power adapter cord polarity -- help
 

Ok, been googling for a while ... I figured you'all be smarter :D

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1265525363.jpg


Which wire is negative ? black or b/w
lolo, that will answer the which wire is positive ;)

Just FYI, I'm working on a carpc SmileWavy

The actual suspect wire

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1265525454.jpg

Which is gonna be plugged into an adapter and into my voom pc case that is using a mtx-3 psu.

still trying to figure out the wiring part since I bought the parts used ... manuals only help so much...

Thanks!

Could be either. I wouldn't take a chance supplying reverse polarity to electronics.

Plug in the adapter and measure it with a voltmeter.

In the top pic, the inner contact is positive (hot). The little diagram on the adapter tells you that & I am sure a DC voltage tester would confirm. But with crimp on connectors, I could only guess . . . test it with a voltage tester before you power it up (or blow something up) imho.

Ian

Usually the wire with the white stripe is positive.

Get a VOM and make sure!

Thanks guys!

For the reasons you guys have given I figured I'd rather be laughed at for being a noob than be laughed at for firing my car pc mobo :)

ooops, should have posted that the 2nd picture is of the crimp connectors coming from the coaxial connectors not the actual adapter.

Idea is to use the above connection to go between a regular pc type of power adapter and the mobo molex connector.

Will do on the voltmeter .... lolo, gotta learn some more on that :)

Thanks
!!!

firing ... lolololo

Frying ;)

Easy, use an old speaker.
One way the cone will go down and the reverse will go up.
The proper polarity will be on the latter. (the + or - are indicated in the speaker connectors)

After learning the hard way, I'd agree with Joe... I do check with a voltmeter first anyway now though. :)