Help with replacement power supply - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: jeffnc
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 08, 2023, 04:51:36 pm
content: Hi, I need a power supply for a PC peripheral - Thrustmaster T248 wheel. I can't find one anywhere (I'm in the US) and Thrustmaster support is a completely unresponsive waste of time.From the manual I know the specs, as below. I actually did find a UK replacement, but it comes with a UK plug. My understanding (based solely on the input voltage range listed) is that the power supply can actually handle either US or UK voltage, but the UK version would be a last resort and would take a long time to ship, assuming there is an adapter to go from UK to US plug.The power supply has a round plug that plugs into the wheel. I don't know the correct size or polarity of the plug. The picture is shown in the manual on page 2, athttps://ts.thrustmaster.com/download/accessories/manuals/T248/T248PS_User_manual.pdfSpecs are also listed there:GUILLEMOT CORPORATION S.A.Model identifier A481-1852590DInput voltage 100 - 240 VInput AC frequency 50 - 60 HzOutput voltage 18.5 V DCOutput current 2.6 A

author: tunk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 08, 2023, 05:01:10 pm
content: Crack the PSU open. There will be a capacitor near the outputand from this you should find the polarity of the plug. A guesswould be that any 18-19V psu will work (as long as it can provideat least 2.6A). Many laptop PSUs are around 18-19V.

author: jeffnc
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 08, 2023, 05:09:06 pm
content: Quote from: tunk on April 08, 2023, 05:01:10 pmI don't have one, that's the problem

author: BeBuLamar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 08, 2023, 06:51:05 pm
content: Although there are some devices with the positive on the outside sleeve but most it's the center. The main thing is to find a power supply with the correct size connector. Those barrel connectors came in way too many different sizes. Most of the laptop power supplies are about 19V so they should work.

author: nightfire
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 08, 2023, 06:55:25 pm
content: From the picture inhttps://shop.thrustmaster.com/en_gb/t248-power-cableiuk.htmlit is a standard 18.5V power supply with a standard 5.5mm/2.5mm (maybe 2.1mm) jack.Lots of Notebook power supplies like Toshiba conform to this, or you could buy some adequate power supply via Amazon etc.For the US plug: No problem, as those supplies have the 2-pole Euro plug at the power supply, so you can swap out that cable for a native US cable.Is there any sign at the wheel where the power supply would go in? Sometimes there is the polarity etched in or molded in plastic nearby. Usually its minus on the outer side, but if the reverse it, you can simply cut open the wire, take connector clamps like WAGO 221 and reverse it.

author: jeffnc
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 08, 2023, 09:53:19 pm
content: Quote from: nightfire on April 08, 2023, 06:55:25 pmCan you explain a little more about this? Not sure what you mean. There's the power supply that plugs into the wheel, and then there's the wall outlet cable that plugs into the power supply, with that weird connector - not sure if that's what you mean by 2-pole Euro plug.Quote from: nightfire on April 08, 2023, 06:55:25 pmThat's a good idea. There's not a sign at the power hole per se, but nearby is this symbol - not sure if that symbol designates polarity or not.edit: no, I see it just means DC

author: nightfire
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2023, 02:33:09 am
content: Looks like a standard C7 plug, which is the usual connector for this kind of power supplies, like also notebook PSU.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEC_60320

author: Kim Christensen
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2023, 03:55:41 am
content: Looks like the center pin is positive:

author: jeffnc
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 09, 2023, 07:30:22 am
content: Quote from: Kim Christensen on April 09, 2023, 03:55:41 amNice, thank you.

author: BeBuLamar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2023, 04:55:18 pm
content: If you would get the UK unit and don't want to buy a US cable you can simply cut off the plug and wire a new US plug.

author: NSixString
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 30, 2023, 11:25:01 am
content: Hey Jeff did you ever find a power supply that works with the t248? I assume the connector is the hard part.Would these 18.5v 65w 3.5a work ?https://www.amazon.com/Adapter-Charger-Compatible-Pavilion-Presario/dp/B07SQ69JHS/ref=sr_1_13?crid=3D8CAV9SOILN6&keywords=18.5v+65w+power+supply&qid=1688124125&sprefix=18.5v+65w+power+supply%2Caps%2C108&sr=8-13