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Power adapter for a USB PCMCIA card?

LunkerLunker Registered User regular
edited November 2006 in Help / Advice Forum
Okies, so here's the deal: I have a fairly crappy TechGear PCMCIA card that I use to attempt to give my laptop USB 2.0 functionality. It didn't come with a power adapter, and I believe that some such cards do -- there's a jack between the two USB plugs which is ostensibly for such an adapter.

Anyway, I'm trying to use a Gamebridge game A/V adapter to play console games on my laptop, but every time I play it locks up after two minutes. I think it's probably because it's drawing too much power from the card.

So -- what kind of power adapter do I need, and where's the best place to buy one? Can I just stroll into Radio Shack and pick one up?

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Posts

  • exoplasmexoplasm Gainfully Employed Near Blizzard HQRegistered User regular
    edited November 2006
    I have never heard of a PCMCIA card needing its own seperate power source. But then I don't use PCMCIA cards very much.

    If you still have the manual, or can find it on the company website, you should be able to find out what type of power adapter is needed and how to get one.

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  • robaalrobaal Registered User regular
    edited November 2006
    Most devices have the required voltage and polarity embossed/printed near the socket.

    There's also a very good chance that it will use the same type of adapter that powered USB hubs do.

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  • vonPoonBurGervonPoonBurGer Registered User regular
    edited November 2006
    exoplasm wrote:
    I have never heard of a PCMCIA card needing its own seperate power source. But then I don't use PCMCIA cards very much.
    In the case of a USB 2.0 PC Card, it makes sense. PCMCIA slots have relatively little power available. Without the separate power adapter, I'm guessing those USB 2.0 slots aren't able to provide power to attached USB devices, and that's causing the problem.
    Lunker wrote:
    Can I just stroll into Radio Shack and pick one up?
    Probably, yeah. Like robaal said, the power requirements are likely right on the card. They may not have a wall-wart with the exact voltage and polarity you need, but you can probably find a universal unit like this one. You just set the switches to match what's printed on the PCMCIA card, and find the plug that fits the socket on your card.

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  • LunkerLunker Registered User regular
    edited November 2006
    Thanks for all the input so far. I've found what I think is the company's main site with specs on my card.

    GBR-103_p.jpg

    I don't have the card on me today (I left it at home), but I don't remember there being actual writing next to the port on my card. Figures. :? The documentation is total shite, so I fired off a question to their tech support and I guess I can try to see if I can figure it out. I might end up buying one of those multipurpose AC adapters like that Coby one -- pretty cheap, too. Thanks!

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