$4.00 adaptors online at the electrical supply houses, but they all have slightly lower mA ratings than this one.

If I stay at around 12volts DC, is there a minimum mA rating I should look for?

JeffB · « **Reply #14 on:** 18 Apr 2005, 05:02 pm »

Dave,

Sorry, I don't happen to know the part number.
The Radio Shack that I went to had a bin full of DC power connectors labeled 'M', 'N', 'P', etc. They came 2 to a pack. The sonic impact takes an 'N'. I have a casio keyboard at home that I believe takes an 'M'. I also think my PC speakers take an 'M'. So not all portable devices are going to have the 'N' sizing.

Dave G · « **Reply #15 on:** 19 Apr 2005, 01:46 am »

Thanks, Jeff and Chair Guy,

I've ordered the battery and charger Jeff recommended. I know about the Radio Shack "N" plug, but somehow I thought Jeff was talking about something else. When I get the battery and charger, I'll see if I can put it all together without melting the T amp. I'll try to remember to post back with my results.

I'm having a lot of fun with the amp, by the way. I'm using it in about the simplest system you could imagine -- iPod > T amp > Ascend Acoustics 340 speakers (92 db efficient) -- and I love the clean, detailed music it puts out.

Dave

JeffB · « **Reply #16 on:** 19 Apr 2005, 03:42 am »

I should have mentioned that you also need the charger cord.
http://www.batterymart.com/battery.mv?p=ACC-D-1766

Hopefully you spotted the link on the charger page.

Dave G · « **Reply #17 on:** 19 Apr 2005, 01:14 pm »

Thanks, Jeff. You or someone else did mention the charger cord in an earlier post, so I included it in my order.

Dave