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<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:48px;">How to choose the right power adapter or charger for your devices</span></span></h1>
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<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-size: 24pt;">If you’re like most people, you probably have a collection of old power adapters and chargers that you’ve held onto, even though the devices they used to power are long gone. You probably thought that someday, one of them might come in handy:</span></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none; font-size: 21px; line-height: 1.476; margin: 0px auto 1.25em; padding: 0px; font-family: Montserrat; max-width: 58rem; width: calc(100% - 4rem); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-weight: 700;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-size: 24pt;">This article will help you figure out if an adapter is compatible with a given device.</span></span></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:36px;">A little terminology</span></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family:arial;">Before we begin, let’s make sure we’re using the same words to refer to the different “plugs” on an adapter or charger…</span><br />
<img alt="Photo of a power adapter, with arrows pointing out the connector and plug." src="https://www.globalnerdy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/connector-and-plug.jpg" /><br />
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<ul style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none; font-size: 21px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px auto 1.25em; padding: 0px; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; font-family: Montserrat; max-width: 58rem; width: calc(100% - 4rem); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
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<span style="font-family:arial;">By <span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-weight: 700;">plug,</span> I mean the part of the adapter or charger that you plug into the wall.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family:arial;">By <span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-weight: 700;">connector,</span> I mean the part of the adapter or charger that you plug into the device.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family:arial;">With that out of the way, let’s begin!</span></p>
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<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:48px;">How to tell if a power adapter or charger is right for your device</span></span></h2>
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<img alt="" src="/inc/uploads/ckeditor/2+.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 450px;" /></p>
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<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:48px;">Step 1: Is the adapter’s polarity correct for your device?</span></span></h3>
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none; font-size: 21px; line-height: 1.476; margin: 0px auto 1.25em; padding: 0px; font-family: Montserrat; max-width: 58rem; width: calc(100% - 4rem); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-weight: 700;">Although you <em style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit;">could</em> do steps 1 and 2 in either order, I prefer to get the “device killer” question out of the way first.</span> That question is: Does the connector’s polarity match the device’s polarity? Simply put, you want to find out which part of the connector is positive and which part is negative.</span></p>
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<span style="font-family:arial;">In DC current, which is the kind of current that an adapter provides, the polarity determines the direction in which current will flow through the device. You <em style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit;">do not</em> want current to flow into your device in the reverse direction.</span></p>
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<span style="font-family:arial;">Here’s a connector and its parts. The sleeve is the outer metal part, while the tip is the inner metal part:</span></p>
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<a href="https://www.globalnerdy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/power-adapter-connector-parts.jpg" style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition: all 0.15s linear 0s; color: rgb(23, 125, 180);"><img alt="Close-up photo of a power adapter connector, with arrows pointing out the sleeve and tip." class="aligncenter wp-image-32272 size-full" height="350" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" src="https://www.globalnerdy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/power-adapter-connector-parts.jpg" srcset="https://www.globalnerdy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/power-adapter-connector-parts.jpg 400w, https://www.globalnerdy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/power-adapter-connector-parts-300x263.jpg 300w" style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 4rem auto; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%; clear: both;" width="400" /></a></p>
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<span style="font-family:arial;">Both your adapter and device should have some kind of label or tag that indicates their polarity. It should be either <em style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-weight: 700;">negative sleeve/positive tip,</span></em> which is indicated by this symbol…</span></p>
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<img alt="“Negative sleeve / positive tip” symbol for power adapter connectors." class="aligncenter wp-image-32273 size-full" height="65" loading="lazy" src="https://www.globalnerdy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/negative-sleeve-positive-tip.jpg" style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 4rem auto; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%; clear: both;" width="284" /></p>
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none; font-size: 21px; line-height: 1.476; margin: 0px auto 1.25em; padding: 0px; font-family: Montserrat; max-width: 58rem; width: calc(100% - 4rem); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<span style="font-family:arial;">…or <em style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-weight: 700;">positive sleeve/negative tip,</span></em> which is indicated by this symbol:</span></p>
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<img alt="“Positive sleeve / negative tip” symbol for power adapter connectors." class="aligncenter wp-image-32275 size-full" height="65" loading="lazy" src="https://www.globalnerdy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/positive-sleeve-negative-tip.jpg" style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 4rem auto; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%; clear: both;" width="284" /></p>
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none; font-size: 21px; line-height: 1.476; margin: 0px auto 1.25em; padding: 0px; font-family: Montserrat; max-width: 58rem; width: calc(100% - 4rem); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-weight: 700;">Are the polarity markings on both the adapter and the device are the same?</span></span></p>
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<li style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none; font-size: inherit; line-height: 1.476; margin: 0.5rem 0px 0px 2rem; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit;">
<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; color: rgb(51, 153, 102);"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-weight: 700;">Yes:</span></span> If the polarity markings on both are the same, you can proceed to the next step.</span></li>
<li style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none; font-size: inherit; line-height: 1.476; margin: 0.5rem 0px 0px 2rem; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit;">
<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-weight: 700;">No:</span></span> If the polarity markings are different, DO NOT proceed to the next step, and definitely DO NOT plug the connector into the device.</span></li>
<li style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none; font-size: inherit; line-height: 1.476; margin: 0.5rem 0px 0px 2rem; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit;">
<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; color: rgb(255, 153, 0);"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-weight: 700;">If the are no polarity markings on the adapter:</span></span> See the SPECIAL BONUS SECTION at the end of this article.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:48px;">Step 2: Does the adapter’s connector fit into your device?</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-weight: 700;">With the adapter’s plug <em style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit;">NOT</em> plugged into an outlet, can you plug the connector into the device?</span></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; color: rgb(51, 153, 102);"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-weight: 700;">Yes:</span></span> If the connector fits, you can proceed to the next step.</span></li>
<li style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none; font-size: inherit; line-height: 1.476; margin: 0.5rem 0px 0px 2rem; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit;">
<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-weight: 700;">No:</span></span> If the connector doesn’t even fit, you can be pretty certain that this adapter isn’t going to work for the device.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:48px;">Step 3: Do the voltage and current coming from the adapter match the voltage and current required by the device?</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family:arial;">If you’ve reached this step, you’ve now taken care of the simple matches: The adapter will push current into your device in the right direction, and the connector fits.</span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none; font-size: 21px; line-height: 1.476; margin: 0px auto 1.25em; padding: 0px; font-family: Montserrat; max-width: 58rem; width: calc(100% - 4rem); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<span style="font-family:arial;">Now it’s time to look at the numbers, namely <span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-weight: 700;">voltage</span> and <span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-weight: 700;">current</span>.</span></p>
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<span style="font-family:arial;">Look at the voltage (measured in <em style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit;">volts,</em> or V for short) and current (measured in <em style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit;">amperes,</em> or <em style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit;">amps</em> or A for short) marked on the adapter.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family:arial;">Look at the same values marked on the device.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-weight: 700;">Do the voltage and current values on the adapter and device match?</span></span></p>
<ul style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none; font-size: 21px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px auto 1.25em; padding: 0px; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; font-family: Montserrat; max-width: 58rem; width: calc(100% - 4rem); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<li style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none; font-size: inherit; line-height: 1.476; margin: 0.5rem 0px 0px 2rem; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit;">
<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; color: rgb(51, 153, 102);"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-weight: 700;">Yes:</span></span> If the numbers match, you’re good! You can use the adapter to power the device.</span></li>
<li style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none; font-size: inherit; line-height: 1.476; margin: 0.5rem 0px 0px 2rem; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit;">
<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-weight: 700;">No, both numbers don’t match:</span></span> Don’t use the adapter to power the device.</span></li>
<li style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none; font-size: inherit; line-height: 1.476; margin: 0.5rem 0px 0px 2rem; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit;">
<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-weight: 700;">No, one of the numbers matches, and one doesn’t:</span> </span>If only one of the numbers doesn’t match, don’t write off the adapter as incompatible yet. Consult the table below:</span></li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: 0.1rem solid rgb(219, 219, 219); font-size: 1.8rem; line-height: inherit; margin: 4rem auto 1.25em; padding: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; empty-cells: show; max-width: 58rem; overflow: hidden; width: 580px; font-family: "Inter var", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<tbody style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border-color: rgb(219, 219, 219);">
<tr style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none rgb(219, 219, 219); font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit;">
<td style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: 0.1rem solid rgb(219, 219, 219); font-size: inherit; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px; padding: 0.5em; text-align: inherit; overflow: visible; width: 193px;">
<span style="font-family:arial;"><br />
</span></td>
<td style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: 0.1rem solid rgb(219, 219, 219); font-size: inherit; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px; padding: 0.5em; text-align: inherit; overflow: visible; width: 193px;">
<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-weight: 700; border-color: rgb(219, 219, 219);"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border-color: rgb(219, 219, 219); font-size: 12pt;">…and it’s LOWER than what your device needs</span></span></span></td>
<td style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: 0.1rem solid rgb(219, 219, 219); font-size: inherit; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px; padding: 0.5em; text-align: inherit; overflow: visible; width: 193px;">
<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-weight: 700; border-color: rgb(219, 219, 219);"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border-color: rgb(219, 219, 219); font-size: 12pt;">…and it’s HIGHER than what your device needs</span></span></span></td>
</tr>
<tr style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none rgb(219, 219, 219); font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit;">
<td style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: 0.1rem solid rgb(219, 219, 219); font-size: inherit; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px; padding: 0.5em; text-align: inherit; overflow: visible; width: 193px;">
<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border-color: rgb(219, 219, 219);"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border-color: rgb(219, 219, 219); font-size: 16px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-weight: 700; border-color: rgb(219, 219, 219);">If the voltage (V) doesn’t match…</span></span></span></span></td>
<td style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: 0.1rem solid rgb(219, 219, 219); font-size: inherit; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px; padding: 0.5em; text-align: inherit; overflow: visible; width: 193px;" valign="top">
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none rgb(219, 219, 219); font-size: inherit; line-height: 1.476; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; font-family: Montserrat;">
<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border-color: rgb(219, 219, 219); font-size: 12pt;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-weight: 700; border-color: rgb(219, 219, 219);"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border-color: rgb(219, 219, 219); color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">MMMMAYBE.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none rgb(219, 219, 219); font-size: inherit; line-height: 1.476; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; font-family: Montserrat;">
<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border-color: rgb(219, 219, 219); font-size: 12pt;">Your device <em style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none rgb(219, 219, 219); font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit;">might</em> work, but it also might work unreliably.</span></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none rgb(219, 219, 219); font-size: inherit; line-height: 1.476; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; font-family: Montserrat;">
<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border-color: rgb(219, 219, 219); font-size: 12pt;">Simpler devices, where electricity is converted directly into some kind of result (such as a light, or a speaker) are more likely to work than more complex ones (such as a hard drive, or anything with a processor).</span></span></p>
</td>
<td style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: 0.1rem solid rgb(219, 219, 219); font-size: inherit; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px; padding: 0.5em; text-align: inherit; overflow: visible; width: 193px;" valign="top">
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none rgb(219, 219, 219); font-size: inherit; line-height: 1.476; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; font-family: Montserrat;">
<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border-color: rgb(219, 219, 219); font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-weight: 700; border-color: rgb(219, 219, 219);">NO! WILL PROBABLY RUIN YOUR DEVICE.</span></span></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none rgb(219, 219, 219); font-size: inherit; line-height: 1.476; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; font-family: Montserrat;">
<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border-color: rgb(219, 219, 219); font-size: 12pt;">Your device <em style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none rgb(219, 219, 219); font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit;">might</em> work. The additional voltage may overheat and damage your device.</span></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none rgb(219, 219, 219); font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit;">
<td style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: 0.1rem solid rgb(219, 219, 219); font-size: inherit; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px; padding: 0.5em; text-align: inherit; overflow: visible; width: 193px;">
<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border-color: rgb(219, 219, 219); font-size: 16px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-weight: 700; border-color: rgb(219, 219, 219);">If the current (A) doesn’t match…</span></span></span></td>
<td style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: 0.1rem solid rgb(219, 219, 219); font-size: inherit; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px; padding: 0.5em; text-align: inherit; overflow: visible; width: 193px;" valign="top">
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none rgb(219, 219, 219); font-size: inherit; line-height: 1.476; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; font-family: Montserrat;">
<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border-color: rgb(219, 219, 219); font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-weight: 700; border-color: rgb(219, 219, 219);">NO! WILL PROBABLY RUIN YOUR ADAPTER.</span></span></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none rgb(219, 219, 219); font-size: inherit; line-height: 1.476; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; font-family: Montserrat;">
<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border-color: rgb(219, 219, 219); font-size: 12pt;">Your device <em style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none rgb(219, 219, 219); font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit;">might</em> work. Your device will attempt to draw more current than the adapter is rated for, which may overheat and damage the adapter.</span></span></p>
</td>
<td style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: 0.1rem solid rgb(219, 219, 219); font-size: inherit; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px; padding: 0.5em; text-align: inherit; overflow: visible; width: 193px;" valign="top">
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none rgb(219, 219, 219); font-size: inherit; line-height: 1.476; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; font-family: Montserrat;">
<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border-color: rgb(219, 219, 219); font-size: 12pt;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-weight: 700; border-color: rgb(219, 219, 219);"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border-color: rgb(219, 219, 219); color: rgb(51, 153, 102);">GO FOR IT!</span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none rgb(219, 219, 219); font-size: inherit; line-height: 1.476; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; font-family: Montserrat;">
<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border-color: rgb(219, 219, 219); font-size: 12pt;">The adapter’s current rating states the <em style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none rgb(219, 219, 219); font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit;">maximum</em> that it’s capable of delivering.</span></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none rgb(219, 219, 219); font-size: inherit; line-height: 1.476; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; font-family: Montserrat;">
<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border-color: rgb(219, 219, 219); font-size: 12pt;">Your device<i style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border-color: rgb(219, 219, 219);"> will</i> work. It will draw only the current it needs from the adapter.</span></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3 style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none; font-size: 4rem; line-height: 1.25; margin: 6rem auto 3rem; padding: 0px; font-feature-settings: "lnum"; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; letter-spacing: -0.0415625em; font-family: Montserrat; max-width: 58rem; width: calc(100% - 4rem); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:48px;">SPECIAL BONUS SECTION:<br style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word;" />
What if the adapter doesn’t have polarity markings?</span></span></h3>
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none; font-size: 21px; line-height: 1.476; margin: 0px auto 1.25em; padding: 0px; font-family: Montserrat; max-width: 58rem; width: calc(100% - 4rem); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<span style="font-family:arial;">Believe it or not, it happens. In fact, I have one such adapter, pictured below:</span><br />
<img alt="" src="/inc/uploads/ckeditor/6+.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 450px;" /></p>
<figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-32279" class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_32279" style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; margin: 4rem auto; clear: both; max-width: 58rem; width: 580px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 21px;"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-32279" style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; color: rgb(109, 109, 109); font-size: 1.5rem; line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 1.8rem; font-family: "Inter var", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-weight: 700;">No polarity markings. Not helpful at all.</span><br style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word;" />
<br />
</span></figcaption></figure>
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none; font-size: 21px; line-height: 1.476; margin: 0px auto 1.25em; padding: 0px; font-family: Montserrat; max-width: 58rem; width: calc(100% - 4rem); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<span style="font-family:arial;">As you can see, its label section lists a lot of information, but <em style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit;">not</em> the polarity. This means you’ll have to determine the polarity yourself, or you can take a leap of faith.</span></p>
<h4 style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none; font-size: 3.2rem; line-height: 1.25; margin: 4.5rem auto 2.5rem; padding: 0px; font-feature-settings: "lnum"; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; letter-spacing: -0.0415625em; font-family: Montserrat; max-width: 58rem; width: calc(100% - 4rem); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:48px;">If you want to determine the adapter’s polarity yourself</span></span></h4>
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none; font-size: 21px; line-height: 1.476; margin: 0px auto 1.25em; padding: 0px; font-family: Montserrat; max-width: 58rem; width: calc(100% - 4rem); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-weight: 700;">If you want to determine the polarity yourself, you’ll need a voltmeter.</span> Set it up to read DC voltage in the range of the adapter. In the case of the adapter above, it’s rated to output 12 volts (V), so I set my meter to read a maximum of 20 V. I put the positive probe inside the connector so that it made contact with the tip, and touched the negative probe to the sleeve. A positive number appeared on the display:</span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none; font-size: 21px; line-height: 1.476; margin: 0px auto 1.25em; padding: 0px; font-family: Montserrat; max-width: 58rem; width: calc(100% - 4rem); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<a href="https://www.globalnerdy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/multimeter-showing-positive-voltage.jpg" style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition: all 0.15s linear 0s; color: rgb(23, 125, 180);"><img alt="Multimeter being used to measure voltage coming from adapter, with the display showing a positive voltage." class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-32281" height="773" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 580px) 100vw, 580px" src="https://www.globalnerdy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/multimeter-showing-positive-voltage-600x800.jpg" srcset="https://www.globalnerdy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/multimeter-showing-positive-voltage-600x800.jpg 600w, https://www.globalnerdy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/multimeter-showing-positive-voltage-225x300.jpg 225w, https://www.globalnerdy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/multimeter-showing-positive-voltage-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://www.globalnerdy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/multimeter-showing-positive-voltage.jpg 900w" style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 4rem auto; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%; clear: both;" width="580" /></a></p>
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none; font-size: 21px; line-height: 1.476; margin: 0px auto 1.25em; padding: 0px; font-family: Montserrat; max-width: 58rem; width: calc(100% - 4rem); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<span style="font-family:arial;">With the positive probe touching the tip and the negative probe touching the sleeve, a positive voltage means that current is flowing from the tip to the sleeve, which in turn means that the tip is positive and the sleeve is negative.</span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none; font-size: 21px; line-height: 1.476; margin: 0px auto 1.25em; padding: 0px; font-family: Montserrat; max-width: 58rem; width: calc(100% - 4rem); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<span style="font-family:arial;">If the number were negative, it would means that current was flowing from the sleeve to the tip, which in turn means that the sleeve is positive and the tip is negative.</span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none; font-size: 21px; line-height: 1.476; margin: 0px auto 1.25em; padding: 0px; font-family: Montserrat; max-width: 58rem; width: calc(100% - 4rem); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<span style="font-family:arial;">In fact, when I put the positive probe on the sleeve and the negative probe on the tip of the same adapter, this is what happened:</span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none; font-size: 21px; line-height: 1.476; margin: 0px auto 1.25em; padding: 0px; font-family: Montserrat; max-width: 58rem; width: calc(100% - 4rem); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<a href="https://www.globalnerdy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/multimeter-showing-negative-voltage.jpg" style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition: all 0.15s linear 0s; color: rgb(23, 125, 180);"><img alt="Multimeter being used to measure voltage coming from adapter, with the display showing a negative voltage." class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-32282" height="773" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 580px) 100vw, 580px" src="https://www.globalnerdy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/multimeter-showing-negative-voltage-600x800.jpg" srcset="https://www.globalnerdy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/multimeter-showing-negative-voltage-600x800.jpg 600w, https://www.globalnerdy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/multimeter-showing-negative-voltage-225x300.jpg 225w, https://www.globalnerdy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/multimeter-showing-negative-voltage-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://www.globalnerdy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/multimeter-showing-negative-voltage.jpg 900w" style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 4rem auto; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%; clear: both;" width="580" /></a></p>
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: none; font-size: 21px; line-height: 1.476; margin: 0px auto 1.25em; padding: 0px; font-family: Montserrat; max-width: 58rem; width: calc(100% - 4rem); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<span style="font-family:arial;">Note that the voltage reported is negative. In other words, the current appears to be flowing backwards — from the negative probe to the positive probe —because I had the probes backwards. Once again, this indicates that current is flowing from the tip to the sleeve, which means that the tip is positive and the sleeve is negative.</span></p>
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