Cutting Cable and Cord Clutter
My latest CPU Magazine article is out: The” title=”http://www.computerpoweruser.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles/archive/c0703/44c03/44c03.asp&did=2111&aid=37991\”>The” target=”_blank”>www.computerpoweruser.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles/archive/c0703/44c03/44c03.asp&did=2111&aid=37991″>The Power Of Power.
I recently moved into a new house in the Seattle area. Moving is anything but fun, especially when it happens to coincide with the same time frame as your wedding/honeymoon. Well, the movers we selected did an absolutely rotten job at packing our stuff. Cords were separated from their respective devices, and I’ll be damned if I know which ones match up. Some manufacturers were nice enough to stamp their name and the corresponding device onto the power supply and cord, while others were completely generic and without labels. Am I really to blame for this mess?
It’s a trend that must be reversed. CPUser “Randy” had a comment that deserved to be seen, if only by the hardware hackers of the galaxy:
While I agree that there should be some form of standard, when dealing with power adapters. There is one very significant point. There are many devices out there. Each one, usually for good reason, is designed to charge and/or run on a given voltage/amperage. The reason for not having extra circuitry, with which to convert some incoming standard towards something that will work with the needed circuitry, is that this “circuit” would require a certain given space. In today’s world, every consumer wants more of everything fit into a device except that they want it to be smaller. If you could design a tiny circuit, say .1 to .3 mm cubed, that could convert some universal standard, say standard home 115VAC and automotive ~12VDC to whatever we need to run the circuitry. Let us know. It would be greatly appreciated.
So is such a thing possible? What say you, power people? I promise to give ‘er a good “plug” or two. Pun intended.
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4 Comments
Stephen Fields
February 8th, 2007
at 5:34pm
Why can’t we move the non-standard connection to the wall wart end of the power plug? In fact, It seems to me that we could create a standard connection to devices and then create a wall wart that multiple connections. Each connection could be set at various voltages. I’m sure it’s more complicated then that but it seems doable.
Bill Naivar
February 9th, 2007
at 5:37am
SHOCKING!!
Joe Dempsey, Sr.
February 10th, 2007
at 2:47pm
I explained earlier that a power converter the size of 0.1 to 0.3 mm cubed would still have to dissipate the necessary heat and, therefore, is not feasible. There is no way around the heat problem, you will always have to deal with it. (I have a Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering so I know what I’m talking about.)
Having said all that, I also believe there should be some standard for low-power consumer electronics applications.
I hope my comment sticks this time. My original comment, somehow, was lost.
dellpass
February 10th, 2007
at 3:18pm
Sounds like a very tumultuous time for you. Moving, I hate it… Having all my stuff disorganized, I hate that too. I cant even find my fingernail clippers today :) But I’m sure you will be all settled and back to normal in no time at all :) Hang in there…