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Sound Reinforcement - Forums for Live Sound Professionals - Your Displayed Name Must Be Your Real Full Name To Post In The Live Sound Forums => LAB Lounge => Topic started by: Rick Powell on February 11, 2018, 02:08:07 AM

Title: Wal-Mart Wall Wart saves gig
Post by: Rick Powell on February 11, 2018, 02:08:07 AM
Tonight my son Ian was providing sound and lights for a local band and I helped load in and set up. When we went to turn on the lighting board (a first-generation Elation Sound Designer), nothing. We wiggled the connection a little bit to no avail. I thought, there's 2 possibilities, the power supply and an internal fuse. The power supply is a garden variety 9v wall wart, but as everyone knows there are about 6 types of connectors that are used, and the odds of finding one with the right voltage and the right connector are slim. With few options but to try to replace the wall wart and/or pop the case to see if anything is blown, I thought finding the right wall wart was a slim chance but there was a Wal Mart about 5 blocks away, so I thought we wouldn't lose too much time if the search came up empty. We do have a backup cheap-o light board, but it would involve resetting all the addresses on the LEDs and forget about movers.

So I was able to locate a variable-voltage wall wart with multiple interchangeable connectors at the store, get back to the gig, all taking less than 15 minutes...Ian plugged it in and viola! everything sprung into action. Here is the part, just in case you're interested. And it has a USB charger, too.

Universal Wall Wart (https://www.walmart.com/ip/3v-4-5v-5v-6v-7-5v-9v-12v-AC-DC-Power-Adapter-1a-Universal-Transformer-USB-Port/474040740?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=11795&adid=22222222227085364221&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=200794252006&wl4=pla-325489906774&wl5=9021607&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=117027764&wl11=online&wl12=474040740&wl13=&veh=sem)
Title: Re: Wal-Mart Wall Wart saves gig
Post by: Mike Christy on February 11, 2018, 07:05:04 AM
I love stories like this! Thanks for the heads-up Rick. I need to get one of these and put it in my bag of tricks (just for things like this)

I never was a boy scout, only a Webelo, but still try to stay prepared....

Mike
Title: Re: Wal-Mart Wall Wart saves gig
Post by: Mike Monte on February 11, 2018, 07:55:15 AM
Tonight my son Ian was providing sound and lights for a local band and I helped load in and set up. When we went to turn on the lighting board (a first-generation Elation Sound Designer), nothing. We wiggled the connection a little bit to no avail. I thought, there's 2 possibilities, the power supply and an internal fuse. The power supply is a garden variety 9v wall wart, but as everyone knows there are about 6 types of connectors that are used, and the odds of finding one with the right voltage and the right connector are slim. With few options but to try to replace the wall wart and/or pop the case to see if anything is blown, I thought finding the right wall wart was a slim chance but there was a Wal Mart about 5 blocks away, so I thought we wouldn't lose too much time if the search came up empty. We do have a backup cheap-o light board, but it would involve resetting all the addresses on the LEDs and forget about movers.

So I was able to locate a variable-voltage wall wart with multiple interchangeable connectors at the store, get back to the gig, all taking less than 15 minutes...Ian plugged it in and viola! everything sprung into action. Here is the part, just in case you're interested. And it has a USB charger, too.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/3v-4-5v-5v-6v-7-5v-9v-12v-AC-DC-Power-Adapter-1a-Universal-Transformer-USB-Port/474040740?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=11795&adid=22222222227085364221&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=200794252006&wl4=pla-325489906774&wl5=9021607&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=117027764&wl11=online&wl12=474040740&wl13=&veh=sem

good idea...just ordered one...
just in case my light board has an issue or someone's keyboard-wart goes down...
Title: Re: Wal-Mart Wall Wart saves gig
Post by: Ray Aberle on February 11, 2018, 08:46:18 AM
Just being helpful... Fortunately, your URL as pasted wrapped well, but if it doesn't wrap well (forcing the page to require a bunch of scrolling) you can make it a "clickable link" with these easy steps!

When you are ready to paste the URL, format it like this:
[url=www.your link.com]Your Desired Text[/url]


By doing so, using code like:
[url=www.kelcema.com]Kelcema Audio[/url]

will yield this result:
Kelcema Audio (http://www.kelcema.com)

Shortens your post up, and again, looks better. :)

-Ray
Title: Re: Wal-Mart Wall Wart saves gig
Post by: Rick Powell on February 11, 2018, 04:23:50 PM
Just being helpful... Fortunately, your URL as pasted wrapped well, but if it doesn't wrap well (forcing the page to require a bunch of scrolling) you can make it a "clickable link" with these easy steps!

When you are ready to paste the URL, format it like this:
[url=www.your link.com]Your Desired Text[/url]


By doing so, using code like:
[url=www.kelcema.com]Kelcema Audio[/url]

will yield this result:
Kelcema Audio (http://www.kelcema.com)

Shortens your post up, and again, looks better. :)

-Ray

OK, fixed above! Thanks.
Title: Re: Wal-Mart Wall Wart saves gig
Post by: Rick Powell on February 11, 2018, 05:00:19 PM
To address the question on the "other" wall wart thread, the unit I got at Wal Mart has the ability to reverse polarity from center-positive to center-negative, simply by reversing the adapter plug where it mates with the output cord from the adapter unit. When using this universal adapter, always make sure that the polarity you are sending is what the device calls for, as some devices like guitar pedals usually use center-negative, while most electronic devices like rack mount units use center-positive.

Debbie Dunkley had a link to a less expensive version of the DC universal adapter on the "other" thread from Amazon.com.

Amazon wall wart (https://www.amazon.com/Nippon-America-Universal-Adapter-Multiple/dp/B00EZB5OTM/)
Title: Re: Wal-Mart Wall Wart saves gig
Post by: Gordon Brinton on February 11, 2018, 06:28:19 PM
A similar thing happened to my old Elation light controller. One of the DC leads broke right where it comes out of the transformer. The break was too close to the transformer to slice and make a solder repair. Apparently it had flexed a bit too much over the years.
Title: Re: Wal-Mart Wall Wart saves gig
Post by: duane massey on February 11, 2018, 06:35:15 PM
I carry 1 12vdc 3a power supply in my car (with my self-built adaptor kit) and 2 more spares in my 2 different gig cases. Both of my keyboards use 12vdc, but each one has a different connector and different polarity, so I carry adaptors for the oddball. I also carry a 9vac wall wart as well, as some guitar pedals and drum machines use 9vac.
I have had to use my spares several times over the past year, mostly for other musicians who don't carry spares.
I really don't understand why every person in the business doesn't carry spares. You can buy virtually anything you need from Parts Express cheaply.
Title: Re: Wal-Mart Wall Wart saves gig
Post by: Tim McCulloch on February 11, 2018, 07:00:07 PM
I carry 1 12vdc 3a power supply in my car (with my self-built adaptor kit) and 2 more spares in my 2 different gig cases. Both of my keyboards use 12vdc, but each one has a different connector and different polarity, so I carry adaptors for the oddball. I also carry a 9vac wall wart as well, as some guitar pedals and drum machines use 9vac.
I have had to use my spares several times over the past year, mostly for other musicians who don't carry spares.
I really don't understand why every person in the business doesn't carry spares. You can buy virtually anything you need from Parts Express cheaply.

It requires both forethought and money.  Seldom do they occur simultaneously... ;)
Title: Re: Wal-Mart Wall Wart saves gig
Post by: brian maddox on February 11, 2018, 07:47:44 PM
It requires both forethought and money.  Seldom do they occur simultaneously... ;)

Anyone with forethought AND money isn’t IN this business.
Title: Re: Wal-Mart Wall Wart saves gig
Post by: Jonathan Johnson on February 11, 2018, 10:40:31 PM
Just being helpful... Fortunately, your URL as pasted wrapped well, but if it doesn't wrap well (forcing the page to require a bunch of scrolling)...

Another hint: Amazon URLs can be shortened to amazon.com/dp/<ASIN> where <ASIN> is Amazon's part number (don't type the angle brackets). It's the first long number in the long URL.

Likewise, Walmart's can be shortened to walmart.com/ip/<part#>

Many other sites also allow shortening like this, but it takes some experimenting to get it right.
Title: Re: Wal-Mart Wall Wart saves gig
Post by: Mac Kerr on February 12, 2018, 12:22:35 AM
Another hint: Amazon URLs can be shortened to amazon.com/dp/<ASIN> where <ASIN> is Amazon's part number (don't type the angle brackets). It's the first long number in the long URL.

Likewise, Walmart's can be shortened to walmart.com/ip/<part#>

Many other sites also allow shortening like this, but it takes some experimenting to get it right.

It takes no experimenting at all to follow the instructions for embedding urls in a text link that are posted in a couple of places in these forums (http://forums.prosoundweb.com/index.php/topic,156618.0.html).

Mac
Title: Re: Wal-Mart Wall Wart saves gig
Post by: Bob Leonard on February 12, 2018, 08:20:53 AM
Old guys (like myself) have a hard time with anything new. Matter of fact, I've had an Iphone since they came out and still haven't done anything more than make phone calls with it. But I do have a universal wall wart on hand. It came from Radio Shack.
Title: Re: Wal-Mart Wall Wart saves gig
Post by: Dave Garoutte on February 12, 2018, 11:46:13 AM
Old guys (like myself) have a hard time with anything new. Matter of fact, I've had an Iphone since they came out and still haven't done anything more than make phone calls with it. But I do have a universal wall wart on hand. It came from Radio Shack.

Wait, you can make phone calls on them????? :o
Title: Re: Wal-Mart Wall Wart saves gig
Post by: Tim McCulloch on February 12, 2018, 12:42:55 PM
Wait, you can make phone calls on them????? :o

What is a phone "call", Uncle Daddy?  /snark

My ATT corporate plan had 900 minutes of voice time and unlimited data... now I have the minimum voice plan and 2 gb of data as I don't watch UTube, hulu or Netflox (in fact I have no pay video services...) on my phone.  Frankly I don't understand the attraction of watching content created for a 50 ft screen on a 5 inch screen...
Title: Re: Wal-Mart Wall Wart saves gig
Post by: Chris Hindle on February 12, 2018, 12:48:02 PM
Wait, you can make phone calls on them????? :o
So, this old Italian fellow is bedridden, and not doing so good.
The "Good Son" says to him "Pop, I wanna get you something nice. What U want"
"Mario, I want a hallo stat you"
"Sure Pop, I bring you one right away."
Mario goes to the Garden Supply place, and orders 4 Hollow Statues, and directs them to be placed outside the old man's window.
A couple of days go by, and Mario visits the old man.
"So Pop, How do you like the Statues? They're all hollow, just like you asked."
"No, no Mario, you got it wrong. I want the thing that goes ring ring ring, and you answer Hallo, stat You?"
 
Title: Re: Wal-Mart Wall Wart saves gig
Post by: Jonathan Johnson on February 12, 2018, 01:57:38 PM
What is a phone "call", Uncle Daddy?  /snark

My ATT corporate plan had 900 minutes of voice time and unlimited data... now I have the minimum voice plan and 2 gb of data as I don't watch UTube, hulu or Netflox (in fact I have no pay video services...) on my phone.  Frankly I don't understand the attraction of watching content created for a 50 ft screen on a 5 inch screen...

What's the difference between watching on a 50 foot screen that's 50 feet from your nose, and a 5 inch screen that's 5 inches from your nose?

What I don't get is the willingness to sacrifice sound quality. Listening to action flicks or the performing arts with a 2 mm speaker is... anticlimactic.
Title: Re: Wal-Mart Wall Wart saves gig
Post by: Chris Hindle on February 12, 2018, 02:55:00 PM
What's the difference between watching on a 50 foot screen that's 50 feet from your nose, and a 5 inch screen that's 5 inches from your nose?
Matching ANYTHING 5" from your nose is destroying your vision.
Just sayin........
I don't have a dog i this race, but i bet with 'buds in the sound is almost passable ? Not good, but OK ?
Chris.
Title: Re: Wal-Mart Wall Wart saves gig
Post by: Keith Broughton on February 12, 2018, 03:48:26 PM
What's the difference between watching on a 50 foot screen that's 50 feet from your nose, and a 5 inch screen that's 5 inches from your nose?


Bi focals ;D
Title: Re: Wal-Mart Wall Wart saves gig
Post by: Stephen Kirby on February 12, 2018, 04:27:49 PM
Radio Shack used to sell those AC adapters.  Have a couple of them.  One in my guitar gig bag and the other in the sound gig bag along with several strong USB supplies.  There's always something.