Organising AC Adapters - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 08, 2025, 01:50:01 am
content: I have hundreds of various AC adapters. Some generic, some product specific like Cisco access point or Nokia phone adapters. Of course all of them are different, even among the Nokia adapters, I think there are at least 5 different voltages.It's getting to the point where rifling through the boxes each time is cumbersome.How do you organise your AC adapters? Do you do it by voltage (e.g.: A box for <5v) or by application?

author: Andy Chee
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2025, 01:57:27 am
content: I organise mine by current (or current range), rather than voltage.

author: Someone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2025, 02:18:18 am
content: Quote from: Halcyon on January 08, 2025, 01:50:01 amPhotos or it didn't happen.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 08, 2025, 02:33:40 am
content: Quote from: Someone on January 08, 2025, 02:18:18 amThese are just the ones I've semi-organised today. There are others in another room and scattered around the place in bundles. There is also another container full of USB adapters.The cardboard box is purely just Nokia adapters. Sure, the argument can be made that I don't need that many and I could throw some out...

author: themadhippy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2025, 02:38:38 am
content: white paint marker (or tippex) and mark em with there use /voltage,wont cure the sorting issue but will make finding the one you want easier

author: Dougmc
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2025, 03:15:05 am
content: I put IThem in small boxes.Hand bar soap boxes work well on the smaller ones.Just label the boxes.I've ordered the other sizes ,cheap paper box.

author: bill_c
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2025, 03:53:32 am
content: One of those impulse sealers and the bags on a roll work well for keeping them tangle free. Print volts, amps, connector, and date on paper and stuff it in there too. I had a few boxes of adapters way past their sale date, none had anywhere near the right voltage, now I only keep a few new ones. They make anti-static bags on a roll also so you can bag more things to help justify the cost of the sealer.

author: all_repair
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2025, 04:18:38 am
content: With usb-c getting more common, my adaptor inventory now has a chance to be used.Sort by voltage, and then cold storage the rare one, and I pay attention to the most commonly needed voltage (12,24, and 5) and connectors. And then on the head, heatshrink a brother label with the volt and current like AndreasSpiess did to his adaptors.

author: wilfred
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2025, 04:30:53 am
content: I use a labeler to put a label on with what product it came with, which is handy for finding the right one under the table in a multitude of power strips. I label all of them with the current and voltage as well even if I picked it up from the scrap and don't know what it is for. That just makes life easier than finding my glasses to read the writing which is deliberately hard to read.Having hundreds is too many. I don't know how many is enough as that is as much related to how much storage space exists. But more than the number of power outlets you have is a good starting point. I have a plastic box of maybe 25liters that is my limit for storage. It also contains power cables. I have put them in zip-loc plastic bags to prevent cables getting tangled. One box has proven to be a reasonable working limit. I also only tend to acquire old laptop supplies now as they have more varied plugs and I find laptops without supplies more often.If I need to find one, it is in the box. I'm OK with pulling them out until I find the one I want. The plastic bags makes this easy with no tangled cables and the bigkindy-printlabels makes reading through plastic easy too.

author: bdunham7
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2025, 04:35:53 am
content: I put them in individual ziploc sandwich bags so they don't tangle. I can go through a box of 20-30 adapters pretty quick to see if I have what I need if I don't have to fight the cords. If you like you can put a small card inside where you write the voltage, current and whether it is SMPS or linear.

author: bitwelder
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2025, 12:40:42 pm
content: For the the criteria I first go 'special usage or not', then 'by voltage', i.e.:first I collect together (if needed, divided in few classes) those adapters that have a special purpose, e.g. because of custom connector, etc.then most of generic ones are sorted in different bags by voltage (5V, 9V, 12V, 24V),last is the box of the odd ones (e.g. unusual voltages)Then, when one of these boxes or bags gets overpopulated, I made a selection of its content e.g. by keeping only the ones with higher power rating.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2025, 12:54:30 pm
content: First thing to do is remove all the center negative ones and swear at them a few times before putting them in the rubbish *cough*.Then you remove all the AC ones and hide those away too.Then you sort by 5V, 12V and other. Or maybe 24V as well if you have lots.

author: jonovid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2025, 02:22:07 pm
content: QuoteIMO cut the plug end off the output cord and repurpose them for DIY projects with a new plug.tie the cords with rubber bands and add adhesive labels if needed. list output voltage & mA - sort by voltageinefficient iron core transformer types make good use of them for noise-free operation of High fidelity audio, broadcast AM & shortwave radio receivers.collect put together all the 5 volt USB types.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2025, 08:00:48 pm
content: Quote from: Halcyon on January 08, 2025, 01:50:01 amI give them away for free. I had an entire office drawer (a big one for archiving) filled with adapters. I took a box and put the ones I didn't recognise or found useful in the box and put it on internet for free. All in all I kept a few 5V and 12V ones. Typically a device dies long before the adapter dies. Hoarding behaviour makes you keep the adapter while you should recycle it along with the device it came with.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 08, 2025, 11:29:32 pm
content: Lots of good ideas here. Good point@nctnico, I can probably look to dispose some of the identical Nokia adapters. I'm sure I don't need 15 of the same type.@bitwelder, you mention unusual voltages; I found one which was had an output of 1.5 vdc, 300 mA. It was labelled "Glow Starter Charger". NFI where it came from or what it belongs to. Some kind of remote controlled toy?

author: Someone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2025, 11:43:46 pm
content: Quote from: Halcyon on January 08, 2025, 11:29:32 pmNiCd battery in a handheld connector for starting tiny 2 stroke engines (yes, RC models).

author: John B
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 09, 2025, 01:29:48 am
content: I usually sort by quality, in a binary fashion. Ie there's brands worth keeping, and >90% goes in the binThe day never really comes when I need that 50th cheap 12V adapter with 1V of noise.Occasionally I score a >40V adapter, or a high current one which gets a place in the parts bin.