mini - power adapter

1. jolz - 21 July 2007

   I'v got PPC mac mini with dying power adapter. Will power adapter from Intel based mini will work with my mac? Obviously more power won't hurt, but I wouldn't be surprised if connectors would have been incompatibile.
   I'm also consedering buying power adapter designed for a notebook but I'm not sure how to connect a cord. I see 3 wires and a ground. Looks like red is +18.5V and black and gray are almoust the same as ground (there's 0V when connected but not 0 resistance when disconnected). But i'v measured a broken adapter and I'm not sure if it's safe to simply connect ground, gray and black.
   And the last question. I'v read that even 12V will work. Does anybody tried power with less than 18.5V (how much less?) with big load with no problems?

2. The New Guy - 22 July 2007

   There has been instances of people using the Mini in a car. So 12V might be possible. Google it. Definitely its there. I guess the replacement cost is ridiculous? Ebay might be possible too. Have you been able to crack it open? Apparently its glued shut. Not easy unfortunately. I'd love to see what's inside my PPC one, but don't want to ruin the housing in getting it open as mine is still working great.

3. Bjarne Bäckström - 22 July 2007

   The New Guy wrote:

   I'd love to see what's inside my PPC one, but don't want to ruin the housing in getting it open as mine is still working great.

   Why not simply record its V/I? It can be done with a simple volt meter and a few resistors. Then you'll know what you can replace it with, should it break sometime in the future.
   --

4. jolz - 22 July 2007

   I know. That's where I got that 12V from. But your answer motivated me to search once more. Here's the result:
   http://www.kennettnet.co.uk/astramac/power So it looks like 3 times cheaper notebook's power adapter and one resisor should power up the mini. And if something like a fuse brakes I won't have to buy whole unit again.

   Have you
   been able to crack it open?

   Tried and failed. Good thing that at least mini itself isn't drowned in glue.