This Product Selection Guide contains information to help select products in the Power Supplies - External/Internal (off-board) - AC/DC Desktop, Wall Adapters category on DigiKey.com
AC/DC Wall Adapters AC to DC desktop and wall adapters are completely enclosed devices that convert an alternating current (AC) voltage into a different direct current (DC) voltage output.
SelectionCharacteristics
Specifications to determine which AC/DC wall adapter is right for your application.
Region Utilized: What geographical region the device is designed to operate within.
Form: How the device is physically set up. Typically wall mount is the form for devices in this category.
Input Type: How the device connects to the power outlet, such as cord, NEMA 5-15P, fixed blade, etc.
Voltage Input: Typically represented by a range, this indicates the low and high voltage limits which one can expect standard operation. Voltages outside this range may damage the device and other system components.
Voltage-Output: The voltage at the output of the device.
Current-Output (Max): The maximum current the device can provide.
Power (Watts): Maximum amount of power the device can provide - due to losses you generally want your applications power needs to be between 40%-60% of what your power supply can provide.
No Load Power Consumption: The amount of power used by the device when the input is connected but there is no load on the output. This is due to small electrical losses within the device.
Polarization: How the output of the device is configured. Connecting a plug with a different polarization from the system may cause erratic performance and/or damage the device or the system.
Applications: Application is the type of equipment or environment the device will be used in, they are tested and typically rated by a third party to ensure certain minimum standards for the application they are intended for. You could use one with a higher rating, but you cannot use one with a lower rating as it will fail in that application. For example, you could use a medically rated device to replace a commercial device, but you cannot replace the medical device with the commercial device.
Available Applications
Hazardous Locations, ITE (Commercial)
Rated for use in hazardous environments and commercial applications.
Household Appliances, ITE (Commercial)
Rated for use in commercial and household appliances.
Household Appliances, ITE (Commercial), Medical
Rated for use in commercial, household or medical appliances. Medically rated parts have rigorous standards, safety protocols, and safeguards due to the risk of loss of human life in the event of failure.
Household Appliances, Medical
Rated for household appliances or medical equipment. Medically rated parts have rigorous standards, safety protocols, and safeguards due to the risk of loss of human life in the event of failure.
ITE (Commercial)
Rated for use in commercial applications.
ITE (Commercial), A/V
Rated for use in commercial and audio-visual applications.
Industrial, ITE (Commercial), Medical
Rated for commercial or medical equipment for use in industrial settings. Medically rated parts have rigorous standards, safety protocols, and safeguards due to the risk of loss of human life in the event of failure.
Medical
Rated for use in medical equipment. Medically rated parts have rigorous standards, safety protocols, and safeguards due to the risk of loss of human life in the event of failure.
Efficiency: Ratio of output power to input power, typically measured at nominal voltage under full load. Typically listed as a percentage, or with an Energy Star rating denoted by a Roman numeral.
Energy Star Ratings
Level I
Does not meet any of the standards.
Level II
Meets minimum efficiency standards required by China in November 2005.
Level III
Power supply meets Energy Star Tier 1, CEC Tier 1, and Australian MEPS
standards.
Level IV
Power supply meets EISA 2007, CEC Tier 2, and the Australian MEPS High
Efficiency category.
Level V
Power supply meets CEC Tier 3 and EU phase 2 standards.
Level VI
Power supply meets DOE new standards effective in the US on February 10, 2016.
For specific requirements for each level please visit https://slpower.com/data/collateral/AN-EFF_MEAS.pdf
Operating Temperature: Recommended operating temperature, typically given in a range or as a maximum. Exceeding these temperatures may affect performance or damage the device and other system components.
Output Connector: The type of connector used to connect the device to the system.
Available Connector Types
Barrel Plug
A common round connector almost exclusively used for connecting power supplies. Each consist of an inner sleeve and outer sleeve, which prevent shorting when inserted. When selecting a barrel connector, you will need to know the inside (ID) and outside (OD) dimensions. It is also important to check the polarity of the connector as some are positive center and negative outer sleeve while others are negative center and positive outer sleeve. Using the opposite polarity can damage equipment. If a third dimension is listed, it is typically the insertion length of the plug. Some also contain a switch. Typically, the switch disconnects the battery supply while the device is plugged in.
Barrel Plug R/A
Functionally the same as a regular barrel connector. The difference is a 90 degree turn at the input side of the connector. Comes in more than one size.
Phono Plug
A small coaxial connector. Typically has one charge on the tip and the opposite charge on the sleeve, the two signals being separated by an insulator. Because of its wide use in audio products, it’s use in power supplies has declined and at the time of this writing all part listings we have with this connector are obsolete.
Rectangular, 3 Position
Used by Triad Magnetics this rectangular plastic connector connects to
Molex part# MOLEX 43640-0300 or equivalent connector.
Screw Terminal
Has screw terminals on the power supply that allow for direct connection to the wires of a cord.
Stripped, Tinned Wire Leads
Has attached cord with stripped and tinned ends ready for connection.
Size/Dimension: The physical dimensions of the device. Typically, length, width, and height.
Cord Length: The length of the cord on the device.
Input Connector: The type of connector used on the input side of the device.
Features: These are different capabilities of the device such as ruggedized or IP ratings.
Available Features
IP (Ingress Protection) Ratings (IP20, IP65, IP67 etc.)
Define how likely it is that water and dirt will get into the system. The first number is for dirt and solid contaminants and the second number is for water.
IP Ratings
| Protection Level | Solids | Liquids |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Protected against solids larger than 50mm. | Protected against vertically falling drops of water. Limited Ingress permitted. |
| 2 | Protected against solids larger than 12.5mm. | Protected against vertically falling drops of water with the enclosure tilted up to 15 degrees from vertical. Limited ingress permitted. |
| 3 | Protected against solids larger than 2.5mm. | Protected against spraying water up to 60 degrees from vertical. Limited ingress permitted for 3 minutes. |
| 4 | Protected against solids larger than 1mm. | Protected against water splashed from any direction. Limited ingress permitted. |
| 5 | Protected against dust. Limited ingress of dust permitted. | Will not affect operation of equipment 2-8 hours. Protected against jets of water. Limited ingress permitted. |
| 6 | Dust tight. No ingress of dust 2-8 hours. | Protected against powerful jets of water. Limited ingress permitted. |
| 7 | ______________________ | Protected against the effects of immersion in 15cm-1m for 30 minutes. |
| 8 | ______________________ | Continuous immersion in water up to 3m for long periods of time. |
| 9 | ______________________ | Protected against high pressure jets of hot water. (30 seconds) |
| 9K | ______________________ | Protected against high pressure jets of hot water. (2 minutes) |
Ruggedized
Designed for applications subject to shock or vibration.
Approval Agency: Meets the minimum safety standards of the approving agency. These agencies are either government entities or private third-party labs that protect consumer safety.
Approval Agencies
2MOPP
Stands for two means of patient protection and identifies components that have two separate systems of insulation between the patient and the voltage in medically rated components.
ANSI/AAMI
Identifies products that meet the American National Standards Institute/Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation requirements.
AS/NZS
Identifies products that meet the Standards Australia and Standards New Zealand requirements.
BIS
Identifies products that meet Bureau of Indian Standards requirements.
BSMI
Identifies products that meet the Bureau of Standards, Meteorology and Inspection requirements.
CB
Certified Body (CB) is an international symbol that is recognized by most of the world, also known as c-tick certification. It is administered following requirements of the Conformity Assesment Accreditation an independent non-profit organization.
CCC
Identifies products that meet China Compulsory Certification requirements.
CE (Conformité Européenne)
Manufacturer’s declaration that it meets the legal requirements of the European Economic Area.
cETLus
Identifies products that meet Underwriters Laboratories requirements for the U.S. and Canada, but the tesing is done by Electrical Testing Laboratories.
CSA (Canadian Standards Association)
Identifies products acceptable in Canada and the United States.
cTUVus
Identifies products that meet Unerwiters Laboratories standards as tested by TÜV Rheinland.
cUL
Issued by Underiters Laboratories it identifies products that meet Canadian Standards Association regulations.
cULus
Issued by Underwiters Laboratories it identifies products that meet U.S. and Canadian regulations.
cURus
Issued by Underwriters Labratory identifies components that meet U.S and Canadian standards for safety.
DEMKO (Danmarks Elektriske Materiel Kontrol)
Identifies products that meet European Standards including Danish National Differences.
D-Mark
Backed by Underwriters Laboratory it is the mark on products that meet European Standards including Danish National Differences issued by DEMKO (Danmarks Elektriske Materiel Kontrol)
EAC (Eurasian Conformity)
Identifies products that meet the Eurasian Economic Union requirements.
EN
European Standards that are established and monitored by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN), the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), and the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC).
ETL
Identifies products that meet Underwriters Laboratories requirements as tested by Electrical Testing Laboratories.
FCC
Identifies products that meet Federal Communications Commission requirements.
GB
Identifies products that meet Chinese GB standards and CCC (China Compulsory Certification) requirements.
GEMS (Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards)
Mandatory energy efficiency certification required on elctrical and electronics products in Australia and New Zealand.
GOST-R (Gosstandard)
Identifies products that meet requirements of the Russian Federation.
GS (Geprüfte Sicherheit)
Identifies products that have been tested and conform with Germany’s Equipment and Product Safety Act (GPSG = Geräte- und Produktisicherheitgesetz).
IEC
Identifies products that meet International Electrotechnical Commission requirements.
IRAM (Instituto Argentino de Normalización y Certificación)
Identifies products that meet the requirements for use in Argentina
KC (Korean Certification)
Identifies products that meet Korean safety standards.
LPS (Limited Power Supply)
Meets the limited power supply specifications as contained within the IEC 60950-1 standard.
Morocco
The Cم (CMIM) meets the requirements for use in the Morrocan market.
NEMKO (Norges Elektriske Materiellkontroll)
A private organization that provides testing and certification for an array of safety standards.
NOM (Norma Oficial Mexicana)
Identifies products that meet requirements for Mexico.
NrCAN (Natural Resources Canada)
Identifies products that meet the regulations of the Canadian Energy Efficiency Act.
PSB (Productivity and Standards Board)
Safety mark required on all products in Singapore.
PSE (Product Safety of Electrical Appliance and Materials)
Mandatory safety certification required on products for use in Japan.
RCM (Regulatory Compliance Mark)
Identifies electrical, telecom, and wireless devices that meet safety and performance standards for Australia and New Zealand.
SAA (Standards Association of Australia)
Mandatory certification for electrical products intended for the Australian and New Zealand markets.
SELV (Safety Extra Low Voltage)
Designed for a secondary circuit that is not connected to the main power supply, but to a transformer, converter, or other isolated device and that is designed not to exceed 60VDC.
SEMKO (Svenska Elektriska Materielkontrollanstalten)
Mandatory mark for electrical testing and certification in Sweden, it was used until 1990.
SIQ (Swedish Institute for Quality)
SIQ is an international certification institute which owns a set of system certification, product testing, certification and measurement. - SIQ.com, they can issue several certification marks.
SIRIM (Standard of Industrial and Research Institute in Malaysia)
Sets quality and safety standards for Malaysia. Receiving the mark is voluntary.
S-Mark
A voluntary mark signifying that the product fulfills product safety requirements as tested by Intertek. Typically, products with the S-Mark can be sold throughout the European Union without further safety testing.
TUV (Technischer Überwachungsverein)
Identifies products that have been tested and meet all regional, national, and international regulations. It is globally recognized.
TUVgs
Meets GS (Geprüfte Sicherheit) standards as tested by TUV (Technischer Überwachungsverein).
UKCA (UK Conformity Assesed)
Identifies products that meet requirements for the British market.
[u]Ukraine[u]
Identifies products that meet specifications for use in Ukraine.
UKRSepro
Indicates products that meet requirements for the Ukranian market.
UL (Underwriters Laboratories Inc.)
Identifies products that have been tested and meet UL safety requirements.
VCCI
Voluntary mark issued by Voluntary Control Council for Interference by Information Technology Equipment for products that meet their electromagnectic interference standards.
VDE
Issued by VDE Testing and Certification Institute it indicates products that meet consumer safety requirements.
VDEgs
Meets GS (Geprüfte Sicherheit) standards as tested by VDE Testing and Certification Institute.
VI
Energy Star Rating (See efficiency characteristic above)
WEEE (Waste Electric and Electronic Equipment)
Meets European Union directives regarding processes and systems for safely and effectively dealing with electrical and electronic waste.
Standard Number: The standard(s) used by the approval agency.
ProductExamples
| MFR PART # | VEL05US050-EU-BB |
|---|---|
| DIGI-KEY PART # | 1470-2754-ND |
| MANUFACTURER | XP Power |
| DESCRIPTION | 5V 5 W AC/DC External Wall Mount (Class II) Adapter Fixed Blade Input |
| DATASHEET | Click Here |
| MFR PART # | PSD-24-4 |
|---|---|
| DIGI-KEY PART # | 2170-PSD-24-4-ND |
| MANUFACTURER | Banner Engineering Corporation |
| DESCRIPTION | 24V 94 W AC/DC External Desktop (Class I) Adapter Cord Input |
| DATASHEET | Click Here |
| MFR PART # | SMI6B-9-4-P5 |
|---|---|
| DIGI-KEY PART # | 102-6575-ND |
| MANUFACTURER | CUI Inc. |
| DESCRIPTION | 9V 5.9 W AC/DC External Wall Mount (Class II) Adapter Multi-Blade (Included) Input |
| DATASHEET | Click Here |
MediaLinks
Videos
Wall Wart Power Supply Videos
Articles
Solving the Wall Mount Power Supply Dilemma
Choosing a Wall Charger
Article Library
Product Training Modules
External Adapters Overview - Kaga/Volgen
JSU Series - Switchmode Pwr Supply - Triad Magnetics
TechForum
TechForum posts on Wall Wart Power Supplies