I got a pair of Altec Lansing (Rev A00) speakers for my old computer (Dell Dimension XPS T800r) at a rummage sale. Silly me - I realized when I got home that the power cord wasn't included. I thought my "universal" power supply might work, but it didn't and I can't buy online since I have no "plastic". Any advice what to do now (besides get a credit or debit card)?
Your universal power supply should work. The polarity might be wrong. It may be a positive tip and the universal power supply should have that switch. It should be 12 volts, 500 mA. If they don't work with the right voltage, amperage and polarity, then they are duds I assume.
You can always get a prepaid credit card at the store or gas station and pay with cash. You can check out on eBay with PayPal as a guest using your card.
My universal power supply has no switches. Here's a photo of what's printed on it:
These Dell speakers are branded Harmon-Kardon, but appear to be similar. Power supply is spec'd at 1A@12VDC, center pin positive. I think maybe your supply voltage is too low.
That won't work. And in fact, that's not a universal power adapter. A universal power adapter will have a switch to set the voltage and polarity.
Given the image above, most universal power adapters don't provide 1 amp of current, but rather 500 mA or half an amp. So that probably won't work. I figured it was 500 milliamps from an image on eBay for these speakers.
I actually own these speakers, but they're buried downstairs somewhere. So I can't check the exact amp requirement.
Look like altec lansing 215 speakers.
Adapter is 12v 0.5A
ALTEC LANSING ADA215 POWERED COMPUTER SPEAKERS WITH POWER SUPPLY | eBay
This claims to be replacement- not exactly the same as the one in the previous post. It is 12v 2.0a
12V MAINS ALTEC LANSING ADA215 SPEAKERS AC ADAPTOR POWER SUPPLY CHARGER PLUG | eBay
Seems like you need 12v output.
dg1261 is correct
Thanks for that confirmation. So the OP just needs a 12 volt, 500 mA power supply with selectable polarity for positive tip.
Edit-
Oops! Posted at the same time.
Edit 2 -
That's a Euro plug. OP lives in the U.S.
Yes, I know it is a euro plug. Now the OP knows he is looking for 12v output 0.5a or more.
He should be able to find something in a local electrical store or garage sale, or whatever. In the UK ( and elsewhere in Europe) they have have things called pound shop, or pound world, or pound land - there are hundreds of them. There are also lots of individual little shops doing cheapo electrical and kitchen stuff, etc. They carry stuff like this, and it is very cheap
I found another power supply that used to go to a zip drive, but the cylinder-shaped connector wouldn't stay plugged in; it just kept falling out when I tried to push it in.
BTW - I'm a she, not a he.
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