Wall wart with dual output (ideally 12 and 5) (found one!) - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: kristakis
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 13, 2023, 11:28:19 pm
content: I'm thinking about a little project that'll use 12V and 5V and rather than a relatively large PSU brick or buck converter I was wondering if there were any wall wart style plug packs around that had dual outputs. I've seen multi-voltage single outputs and wonder if I could cheat something out of that with some diodes but before I go popping silicon in my room thought I'd check if anyone had seen anything like that around.tia,krisedit: I forgot that USB-C allows for 12V and I found aplug packwith USB-A and USB-C outputs which will do nicely! I can't delete this post so I'll put this note here instead. I need a rubber ducky

author: mariush
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2023, 05:47:57 am
content: The USB chargers don't output both 12v and 5v at the same time. By default they output 5v and you can have a chip inside the product which negotiates with the charger and switches the voltage to other voltages like 12v.There are power supplies that output 2 or more voltages but usually come with DIN connectors or other connectors (like miniature pci-e connectors, like the ones on video card)But it will be easier to use a 12v only adapter with a barrel jack connector, and just add a 12v to 5v switching regulator inside the product, or a linear regulator if the current you need is very low on 5v.

author: Haenk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2023, 01:37:47 pm
content: A lot of older HDD enclosures use a 5V/12V PSU (wall wart), using a Mini-DIN-Plug. They should be easy to source on ebay etc.

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2023, 03:45:06 pm
content: Quote from: mariush on November 14, 2023, 05:47:57 amCould use one that has both a USB-C and USB-A output with the C set to 12V and the A used as is for 5V. Janky but those chargers are cheap enough nowadays. Of course, adding a buck converter for 5V is far more elegant.

author: Alex Eisenhut
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2023, 06:39:31 pm
content: Wall wart with dual DC outputs? Well, they existed... Very unusual even when they were still madehttps://www.radwell.ca/en-CA/Buy/ELPAC/ELPAC/WM113/But this might be a lead for more current parts

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2023, 05:27:44 am
content: How much power do you need? You may be able to get by with a regular 12V supply and one of these, but ignore the 3.3V output on them:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/pico-dcdc-12v-to-atx-160watt-at-1530-euro!/

author: kristakis
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2023, 04:29:27 am
content: QuoteThat's what I'm thinking. The project has space restrictions and can fit 2 small PCBs rather than 1 large one - I had split the circuit to put the 12-5 buck converter on one board and the 5V circuits on the other with a small cable between them. But I thought if I could get both voltages from a plug pack rather than a mid-cable laptop brick that would mean I could get away with 1 PCB even if it ends up with 2 USB sockets on it.Two USB cables, likely cable-tied togther, will not be pretty but this will be inside a vending machine and not visible. Also I hoped that a reduced complexity in the PCB and increase in user-replaceable parts would make non-technical servicing easier too.Thanks everyone for the links.