Power Adapter for DE-5000

[David Hess]

I finally bought a DE-5000 LCR meter and it works fine, however I am not completely happy with the AC power adapter that I picked up for it.  Based on a recommendation in the forum, I bought this AC power adapter, and it works, but it occurs to me now that a USB to 9 volt power adapter would be more convenient.

What do you think?

[Melt-O-Tronic]

What is it about that power adapter that you don't like?

[David Hess]

What is it about that power adapter that you don't like?

The odd shape and size take up too many AC outlets.  USB has oddly enough become more convenient but I did not think of it at the time.

[james_s]

Wow that's a lot of money for a generic Chinese wall wart, you can buy the same thing direct from China for around $5.

I'd buy something from a supplier like Mouser or Digikey that is in a more convenient form factor, they make wall warts in several different shapes. There are also the type of power supply that has a separate cord on it.

[NoisyBoy]

The challenge is the plug size, most plug are either too wide to fit, or too short that it kept falling out.  So be careful as you shop for alternatives, the exact plug is somewhat hard to find.

I end up getting the proper plug, and then powering it with a bench supply.

[David Hess]

Wow that's a lot of money for a generic Chinese wall wart, you can buy the same thing direct from China for around $5.

I try to avoid buying directly from China.  Invariably I end up receiving the wrong thing.

I'd buy something from a supplier like Mouser or Digikey that is in a more convenient form factor, they make wall warts in several different shapes. There are also the type of power supply that has a separate cord on it.

Maybe I should have done that, but when the shipping charge for Mouser or Digikey was added, the Amazon one was about the same price.  I did not realize that the Amazon one would be such a poor shape and size.

[David Hess]

I end up getting the proper plug, and then powering it with a bench supply.

I have occasionally done that, but the risk if you use a bench supply is that you apply the wrong voltage.

[rvalente]

just go open you drawer, get a wall wart from some older router and use it, if its 12V or sooo just slap a 7809 inside and its good to go.
You could use a hacked USB-C as well, plenty of options...

I'd not use this USB to 9V thing, this is probably very poor quality with plenty of noise (just like boost converters usually are)

[Melt-O-Tronic]

What is it about that power adapter that you don't like?

The odd shape and size take up too many AC outlets.  USB has oddly enough become more convenient but I did not think of it at the time.

Amen.  I'm always perplexed that AC wall warts are so stupidly designed.  There's no excuse.  There are good ones out there, but very rare.

I like the idea of using USB charging ports (like this one) to power low voltage devices.  I've been mentally designing a DC UPS specifically for providing USB power around the lab.

To others wanting to power the DE-5000, the 3.5 x 1.35 mm connector is the right size, but in my adapter kit. the one I have is 10mm long and won't stay connected to the DE-5000.  The factory adapter's plug is 12mm long.

[NoisyBoy]

Yes, the 3.5x1.5, 12mm is exactly what I had to order. Pain was I had to order in the quantity of 50 and I only needed one. All the shorter plugs came loose without falling out, so I had to keep pushing them back in. The 12mm stays in, but I agree that I had to program the voltage each time, which was a pain. But the Agilent linear bench supply can provide much cleaner power to the unit than any wall warts, if that matters.

[David Hess]

I am having the same problem looking for a better fitting plug.  The one I have is barely long enough and some are shorter.

[graybeard]

I was lucky enough to find a power connector that worked in my junk parts collection.  It was part of an long dead universal power adapter kit.  I saved this and two other connector from that kit. 

It is just long enough to work with the DE5000.  However a 12mm long one would surely work better.  The plug in my universal adapter set I got from Amazon last year is too short.

The main thing I like about using an external power supply is it disables the automatic power off (APO).

I put an 11V Zener diode (from a bag of misc Zeners in my stock) across the dual banana plugs to protect against stupid operator error.













Chris

[David Hess]

I'd not use this USB to 9V thing, this is probably very poor quality with plenty of noise (just like boost converters usually are)

That is my concern and why I inquired about it here.  I could design a fault proof USB to 9 volt converter but consumer stuff is notoriously cheap.

[LeonR]

wouldn't be easier to get (or make) a power extension cord?

https://www.amazon.com/Extension-Cords/b?ie=UTF8&node=495312

[David Hess]

wouldn't be easier to get (or make) a power extension cord?

https://www.amazon.com/Extension-Cords/b?ie=UTF8&node=495312

I could, but a smaller and thinner power cord in the form of a USB cable would have advantages.  Even an existing AC to USB brick and then USB to 9 volt cable would be less encumbering.

[Trader]

To others wanting to power the DE-5000, the 3.5 x 1.35 mm connector is the right size, but in my adapter kit. the one I have is 10mm long and won't stay connected to the DE-5000.  The factory adapter's plug is 12mm long.

Do you think this adaptor will fit correctly?

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32562639479.html

3.5mm x 1.35mm x 12mm is right, but the picture seems short.

[LeonR]

wouldn't be easier to get (or make) a power extension cord?

https://www.amazon.com/Extension-Cords/b?ie=UTF8&node=495312

I could, but a smaller and thinner power cord in the form of a USB cable would have advantages.  Even an existing AC to USB brick and then USB to 9 volt cable would be less encumbering.

A fixed voltage QC/PD trigger should do the trick: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002283351183.html

[ledtester]

To others wanting to power the DE-5000, the 3.5 x 1.35 mm connector is the right size, but in my adapter kit. the one I have is 10mm long and won't stay connected to the DE-5000.  The factory adapter's plug is 12mm long.

Do you think this adaptor will fit correctly?

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32562639479.html

3.5mm x 1.35mm x 12mm is right, but the picture seems short.

I would double check with the seller if you can. I've seen "12mm" used in descriptions of these plugs, for instance:

https://www.amazon.com/uxcell-3-5x1-3mm-5-5x2-5mm-Female-Connector/dp/B00EZITII8


but it's the diameter of the body.

[graybeard]

The one in the Amazon listing matches the one in my adapter set.   It is not log enough!

[Melt-O-Tronic]

The one in the Amazon listing matches the one in my adapter set.   It is not log enough!

That's the same adapter set that I have and that specific adapter appears to be identical, so I can say with reasonable certainty that it's 10mm long and thus too short for the DE-5000.

[Hexley]

If you have a molded plug with a 10 mm-long barrel, you might be able to trim away some molding to make it into a 12 mm-long barrel. That is what I did for my DE-5000's DC adapter anyway.

[David Hess]

If you have a molded plug with a 10 mm-long barrel, you might be able to trim away some molding to make it into a 12 mm-long barrel. That is what I did for my DE-5000's DC adapter anyway.

That may be the best option.  All of the different 3.5x1.35 mm plugs I have found have a 9mm length.  I am beginning to suspect that the jack inside the DE-5000 is set too far back inside the case.

[wnm]

As a new DE-5000 owner I was faced with this same dilemma this week. Either pay the outrageous/current $38 +$5 shipping or find an alternative. As others have found, a 3.5mm x 1.35mm x 12mm barrel connector is not exactly a standard offering.

What I did find was this pair of parts for about $20 including shipping:
http://www.bixnet.com/cntg5.html  G5 DC Power Connector Plug Tip (3.5 x 1.35mm Male to 4.0 x 1.70mm Female )
https://www.ebay.com/itm/122808627060  AC / DC Adapter Cord 9V 1A (1000mA) 4.0mm x 1.7mm Wall Plug

It seemed like a more reasonable compromise.

[evava]

Here in EU, there is lot of old Nokia 3310 (and others) adapters (good old transformer ones), and I found out they have reasonable voltage (about 8.5V), correct polarity, and reasonable connector (soft molded plug with a 10 mm-long barrel, I was able to trim away some molding to make it into a 12 mm-long barrel, with exacto knife).
 
Works fine, without switching noise..

So, cheap and ready made solution 

[dabrams]

I just bought this which seems to work quite well with the DE-5000:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074BRR5YN 9V adapter $8

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FJLZGPF plug adapter $6 for 2

The nice think is the adapter is the same size as the OEM one so it fits in the case nicely.

David