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Which wire is positive, black or white stripe?
- Thread starter the_nines
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White = +
According to that graphic that would also be the tip. That is in my experience the more common configuration but I just cut the wires, reversed and resoldered an adaptor like that for a friend. He had a guitar effects box that he thought was faulty but actually the adaptor he had was just wired the other way so I changed it and it worked.
According to that graphic that would also be the tip. That is in my experience the more common configuration but I just cut the wires, reversed and resoldered an adaptor like that for a friend. He had a guitar effects box that he thought was faulty but actually the adaptor he had was just wired the other way so I changed it and it worked.
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+! on Testing with meter after cutting off the tip.
I was going to mention a meter but if he had one (and knew how to use it) I don't know if he would have asked in the first place. :scratch2:
"Typos in this meeasage? Can't you see I am doing this on my phone using Tapatalk?"
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JoeESP9
ESL's & tubes since 83
Everyone should have a meter. For $15 plus ~$5 shipping the one in the link below can't be beat.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006FKF5Y/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006FKF5Y/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
petehall347
the brandy coffee man
it could be tested with a 9v or a bit higher voltage bulb . cut one wire and wire the bulb to the cut wire coming from the power supply and try both connections on the plug . at a pinch an old crappy loudspeaker could be used instead of a bulb .
if none of that is available take a sharp knife and cut the plug open carefully
if none of that is available take a sharp knife and cut the plug open carefully
the_nines
Lunatic Member
You're right ..... if I had one, I wouldn't bother asking.
But since I'm asking means I don't have one.
So, seeing that I don't have a meter, is there anyway I can tell without light-bulbs (and such) which of the two wires is (+) and which one is (-).
Is there some sort of "standard" for wires with a white stripe on them?
petehall347
the brandy coffee man
oh yes it will if my instructions are carried out and just one wire is cut as its already known which is + and - at the plug . :thmbsp:
petehall347
the brandy coffee man
lets assume white is + .. ok dirty way to test i call this the spark or no spark test 
. cut the black wire and remove some sheathing . quickly rub it on the outer connection on the dc plug . if it doesn't spark the black wire is - and white is +
if it does spark then black is + and white is -
. cut the black wire and remove some sheathing . quickly rub it on the outer connection on the dc plug . if it doesn't spark the black wire is - and white is +if it does spark then black is + and white is -
It's right there on the wall wart under the word "LISTED". The center of the plug is +, the outer sheathe is -.
I'm buying that. My meter is dead. Thanks for the link.:thmbsp:
Not really. You could take a coin and flip for it.
There's no set rule, but I'd guess the one with the white tripe is positive. Generally, when there are two connections/wires, the positive is marked and the common/negative isn't.
As for guarantees, well...
the_nines
Lunatic Member
Saw that.
Still doesn't tell me if the white stripe wire is center or outer sheathe.
:scratch2:
petehall347
the brandy coffee man
if you have a length of insulated wire and an iron nail i could tell you another way to test it .
the_nines
Lunatic Member
I'm listening ..
Exactly. The icon tells you that the tip is + and the barrel - but not "what does the white stripe mean or connect to?" However, the white stripe indicating positive is a convention that is very common and I would like to say almost universal.
There are other ways to indicate polarity. Some cords have no colour code but there is a ridge or something else about the shape of the insulation that marks the + wire. Check your lamp cords for example. One side will be rounded and the other is probably more angular. I like this in some ways better because you can tell by touch. Of course those are usually on AC cords so the application may not have the same polarity implications.
