Re: Powering an In-wall Amp

["Robert Green" <ROBERT_GREEN1963@xxxxxxxxx>]

"MrTea" <hilton.jon@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message

<stuff snipped>

> The power is supplied using a long cable connected to an adapter which
> in turn is plugged into the mains (the adapter is similar to those used
> for laptops, so you plug a cable into the mains which in turn is
> plugged into the adapter)

Sounds like a typical coaxial power plug.  Is the metal tip about 1/2" long
with a hollow center?  Does it look like any of these:

http://www.radioshack.com/sm-dc-power-connectors--fi-2032284_cp-2032058.2032
231.html

> I want to do a tidy install of this so was hoping to run power to the
> Amp "neatly" but I'm not sure how! The problem is I don't just want the
> DC adapter "hanging" out of the wall somewhere.
>
> I think I have a few options.
>
> 1) Extend the cable so I can run it all the way back to my node 0 and
> just plug it in there.

Might work, might not.  The voltage may drop too much after a long cable run
to be useful (which is why AC and not DC is running throughout most of the
world's homes - AC voltage doesn't drop the way DC does with long wire
runs).

> 2) Come up with some kind of DC wall socket thing (connected to the
> amp), then modify my adapter cable so it can be plugged and can
> therefore be plugged in to this socket.

You can find panel mount jacks for your power supply's plug - but be aware
that there are at least 20 very similar looking plugs - you have to get an
exact fit.  That's determined by the inner and outer diameters of the power
plug and to a lesser extent, the length as well.  If you have a Radio Shack
nearby, they would have such panel jacks.  It would be a simple matter to
buy a blank wall plate, drill a hole for the jack and a retrofit wall box
and power it through that.  This is such a jack:

http://www.radioshack.com/sm-size-m-panel-mount-coaxial-power-jack-w-switch-
-pi-2102491.html

When they say "with switch" it means that there is a connection to break an
internal circuit when the plug is inserted.  This is often used when a
device has both internal batteries AND a power input jack.  The jack
responds to the insertion of a plug by disconnecting the batteries so they
aren't getting voltage from the power supply and will not be likely to
explode as a result.

> Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated (apologies if any of
> the above doesn't make much sense!)

HTH,

--
Bobby G.