Mains power adaptor for 6v weather station

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Mains power adaptor for 6v weather station

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#3302943 29-Oct-2024 22:44

Bung: The issue will be cost, a 2.5A adapter will be more expensive.

The Jaycar one is also a universal adapter and those always cost more than everything else, a 6V wall wart should be something like $10 while the Jaycar one is $40.

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neb

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#3302944 29-Oct-2024 22:47

lloydchristmas: Thanks, I hadn't come across Element 14 before.

It's the former Farnell. Alongside Mouser and Digikey they're the go-to suppliers for electronics. I usually default to Element14 and then try the others if there's no stock.

lloydchristmas

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#3303037 30-Oct-2024 10:13

Bung:

lloydchristmas: Thanks very much. I see the plug in your link is rated it 2.5A output. The one it will be replacing is only rated at 0.5A. Is that not an issue?

The issue will be cost, a 2.5A adapter will be more expensive. I assume you've done your research and checked that this weatherstation isn’t already available with an Australian approved adapter.

It's definitely only currently available with a UK plug. But once I get established & ordering reasonable volumes, I plan to request them from the factory with NZ plugs.

It only needs a 0.5a adaptor.

lloydchristmas

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#3303040 30-Oct-2024 10:40

elpenguino:

If it's a one-off you can glue the fitting to the end of the cable to prevent Mr Co**up coming to visit. Not sustainable for a volume operation.

Got any info for the weather station you'll be importing?

Ha, yes gluing the barrel fitting in would at least (hopefully) avoid the risk of being told I supplied it with the wrong polarity! As you say, definitely not a long term sutainable solution though.

This is the main station I'll be importing. I actually work for this company part-time remotely from Auckland (I created the web page on this link and the user manual for the station 🤓).

https://www.weathershop.co.uk/accur8-7-in-1-wifi-weather-station

lloydchristmas

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#3303042 30-Oct-2024 10:58

neb:

Bung: The issue will be cost, a 2.5A adapter will be more expensive.

The Jaycar one is also a universal adapter and those always cost more than everything else, a 6V wall wart should be something like $10 while the Jaycar one is $40.

At the moment, it seems that a simple NZ plug 6v wall wart with 0.5A output to a 1.4mm (inner)/3.5mm (outer) barrell plug doesn't exist in NZ (or readily available and NZ certified from overseas). If you can find one, I'd be extremely grateful!

I might have to use the Jaycar ones initially, but I'm thinking it will be worth also testing a regular 5v USB wall charger + USB to barrell connector cable. The station can be powered short-term by 3 x 1.5v (= 4.5v) batteries.

scottjpalmer

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#3303043 30-Oct-2024 11:05

Have you noticed the image on the page linked above says "DC 5V port"?

toejam316

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#3303045 30-Oct-2024 11:19

lloydchristmas:

neb:

Bung: The issue will be cost, a 2.5A adapter will be more expensive.

The Jaycar one is also a universal adapter and those always cost more than everything else, a 6V wall wart should be something like $10 while the Jaycar one is $40.

At the moment, it seems that a simple NZ plug 6v wall wart with 0.5A output to a 1.4mm (inner)/3.5mm (outer) barrell plug doesn't exist in NZ (or readily available and NZ certified from overseas). If you can find one, I'd be extremely grateful!

I might have to use the Jaycar ones initially, but I'm thinking it will be worth also testing a regular 5v USB wall charger + USB to barrell connector cable. The station can be powered short-term by 3 x 1.5v (= 4.5v) batteries.

If it'll run off 3 AA Cells, it'll run off standard USB, which is 5V 0.5A, for sure. You could get small volumes from Aliexpress, or if you wanted to get larger volumes Alibaba might be better.

Anything I say is the ramblings of an ill informed, opinionated so-and-so, and not representative of any of my past, present or future employers, and is also probably best disregarded.

neb

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#3303188 30-Oct-2024 14:22

lloydchristmas: This is the main station I'll be importing. I actually work for this company part-time remotely from Auckland (I created the web page on this link and the user manual for the station 🤓).

https://www.weathershop.co.uk/accur8-7-in-1-wifi-weather-station

Another option would be to find out who actually makes it (if it's not Accur8) and go to them directly. For example it seems to be the same as the Sainlogic 0310, so depending on who's rebranding who there may already be AU/NZ adapters for it.

lloydchristmas

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#3303652 31-Oct-2024 10:44

scottjpalmer: Have you noticed the image on the page linked above says "DC 5V port"?

Good spot - thankyou! The device itself has 'DC 6.0V' moulded into the plastic casing next to the plug socket. I'll go back to person who created the image & also the manufacturer to be 100% certain.

lloydchristmas

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#3303656 31-Oct-2024 10:52

toejam316:

If it'll run off 3 AA Cells, it'll run off standard USB, which is 5V 0.5A, for sure. You could get small volumes from Aliexpress, or if you wanted to get larger volumes Alibaba might be better.

Thank you - this looks like the way to go especially as USB wall chargers are readily available in NZ & relatively cheap. I'll buy a USB to barrell connector cable & test it out.

Longer term, I may import them from Ali. They will need to have NZ compliance though.

lloydchristmas

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#3303664 31-Oct-2024 11:10

neb:

Another option would be to find out who actually makes it (if it's not Accur8) and go to them directly. For example it seems to be the same as the Sainlogic 0310, so depending on who's rebranding who there may already be AU/NZ adapters for it.

Hi, yes that will definitely be the most efficient way, for the stations to come to me straight from the factory with NZ plugs (incl NZ EMC compliance logo). I'll be able to start talking to them about this once I get established and have an idea of sales volumes.

ACCUR8 is the brand that my UK employer created. We work directly with the factory to get them to manufacture stations to the specs we request. I believe this factory does also produce the Sainlogic 0310.

Bung

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#3303672 31-Oct-2024 11:36

The user manuals for the 2 different branded devices look like clones as well.

lloydchristmas

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#3309301 15-Nov-2024 10:38

toejam316:

If it'll run off 3 AA Cells, it'll run off standard USB, which is 5V 0.5A, for sure. You could get small volumes from Aliexpress, or if you wanted to get larger volumes Alibaba might be better.

A quick update: I've been successfully running one of the weather stations at home very nicely via standard 5v USB wall charger & USB to barrell cable. The screen is as bright as ever, even with the batteries removed. The best value 6v adaptor with NZ compliance I could find was the Jaycar one at $32.90 each (and that would involve me assembling the barrell connector). So, going USB chaerger route will certainly help keep costs down.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this conversation. I've learned a lot in the process. 🤓