ADVC 100 Power supply replacement

[kbosward]

The ADVC-55 and ADVC-110 both use the same power adapter: ADVC-PSU5V. Rated power consumption of ADVC-55 is 3.1W so you are looking at power supply with 5V and at least 620mA.
http://desktop.thomsongrassvalley.co...VC55/index.php
http://desktop.thomsongrassvalley.co...C110/index.php

Ken.

[AmuroRey]

Sorry for my intrusion, but there are someone that can tell me if the ADVC-55 use the same Power Supply of the ADVC-110 ?
Or can tell me what power supply can use with my ADVC-55
The user manual is not so clear 5V-40V / 80mA-620mA, what dose it mean that I can't use a universal power supplay tha tgive more than 1A ?

Luca

[GrassValley_BH]

Start lower and increase as necessary.

[rann]

Thanks for that, Brandon; I had not seen a 5v in my local store. In a pinch, if I had to go with a variable voltage 2000ma PS, any guesses on whether 4.5 or 6 volts would be preferable?

[GrassValley_BH]

Unless the ADVC specs are grossly off, this one should work, with the appropriate Adaptaplug. Best to take it to the store and try it though.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?parentPage=search&pg=2&summary=summary&cp=&productId=2049697&accessories=accessories&kw=adaptaplug&techSpecs=techSpecs&currentTab=summary&custRatings=custRatings&sr=1&features=features&origkw=adaptaplug&support=support&tab=techSpecs

Of course for that price plus the Adaptaplug (unless you get them to include it), you're probably better off just getting the official PSU if you can.

[chimimic]

Hi Rann,

power supplies can be "linear" or "switching". A 5V / 2A linear PSU have the same capabilities as a 5V / 2A switching PSU, but is less efficient regarding power loss and required space : a switching PSU is smaller for the same voltage / current capabilities, and heat dissipation is less, too.

Actually, most of the PSU available on the market are based on the switching mode (PWM, Pulse Width Modulation).

"Switching feature" is not necessary, but you have to prefer a PSU with a well stabilised voltage output. Be carefull with PSU with voltage selector, that are not always regulated.

Best regards,
Remy

[rann]

Brandon, I have not found it simple to get a 5v, 2.5-3.0 amp power supply at my local Radio Shack. If they had them, I'd have tried one long ago. The closest at my local RS is a variable voltage (pick between 4.5 or 6 volts) at a maximum of 2 amps. They might work, but the stock ADVC 100/110 power supplies are "switching" units, and much smaller than the generic RS ones. Is the "switching" feature necessary? (I had "switching" explained to me once, but won't pretend to have really understood it . . .)

[Monzie]

If you have a Radio Shack nearby, you can find the appropriate Adaptaplug and an appropriate power supply. But of course we won't support it if you tell us you're not using the approved PSU.

Grasvalley_BH,

No way. I wouldn't think of using a generic power supply with my advc 100. As I said in my other posting, I already started using the PSU5V I got from your local distributor here and it works fine. Just have to be careful moving the unit while i'm working on a project. I'll try to look for an 'adaptaplug' or something similar here in the Philippines.

Thanks

[Monzie]

Monzie, you have jogged my memory, and I should correct some of my earlier comments. When my original ADVC 100 power supply (the ENG unit) died, I replaced it with an identical EPA-121DA-05 one that I was fortunate to find on E-bay in general electronics. I did enough research to find that the ENG unit came with various connectors, so I contacted the seller and made as sure as possible that the connector on his unit matched what I needed (about 4 mm diameter, yellow plastic on the inside, etc.); I may have been lucky, but the one I bought was fine. If you go looking for the ENG power supply, you will need to confirm that it has the correct connector, or cut off the wrong new connector and splice in the correct one from your old unit, if you want to try that . . .
I then got added an ADVC 110 (wanted a back-up and got it cheap because it had no power supply). Then I bought the Unifive power supply, which matches yours, from Rose Productions, who occasionally has them on E-bay under a "Canopus" heading.
Bottom line:
1) the ENG EPA-121DA-05 power supply is probably available as a
stand-alone unit. You will need to do some searching for it, and will need
to confirm that it has the desired connector (or do some soldering
yourself if you have a correct one).
2) the yellow-tipped Canopus Unifive power supply is what I got from Rose
Productions, and is probably what you will get from anyone selling an
AVDC 110 power supply.
Don't know if that helps much, but maybe it clarified some things. Good luck.

Rann,

I started using the PSU5V (UNIFIVE) and it's ok. This was the only PSU available from the local Canopus distributor I guess I just have to be extra careful not to move the unit while I'm doing some capturing work.

Thanks.

[GrassValley_BH]

If you have a Radio Shack nearby, you can find the appropriate Adaptaplug and an appropriate power supply. But of course we won't support it if you tell us you're not using the approved PSU.

[rann]

Monzie, you have jogged my memory, and I should correct some of my earlier comments. When my original ADVC 100 power supply (the ENG unit) died, I replaced it with an identical EPA-121DA-05 one that I was fortunate to find on E-bay in general electronics. I did enough research to find that the ENG unit came with various connectors, so I contacted the seller and made as sure as possible that the connector on his unit matched what I needed (about 4 mm diameter, yellow plastic on the inside, etc.); I may have been lucky, but the one I bought was fine. If you go looking for the ENG power supply, you will need to confirm that it has the correct connector, or cut off the wrong new connector and splice in the correct one from your old unit, if you want to try that . . .
I then got added an ADVC 110 (wanted a back-up and got it cheap because it had no power supply). Then I bought the Unifive power supply, which matches yours, from Rose Productions, who occasionally has them on E-bay under a "Canopus" heading.
Bottom line:
1) the ENG EPA-121DA-05 power supply is probably available as a
stand-alone unit. You will need to do some searching for it, and will need
to confirm that it has the desired connector (or do some soldering
yourself if you have a correct one).
2) the yellow-tipped Canopus Unifive power supply is what I got from Rose
Productions, and is probably what you will get from anyone selling an
AVDC 110 power supply.
Don't know if that helps much, but maybe it clarified some things. Good luck.

[Monzie]

Monzie - I, too, can just barely make a "power" contact with the yellow plastic tip in the 100, and would not want to depend on it.
Frankly, there does not appear to be anything substantial inside the yellow plastic . . . if you're feeling lucky, you might want to try cutting half of the yellow plastic off with a sharp knife, and you may achieve a good contact that way. I would only try that in an emergency, but I WOULD try it in an emergency. (Such free advice may be worth exactly that . . .)

Just checked with the Philippine Distributor and told them about the bad 'fit' of the connector of the PSU5V on the advc 100. They said that the PSU5V was the only one available and shipped to them by Grass Valley and that I could just return if I'm not comfortable using it. I wonder though if your source of the ENG brand adapter will ship half the world away.

Maybe our friends from Grass Valley can offer a solution to this problem?

[rann]

Monzie - I, too, can just barely make a "power" contact with the yellow plastic tip in the 100, and would not want to depend on it.
Frankly, there does not appear to be anything substantial inside the yellow plastic . . . if you're feeling lucky, you might want to try cutting half of the yellow plastic off with a sharp knife, and you may achieve a good contact that way. I would only try that in an emergency, but I WOULD try it in an emergency. (Such free advice may be worth exactly that . . .)

[Monzie]

Yes Rann, I noticed that yellow plastic on the Unifive i got. I tried fitting it into the advc100 (WITHOUT power yet) and it looks ok. Just dunno if it provides proper contact.

Now that Grass Valley_BH has confirmed that it would be ok to use on my advc 100, I'll try powering it up today.

Thanks, guys for all the feedbacks/inputs. Very helpful.

Just tried powering up my advc 100 with the PSU5V AC adapter. It works OK..

But Rann's correct, the connector to the unit does not sit well because of that yellow plastic. It does not seem to 'lock' in place unlike the original 'ENG' PSU. Kinda risky in case I'm in the middle of 'capturing' work and the unit is accidentally moved and loses the power connection.

Will have to consult the local distributor about it.

[Monzie]

The power supply that came with my ADVC 110 is a Unifive model UI318-05. Like yours, it puts out 5v DC and 3a. My ADVC 100 ENG power supply (5v, 2.5a) seems to power the 110 fine, although I haven't left it on for hours & hours. But my 110 Unifive power supply's connector is constructed differently than my 100 ENG's connector, in that it has about 2 mm of yellow plastic at the tip that the ENG 100's connector does not have. The bottom line is that that yellow-tipped connector works fine in the 110, but will not completely seat in the 100. So, between the (or at least MY) two power supplies, the ENG unit will fit and power both the 100 and the 110; but the Unifive (with the yellow plastic tip) would presumably power either the 100 or 110, but will only fit in the 110.
If your Unifive connector fits in & powers the 100, I would guess you'll be fine.

Yes Rann, I noticed that yellow plastic on the Unifive i got. I tried fitting it into the advc100 (WITHOUT power yet) and it looks ok. Just dunno if it provides proper contact.

Now that Grass Valley_BH has confirmed that it would be ok to use on my advc 100, I'll try powering it up today.

Thanks, guys for all the feedbacks/inputs. Very helpful.