AC/DC Power Adapter Safe Handling of AC Adapters Vol. 7 "Do Not Reuse"

AC/DC Power Adapter safe handling guidelines are introduced. Part 7 features "Do Not Reuse Interchangeably." We explain important requests and precautions when reusing AC/DC Power Adapter.

AC/DC Power Adapter, Do Not Reuse Improperly

We occasionally receive the following inquiries from customers:

• The third-party AC/DC Power Adapter included with our device has failed. Can it be replaced with your Products?
• Can the AC/DC Power Adapter currently in use be used with another device?

In response to such inquiries, we provide the following explanation:

• The third-party AC/DC Power Adapter included with the device has been verified and guaranteed for operation by the device manufacturer. Therefore, even if our AC/DC Power Adapter has the same rated input/output specifications, we cannot determine or guarantee that it can be used with your device (for individual customers, we recommend contacting the manufacturer from whom you purchased the device).
• If you are considering a new combination of our AC/DC Power Adapter with your device, you will need to evaluate compatibility with your device on your own.

The AC/DC Power Adapter manufactured by us and included (bundled) with your device has been adopted after evaluation of compatibility with the device by the device manufacturer. Therefore, even when reusing an AC/DC Power Adapter with a proven track record in another device, we ask that compatibility be evaluated for each individual device.

In recent years, circuit designs for AC/DC Power Adapter have largely converged on the "switching method" due to advantages such as compact size, light weight, and output stability. In the past, however, a considerable number of "transformer method" Products were also in circulation. The main advantage of the "transformer method" was "low noise" (because there is no semiconductor switching (ON/OFF) operation as in the "switching method"). For this reason, "transformer method" Products were primarily used in noise-sensitive Products such as musical instruments, audio equipment, and communication devices.

As an extreme example, if a device that originally used a "transformer method" AC/DC Power Adapter were replaced with a "switching method" AC/DC Power Adapter simply because the rated input/output and DC connector are the same, the device's performance would likely become unsatisfactory.

 For the above reasons, when device manufacturers select an AC/DC Power Adapter, we ask that they continue to verify compatibility with the device to be used in combination. We also request that individual customers refrain from reusing an AC/DC Power Adapter with another device solely because the rated input/output and DC connector are the same.

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