Mains Power Supply. Does It Work?

[theGerbil]

Hi All

Just received my GP2X for crimble and so far mostly so good but have a question about the mains power facility. Does anybody know if it supposed to work?

I have a generic ac / dc adaptor with switchable voltages. In accordance with what I have read I have switched this to run at 3v and with the polarity descrbed as "centre nagative".

I've never heard of that description before but what is what I assume to be the symbol -o)+ .

If I use it in this setting the screen just fills with lines and the speakers start buzzing .. needless to say I remove the adaptor immediately. If I set the polarity the other way -(o+ nothing happens.

Any information on this would be gratefully received.

Thanks

 

[mrsnature]

never set the polarity the wrong way you can properly kill your unit.

-o)+ was right

does the unit still work even after you used the wrong polarity?

you need to make sure your PS is a 'regulated' one, so you know its delivering the voltage that you set it too, might be that its not getting enough

also should be over 1amp.

 

[theGerbil]

Hi mrsnature

Thanks for your reply.

Yes .. it still works .. phew!!

Not sure about the amperage as I've mislaid the instructions and I doubt it's regulated. I'll have a look for another unit in the shops and see if i can get one to match this specification.

Best regards

 

[theGerbil]

Hi again

I am looking at two regulated adaptors. One which delivers 1000 mAH @ 3v and one which delivers 1400mAH @ 3v.

Any idea which should be better? I notice you say "at least" 1 amp in your message.

Thanks

theGerbil

 

[Reesy]

When I use my adapter I have to have the voltage set at 4.5 to get my gp2x to work otherwise I just get the lines as you described.

 

[trooper]

Required power supply for the GP2x should be:

Regulated
3 Volt
500 milliamps (At least)
CENTRE NEGATIVE -O)+

Usually the mini barrel connector coloured yellow (not sure of the size).

Trooper

 

[Squidge]

1000mAh should be plenty. 500mA may not be enough for all situations.

 

[theGerbil]

Thanks for the feedback, the barrel is indeed yellow.

Tried upping the voltage to 4.5v and thn 6v and it actually booted up with both (6v was better, 4.5v was a bit halfway house-ish ) but there was interference on the display which kind of oscillated from top to bottom.

Perhaps I need to splash out on a regulated unit to ensure whatever I'm putting into the unit is stable rather than relying on an ASDA cheapy

 

[alucks]

yeah, definitely go with regulated. I don't know if putting 6v through a 3.3v device will be ok in the long-run.

 

[Improfane]

4.5 works good for me. the inefficiencies of the console i guess.

 

[reallynotnick]

I just went to radio shack to try out some adaptors and found out that the 1 amp at 3v would not work but the 2 amp worked fine. Although it is bricked, so it could be drawing a load of power for no reason.

I would go with that 1.4 amp one Gerbil.


Now you guys tempt me to switch up the voltage on mine to see if it is really bricked.... but I don't think I will even dare being that my next step up is 5v. Plus I am 99.99% positive that it is bricked.

 

[cbox]

I'm using a 800 mhA generic power supply I got at Radio Shack, 3 volts.

 

[red_tom]

My beautifully working unit was bricked last night when trying a power supply for the first time (2 amp regulated, 3v). Now in vertical coloured lines land which means a trip back to gp2x.co.uk I think. I've tried flashing U-boot as per http://www.distant-earth.com/gp2x/2005/11/...cked-gp2xs.html and a fresh set of Duracaells but no joy ).

 

[cbox]

2 amp could have been too much, they recommend 1 amp