15 Feb
2006
15 Feb
'06
4:27 p.m.
Maybe it's the Scrooge in me, but I've got a couple of wall warts (power
supplies) that either have open fuses or dried up caps in them. They're
Very few wall-wears (at least the ones sold over here) contain fuses any
more. The transformer is designed to burn out in a safe way if
overloaded, or so I am told -- personal experience suggests it does not
do so before the case has started to melt and smoke is coming out!
either multi-voltage or have unusual enough ratings
(e.g. 18 vdc @ 1500 ma)
that I'm reluctant to scrap them.
Does anyone have a sure-fire method for getting into the case such that it
can be reclosed? I was thinking about using a saw blade on a Dremel to
separate the case halves.
The method I normally use is to put a thin piece of metal in the crack
between the case halves and tap it with a hammer. The idea is to shock
the glued joint between the 2 parts. Work round and round the case, in
the end it'll start to separate. You will probably slightly damage one
case half, but nothing serious,
When youv've done the repair, put the parts back together and run a fine
brush dipped in dichloromethane (methylene chloride) round the crack.
That should disolve the plastic and weld the case back together.
Another method of opening them I've heard of, but don't have the courage
to try is to swing the wall wart by the cables against a hard surface
repeatedly until it pops apart....
-tony