Replacement AC adaptor with much higher current

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SUMMARY

Replacing a regulated AC adaptor rated at 9V DC and 200mA with another regulated adaptor rated at 9V DC and 1.7A is safe and will not adversely affect the equipment, as the device only draws 75mA. The higher current rating of the new adaptor does not impose additional current on the device; it simply indicates the maximum current the adaptor can supply. Concerns regarding using adaptors with significantly higher current ratings primarily apply to unregulated adaptors, where voltage output may exceed safe levels.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of AC adaptor specifications, including voltage and current ratings.
  • Knowledge of regulated vs. unregulated adaptors.
  • Basic principles of electrical current and device power requirements.
  • Familiarity with equipment power consumption metrics.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the differences between regulated and unregulated AC adaptors.
  • Learn about the implications of current ratings in power supplies.
  • Investigate the specifications of various AC adaptors for specific devices.
  • Explore best practices for selecting appropriate power supplies for electronic equipment.
USEFUL FOR

Electronics enthusiasts, technicians, and anyone involved in selecting or replacing power supplies for devices requiring specific voltage and current ratings.

hmb
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Is it bad to replace a regulated AC adaptor that has an output rating of 9V DC and 200mA with a regulated AC adaptor of the same polarity that has an output rating of 9V DC and 1.7A? I know it's OK for the current rating to be higher than needed, but in this case the current rating on the new adaptor is more than eight times greater than that on the old one. Also, I think the equipment it would be used on only draws 75mA of that anyway.

Would making this replacement have any adverse effect on the equipment the adaptor would power?

The reason I ask is that I read on some site that you shouldn't use an adaptor with a current rating that is a whole lot larger than the one you are replacing, but it occurs to me now that maybe they were only talking about unregulated adaptors (where I can see it would be a problem because the output voltage would be too high). Do you think this might be right?
 
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hmb said:
Is it bad to replace a regulated AC adaptor that has an output rating of 9V DC and 200mA with a regulated AC adaptor of the same polarity that has an output rating of 9V DC and 1.7A? I know it's OK for the current rating to be higher than needed, but in this case the current rating on the new adaptor is more than eight times greater than that on the old one. Also, I think the equipment it would be used on only draws 75mA of that anyway.

Would making this replacement have any adverse effect on the equipment the adaptor would power?

The reason I ask is that I read on some site that you shouldn't use an adaptor with a current rating that is a whole lot larger than the one you are replacing, but it occurs to me now that maybe they were only talking about unregulated adaptors (where I can see it would be a problem because the output voltage would be too high). Do you think this might be right?

It should work fine. The only disadvantage is cost.
 

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