Don't toss out that wall wart brick... fix it!

[DaveC]

Couldn't find a replacement, locally, for a 7.5 vdc 0.8 A brick, so I cracked
the case. Beneath the tape, next to the transformer windings, was a thermal
fuse, burnt.

Replaced for 99 cents. Good as new.

I never knew these things were at all repairable...

 

[Louis Bybee]

Couldn't find a replacement, locally, for a 7.5 vdc 0.8 A brick, so I cracked
the case. Beneath the tape, next to the transformer windings, was a thermal
fuse, burnt.

Replaced for 99 cents. Good as new.

I never knew these things were at all repairable...

Everything is repairable!

It's just a matter of sufficient time, skill, and money! :-]

Louis

 

[Sam Goldwasser]

Couldn't find a replacement, locally, for a 7.5 vdc 0.8 A brick, so I cracked
the case. Beneath the tape, next to the transformer windings, was a thermal
fuse, burnt.

Replaced for 99 cents. Good as new.

I never knew these things were at all repairable...

Let's see.... There's an entire repair FAQ on
"AC Adapters, Power Supplies, and Battery Packs".

--- sam | Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ Home Page: http://www.repairfaq.org/
Repair | Main Table of Contents: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/
+Lasers | Sam's Laser FAQ: http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/lasersam.htm
| Mirror Site Info: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/F_mirror.html

Important: The email address in this message header may no longer work. To
contact me, please use the feedback form accessible from the repairfq.org
homepage, www.repairfaq.org as the other links are currently broken. Thanks.

 

[Michael A. Terrell]

Let's see.... There's an entire repair FAQ on
"AC Adapters, Power Supplies, and Battery Packs".

--- sam

Gee, Sam! You don't expect newbies to read, do you? ;-)


--
9 days!


Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida

 

[Asimov]

"DaveC" bravely wrote to "All" (15 Dec 03 22:18:43)
--- on the heady topic of "Don't toss out that wall wart brick... fix it!"

Da> From: DaveC <[email protected]>

Da> Couldn't find a replacement, locally, for a 7.5 vdc 0.8 A brick, so I
Da> cracked the case. Beneath the tape, next to the transformer windings,
Da> was a thermal fuse, burnt.

Da> Replaced for 99 cents. Good as new.

Da> I never knew these things were at all repairable...
Da> --
Da> DaveC

Just beware that the windings haven't overheated. Once that happens the
enamel insulation becomes a little toasty brown and loses a bit of its
electrical insulation integrity. Then it leaks more current which
causes it to heat up more and more charring, etc, until... FWOOSH!!!...
The house lights go out and the smoke detector goes off. It will be time
to call 911 if the plastic casing ignites. Not a pretty scenario...

.... Dunno if we'll get that past the CSA und UL 'owever.

 

[Dr. A.T. Squeegee]

Couldn't find a replacement, locally, for a 7.5 vdc 0.8 A brick, so I cracked
the case. Beneath the tape, next to the transformer windings, was a thermal
fuse, burnt.

Replaced for 99 cents. Good as new.

I never knew these things were at all repairable...

Everything is repairable!

It's just a matter of sufficient time, skill, and money! :-]

And tools. Don't forget that some items require specialized tools
or test jigs to fix.


--
Dr. Anton Squeegee, Director, Dutch Surrealist Plumbing Institute
(Known to some as Bruce Lane, KC7GR)
kyrrin a/t bluefeathertech d-o=t c&o&m
Motorola Radio Programming & Service Available -
http://www.bluefeathertech.com/rf.html
"Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati" (Red Green)

 

[Louis Bybee]

Couldn't find a replacement, locally, for a 7.5 vdc 0.8 A brick, so I cracked
the case. Beneath the tape, next to the transformer windings, was a thermal
fuse, burnt.

Replaced for 99 cents. Good as new.

I never knew these things were at all repairable...

Everything is repairable!

It's just a matter of sufficient time, skill, and money! :-]

And tools. Don't forget that some items require specialized tools
or test jigs to fix.

Ah yes. Most correct! (said the little fellow just after breaking the device
to discover how to open it, and finally noticing the molded instructions on
the cover that read - "Slide top cover up after removing screw - don't pry
apart"!) :-]

Louis--
*********************************************
Remove the two fish in address to respond

 

[James Sweet]

Couldn't find a replacement, locally, for a 7.5 vdc 0.8 A brick, so I cracked
the case. Beneath the tape, next to the transformer windings, was a thermal
fuse, burnt.

Replaced for 99 cents. Good as new.

I never knew these things were at all repairable...
--
DaveC
[email protected]
This is an invalid return address
Please reply in the news group

Repairing the innards is easy, it's getting it open without completely
destroying it that can be an issue.

 

[James Sweet]

"DaveC" bravely wrote to "All" (15 Dec 03 22:18:43)
--- on the heady topic of "Don't toss out that wall wart brick... fix it!"

Da> From: DaveC <[email protected]>

Da> Couldn't find a replacement, locally, for a 7.5 vdc 0.8 A brick, so I
Da> cracked the case. Beneath the tape, next to the transformer windings,
Da> was a thermal fuse, burnt.

Da> Replaced for 99 cents. Good as new.

Da> I never knew these things were at all repairable...
Da> --
Da> DaveC

Just beware that the windings haven't overheated. Once that happens the
enamel insulation becomes a little toasty brown and loses a bit of its
electrical insulation integrity. Then it leaks more current which
causes it to heat up more and more charring, etc, until... FWOOSH!!!...
The house lights go out and the smoke detector goes off. It will be time
to call 911 if the plastic casing ignites. Not a pretty scenario...

... Dunno if we'll get that past the CSA und UL 'owever.

Well he said he replaced the thermal fuse, in which case it would simply
blow again if this happened.

 

[BOB URZ]

Couldn't find a replacement, locally, for a 7.5 vdc 0.8 A brick, so I cracked
the case. Beneath the tape, next to the transformer windings, was a thermal
fuse, burnt.

Replaced for 99 cents. Good as new.

I never knew these things were at all repairable...
--
DaveC
[email protected]
This is an invalid return address
Please reply in the news group

I guess Pink Floyd was right.
"Just another brick in the wall.........."

Bob

 

[Jason D.]

"DaveC" bravely wrote to "All" (15 Dec 03 22:18:43)
--- on the heady topic of "Don't toss out that wall wart brick... fix it!"

Da> From: DaveC <[email protected]>

Da> Couldn't find a replacement, locally, for a 7.5 vdc 0.8 A brick, so I
Da> cracked the case. Beneath the tape, next to the transformer windings,
Da> was a thermal fuse, burnt.

There was a close call with a 500mA wall wart for DSL modem. A SMD
ceramic cap went bust (across power AC input) and shorted out the wall
wart and I didn't know that happened (was sleeping) and find out modem
is dead. Unplugged the wall wart (cool) bec it blew open a primary
fine wire winding (has no fuse designed in, "fuse" is the fine
winding, always blown where it flew over to the lug in the midair.
Replaced that cap in modem and put gutted VCR to use with intact power
supply with wire leading out of tape door to power modem with correct
barrel plug.

That wart's casings interior were shiny and melted, stinky like
overheated electronic smell, but externally look normal.

Saves time and safety sake's, replace that wall wart! Cheap in short
run and safer in long run.

So far fine.

Cheers,

Wizard

 

[RICHARD GRISE]

I've been known to get into things like that with a little razor saw.


Rich

 

[jakdedert]

Just pound it with a hammer...seriously, often if you tap more or less
gently aaround the circumferance of the seam--maybe a few taps on the
top/bottom--it'll pop the electronic welds to the point you can get
something thin like a putty knife inside and complete the task. Works for
electronically welded battery packs as well.

(I think this is covered in the FAQ, right Sam?)

jak

 

[Asimov]

"jakdedert" bravely wrote to "All" (17 Dec 03 21:40:46)
--- on the heady topic of "Re: Don't toss out that wall wart brick... fix it!"

Use the flat side of the hammer not the head, to spread out the impact,
and do the tapping while holding the wallwart in your palm. It's a bit
like cracking a walnut. If it was assembled with glue the case will be
nearly intact, a welded case may end up having some irregularities. GL

ja> From: "jakdedert" <[email protected]>

ja> Just pound it with a hammer...seriously, often if you tap more or less
ja> gently aaround the circumferance of the seam--maybe a few taps on the
ja> top/bottom--it'll pop the electronic welds to the point you can get
ja> something thin like a putty knife inside and complete the task. Works
ja> for electronically welded battery packs as well.

ja> (I think this is covered in the FAQ, right Sam?)

ja> jak

 

[jakdedert]

I've never tried holding it in my hand, thanks for the tip. I thought that
putting on a semi hard surface would spread the force to the force to the
opposite side--working on those seams at the same time. I'll give it a try
next time...which will probably be soon; my cell battery's about to give up
the ghost.

FWIW, I usually use a rubber mallet.

jak

"jakdedert" bravely wrote to "All" (17 Dec 03 21:40:46)
--- on the heady topic of "Re: Don't toss out that wall wart brick... fix
it!"

Use the flat side of the hammer not the head, to spread out the impact,
and do the tapping while holding the wallwart in your palm. It's a bit
like cracking a walnut. If it was assembled with glue the case will be
nearly intact, a welded case may end up having some irregularities. GL

ja> From: "jakdedert" <[email protected]>

ja> Just pound it with a hammer...seriously, often if you tap more or less
ja> gently aaround the circumferance of the seam--maybe a few taps on the
ja> top/bottom--it'll pop the electronic welds to the point you can get
ja> something thin like a putty knife inside and complete the task. Works
ja> for electronically welded battery packs as well.

ja> (I think this is covered in the FAQ, right Sam?)

ja> jak

 

[Brian Oakley]

The major question is, do you know what caused it to burn out in the first
place? Make sure you dont repair yourself into a fire hazard.
B.

 

[Watson A.Name - Watt Sun, Dark Remover]

Couldn't find a replacement, locally, for a 7.5 vdc 0.8 A brick, so I cracked
the case. Beneath the tape, next to the transformer windings, was a thermal
fuse, burnt.

Replaced for 99 cents. Good as new.

I never knew these things were at all repairable...

Everything is repairable!

It's just a matter of sufficient time, skill, and money! :-]

And tools. Don't forget that some items require specialized tools
or test jigs to fix.

In this case a hammer and a flat blade screwdriver, applied at the
seam all around the case, until your ear hears the change in the sound
indicating that it has cracked open.

I've done a number of them, usually to replace the capacitor which
gets dried out. But the fuse under the transformer winding is often a
real exercise in futility, because the winding becomes so brittle with
age that once you disturb it, it will crumble and the turns will short
out. And then there's the difficulty of finding the same rating
replacement picofuse.

--
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[gothika]

On Thursday, 18 Dec 2003 10:10:36 -500, "Asimov"
Use a Dremel or a drill with a cutoff wheel.
Cut lightly around the seam and it'll come apart like a clam shell.