Xmas lights end socket broken

[brian jermain]

can you use a 5.5mm 2.1mm 12v DC Connector Plug Power Jack replacement as Xmas lights end socket broken off - the voltage through the adaptor is 31v max 6w ?- but no problems with the adaptor which is a Czjutai Power Supply JT‑EL/FC31V6W.
I cannot find a higher voltage replacement power jack that I can solder to the lights.

Any advice would be appreciated

Brian

 

[Lucien Nunes]

The connector itself is not voltage-dependent. So yes, you can cut a connector off a 12V power supply or use a spare plug intended for 12V applications and attach it to a 32V supply,. The current of a 32V 6W adaptor is very low ( <200mA) so the current rating of the plug is not important either. For 32V I would prefer a type that has a non-touchable centre contact. Some 2.1mm plugs have a tubular contact of which the end is accessible at the very tip of the plug, others have a 'fork' contact hidden inside that cannot be touched other than by the pin of the mating half.

Beware that there is no standard for coding the two wires, you must test with a multimeter which is the centre contact and which the outer. E.g. some units with a figure-8 flex connect the stripe to the centre and others have stripe to the outer.

 

[brian jermain]

The connector itself is not voltage-dependent. So yes, you can cut a connector off a 12V power supply or use a spare plug intended for 12V applications and attach it to a 32V supply,. The current of a 32V 6W adaptor is very low ( <200mA) so the current rating of the plug is not important either. For 32V I would prefer a type that has a non-touchable centre contact. Some 2.1mm plugs have a tubular contact of which the end is accessible at the very tip of the plug, others have a 'fork' contact hidden inside that cannot be touched other than by the pin of the mating half.

Beware that there is no standard for coding the two wires, you must test with a multimeter which is the centre contact and which the outer. E.g. some units with a figure-8 flex connect the stripe to the centre and others have stripe to the outer.

Thank you Lucien.

As the jack is completely detached from the Xmas lights is there an easy way of establshing which wire is positive and which is negative. I have a multimeter but all I can see is that it will give me coinfirmation that there is a circuit.
Thanks also for the advice about not using the screw type ends. I will order up the shrink wrapped type to ensure it is safe

Thanks again

Brian

 

[DPG]

Thank you Lucien.

As the jack is completely detached from the Xmas lights is there an easy way of establshing which wire is positive and which is negative. I have a multimeter but all I can see is that it will give me coinfirmation that there is a circuit.
Thanks also for the advice about not using the screw type ends. I will order up the shrink wrapped type to ensure it is safe

Thanks again

Brian

Set your multimeter to DC Volts. Connect to the two wires of the adaptor. If you get a positive reading then the wire that your red meter lead is connected to is positive. If you get a negative reading then it is the negative.

 

[Lucien Nunes]

If you get a positive reading then the wire that your red meter lead is connected to is positive.

But then you have to confirm whether positive is the pin or the outside of the plug. Normally it is the pin but you cannot assume. This might be shown in a pictogram on the power adaptor or the lights. Alternatively, if you can identify the stubs of wire still connected to the old plug, set the meter to 200 ohms or continuity bleeper and test from the pin to each wire.

 

[DPG]

But then you have to confirm whether positive is the pin or the outside of the plug. Normally it is the pin but you cannot assume. This might be shown in a pictogram on the power adaptor or the lights. Alternatively, if you can identify the stubs of wire still connected to the old plug, set the meter to 200 ohms or continuity bleeper and test from the pin to each wire.

Sorry, I though he had cut the plug off. Must read things properly!