Power cord question

[krissel]

Can you use a power cord from a monitor to power a computer? Will other cords be OK? (My knowledge of electrical specs is limited to replacing floodlights, outlets, etc. and I don't want to kill the computer.)

I have a bunch of power cords, two of which I know were from 17" monitors and the others possibly from external SCSI drives or my old Performa.

I've looked online and cable sellers offer all purpose replacements that they say can be used on computers, monitors, printers, etc. and have the AC style plug (NEMA5-15P) on one end and a computer style receptacle (IEC-320-C13) on the other end.

The cords I have also have those ends and the following printing:

1. CSA TYPE LL81924 SVT SHIELDED 60º C   18AWGX3C FT2  444027

2. E31793 (UL) SVT 18AWG/3 CONDS LL 22035  CSA SV5 FT2

3. CSA SVT 60ºC  LL77450 18AWGX3C  FT2

4. E136065 3C/18AWG SHIELDED CSA TYPE SVT LL96415 FT2

One of the power cords from my computers has:

CSA TYPE SVT 3-18 60º FT2 LL39965----E67474

I know the SVT is related to the fact it is hardy enough to be used for vacuum cleaners and being run over. FT regards flame testing, CSA is Canadian standards, AWG is gauge size (18), 3 conductors and the temp rating is how hot it can get and maintain integrity for the appropriate use. But the other numbers I haven't a clue.

So is it OK to use any of these four as a power cord for a computer (G4 Digital Audio)?

[kbeartx]

QUOTE(krissel @ Oct 13 2006, 01:47 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Can you use a power cord from a monitor to power a computer?

In my experience, yes.

[krissel]

Thanks.

[Thomas S. England]

When I'm the boss of the world, one of the new rules will be that all power cords & bricks will have to be labeled to say what they belong to.

I've got so many black cords & AC adapters ( and so many that I have to travel with) that I've begun to attach my own labels as soon as something comes out of the box.

I'm sure many of these things are interchangeable, but how can one be sure?

[krissel]

Tom, you are so right.  I do that now but those cords (and a box of others) didn't get the labels at the proper time. Eventually I'll find out what they are for...

[Gregg]

I think those plugs at the end of the cords and the receptacles in the walls were designed by a graduate of a certain highly regarded Big Ten University. As such, if the plug fits in the receptacle, it will power up whatever is on the other end of it. That's why some plugs are different; so those Michigan grads won't use 'em for the wrong thing.

[Mrious_be]

QUOTE(krissel @ Oct 13 2006, 07:47 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Can you use a power cord from a monitor to power a computer?

In these modern times, and when it comes to cables for electronics and appliences I would say there's a simple rule you can follow.
If it fits (snaps) it works
You should look out for decent quality cables though, as it's pretty inportand to have a good quality for connections.

[chriskleeman]

Yep, as long as the connectors are the same type, should work fine... they are pretty much universal. The only caveat would be if you were powering up something like a big audio amplifier that needed bigger gauge wiring to handle the current flow (amperage). And if it doesn't fit, you can't use it!

But powering a computer or monitor, they should be no problem.  18 gauge is pretty standard.

Chris K

[Paddy]

Kris, in my former Mac-rescuing days, I had scads of power cords. And like Marcel says - if it fit, I used it.

(the resident PhD in electrical engineering has a score of them - and used them interchangeably, so it never occurred to me to do anything else!)

Like Tom, I've taken to labeling the power bricks too - it is so annoying when some of them don't even have the same manufacturer's name on them!! In some cases I've had to root around to find the owners manual to get the power specs to make sure I've got the right brick with the right device. (One time, I had a router that was misbehaving and I actually arranged for a replacement to be sent out and it wasn't until I got it and was putting the original in the box to send it back to the manufacturer that I discovered I'd had it attached to the wrong power brick. Boy, did I feel stupid!)

[jcarter]

I always put labels on my cables!   Since Ive a mixture of older computers and periferals, as well as my new Macs.  So If I didnt have them labeled, I would be in deep trouble.
They all hang in back of the big desk(door).
Jane

[kimmer]

I'm remembering our old zip cartridges and how the cable to the box was propritory and the dang thing would NOT work without their stinking cable. If it went south, you had to buy another one from them.

Now who was it made those things, anyhow?    

Oh yeah, and I meant to ask ... why did a certain camera company make all their cords different? We can't switch them back and forth and it's annoying. Had to buy a card reader for Sneakers camera while in the rental (silly man packed his usb connector cable!).

[krissel]

It's that very problem with the bricks and adapters that made me hesitant to use any old cord. I remember having trouble years ago with my ADB Wacom tablet and the thing that fixed it was to get a new power cord for the computer. Yeah, what does that have to do with the tablet? Only thing I can figure is the cord was somehow not delivering the proper power...but then how did the computer fire up and run OK?

So I now label my stuff as I get it but boy do I have some unknown stuff.

Oh, and I dug out one of those zip SCSI cables with the teeny, tiny pins today while I was on my hunt.  

[jcarter]

I took out all the unconnected cables that was to stuff that I didnt have any more, and gave them all to a friend.
Lordy knows what he ever did with them.
Christmas tree ornaments perhaps?
jane

[Thomas S. England]

One of the most handy $3 devices I've found to deal with those bricks is the  Y-splitter Liberator Power Extension

Y-splitter cord


What I'd really like is an extension cord with a plugin located every few inches along the cord. Anybody ever found such a cord?

[Xairbusdriver]

"Power adaptors" and "Power cords" are usually two different animals/apples. An "adaptor" usually takes AC line power voltage and converts it to relatively low DC voltage at a specific amperage. That voltage and amperage is usually required by the 'box' it connects to. Most "boxes" will work with the same voltage as long as the amperage is at least as high as needed. One problem is that the input plug may have the positive and negative parts swapped and the device may not work well that way ( meaning it can be destroyed! ). In a perfect world, these "+" and "-" 'poles would always be plainly marked if not standardized. Safety suggests always using the supplied adaptor with the box/device it came with.

Power cords are much more flexibly used, as most have said, if it fits, it will work. Most cords now seem to be using suitably sized wiring.

However, power "strips", of any kind, especially if piggy-backed or used in more than one outlet on a circuit, can overload that circuit. You can find the amperage allowed on that circuit by examining the circuit breaker or fuse on that circuit. I'd hope that any modern house/building would have a minimum of 15 amp circuits. That should be sufficient for most computer rooms, even if they have several CRT monitors. But it might be a good idea to do some computing of total amperage use on any circuit. You probably won't get a breaker opening unless you can turn on every device at exactly the same time, however! And the newer you computer and the fewer high-draw items ( CRTs, Laser printers, UPSs, high-powered audio systems ) on the circuit the better.