Dc Charger polarity

[TheGroover]

Hi all,

I have an MP3 player that I lost the charger for some time ago. I've bought a multi volt charger today, the problem is that I have no idea what polarity the player needs the charger to be.
How important is this? If I pick positive, and it needs negative, will it knacker the player?

[Mikey G]

If its a coaxial type jack plug its normally +ve in the centre and -ve on the outer. This is sometimes confirmed by a little diagram next to the socket.

HTH

[TheGroover]

Mikey G said:

If its a coaxial type jack plug its normally +ve in the centre and -ve on the outer. This is sometimes confirmed by a little diagram next to the socket. HTH

Ta for that. Unfortunately all it says on the socket is DC 5V, no polarity diagram

[rsvmilly]

You could try googling for technical details of it or look around the manufacturer's website

[TheGroover]

rsvmilly said:

You could try googling for technical details of it or look around the manufacturer's website

Already done that, no joy. The links to the tech help page on the manufacturers site gives a a page not found error, but it looks like they no longer make the damn thing anyway.
Also tried looking for a replacement charger, no joy there either.
If I can't find the manual over the weekend I'll just have to guess and hope! It's a 50:50 shot.

[benyeats]

Just to second someone else above. Normally they are negative on the outside and positive on the inside, so it is more like a 90:10 shot.

Ben

[motco]

Most things like this have a reverse polarity protection diode in series so you probably will do no harm - probably, hopefully....

[Pigeon]

They would if I'd designed them, but commercial products don't want to spend the extra penny, especially when they can sell a whole new one if someone gets it wrong...

Can you measure continuity from either of the socket contacts to either of the battery contacts? That'd give you a clue.

[Ferg]

What make is it? My son's Creative Zen Touch is 5V +ve on the centre.

[TheGroover]

pigeon said:

some stuff in Greek

Eh? If I understood elastictrickery to that degree, I'd Probably be OK

Ferg said:

What make is it? My son's Creative Zen Touch is 5V +ve on the centre.

It's an E.Digital Treo 15Gb Jukebox. I don't know anybody else who has one. The curse of the early adopter
Thanks for your responses everyone, and apologies for not replying earlier.
I've been in the pub since 15:00 hours

[Pigeon]

TheGroover said:

Pigeon said: some stuff in Greek Eh? If I understood elastictrickery to that degree, I'd Probably be OK

Er, well, do you have a multimeter? If you do I'll expound at greater length...

[TheGroover]

Pigeon said:

TheGroover said: Pigeon said: some stuff in Greek Eh? If I understood elastictrickery to that degree, I'd Probably be OK Er, well, do you have a multimeter? If you do I'll expound at greater length...

My Dad's got one. Expound away.

[Parrot of doom]

He means stick a battery in it, and measure from the +ve terminal of the battery (or battery socket), to the +ve terminal of the power input socket.