KP3 amperage - how important?

MozartVonRobot · Post by **MozartVonRobot** » Mon Jul 01, 2013 5:43 pm

I just bought my second KP3, imported from the US, and since I knew the American adapter wouldn't work with the European current, I also bought what was advertised as a third party EU adapter compatible with KP3. Looking at the US adapter, my original EU adapter (for my other KP3), and the new (third party) adapter, I'm finding that both Korg adapters say 700mA, while the third party adapter says 2A (everything else on the label is the same as my original EU adapter, though).

So here's my question, just to avoid the risk of having something go poof:
Does the KP3 accept 2A?

bradkorg · Post by **bradkorg** » Mon Jul 01, 2013 6:46 pm

Yes, no problem, it only means that the 2 Ampere powersupply is almost 3 times more powerful than the original 0,7 Ampere. (in theory, you can connect 3 kp3 to it, if you have/can make daisy chain powerplugs to the powersupply output.

Only make sure that the power output plug has the plus-polarity in the center pin and the minus-polarity outerside.
Compare with the original one, otherwise the kp3 will be fried when its wrong.

btw. Check if the US adapter can accept 230V also, then you can use a travel adaptor/converter US to EURO plug.

MozartVonRobot · Post by **MozartVonRobot** » Mon Jul 01, 2013 8:01 pm

bradkorg wrote:Yes, no problem, it only means that the 2 Ampere powersupply is almost 3 times more powerful than the original 0,7 Ampere. (in theory, you can connect 3 kp3 to it, if you have/can make daisy chain powerplugs to the powersupply output.

Thanks! That's very helpful.
And fascinating. Daisy-chaining, you say? I do have two KP3's, and intend to have them close together. You're saying I could save myself a couple of outlets ('cause these things usually take up the space of two) by just using one adapter with a splitter? I should probably get or make one of those then.
Any idea what this particular kind of DC plug is called? I know there are different standards and measurements, and I wouldn't want to chase down the wrong type. Failing all else, I could cut the US adapter, but I'd rather not just in case I'll need it later.

bradkorg wrote:Only make sure that the power output plug has the plus-polarity in the center pin and the minus-polarity outerside.
Compare with the original one, otherwise the kp3 will be fried when its wrong.

This is the first thing I checked when I took the adapter out and compared it to my old EU adapter (and that's when I noticed the ampere difference).

bradkorg wrote:btw. Check if the US adapter can accept 230V also, then you can use a travel adaptor/converter US to EURO plug.

This is the first thing I checked when I took the US adapter out of the KP3 box. Sadly, it only says 120V, so that's out.

bradkorg · Post by **bradkorg** » Mon Jul 01, 2013 9:17 pm

If you aren't DIY handyman, don't bother, because you still need to cut and connect/solder wires.

You can cut/desolder the original us adapter cable at the base, because the AC/DC adapter case can be opened by unscrewing the 3 screws and can restored to original.

If the 2A adapter case is molded, you'll need to break it open in the joint-lines to access the beginning of the DC cable or just cut it somewhere in the cable itself, so you can joint the other DC cable together.

For reference the special/rare DC plug is available from ebay search and sometime it comes as a vary set DC plugs.
It's a DC Power Adaptor Plug with Center pin diameter: 1.0mm and Barrel Diameter 5.5mm

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Samsung-R20-R ... 1c2a0258d3

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_odkw= ... 3&_sacat=0

MozartVonRobot · Post by **MozartVonRobot** » Mon Jul 01, 2013 9:35 pm

bradkorg wrote:If you aren't DIY handyman, don't bother, because you still need to cut and connect/solder wires.

I do that all the time. Mainly audio cables, but I know how to cut and solder, so that part is covered if need be.

bradkorg wrote:You can cut/desolder the original us adapter cable at the base, because the AC/DC adapter case can be opened by unscrewing the 3 screws and can restored to original.

If the 2A adapter case is molded, you'll need to break it open in the joint-lines to access the beginning of the DC cable or just cut it somewhere in the cable itself, so you can joint the other DC cable together.

I don't see any screws. I'd rather not mess with the US adapter.

bradkorg wrote:For reference the special/rare DC plug is available from ebay search and sometime it comes as a vary set DC plugs.
It's a DC Power Adaptor Plug with Center pin diameter: 1.0mm and Barrel Diameter 5.5mm

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Samsung-R20-R ... 1c2a0258d3

One thing of note is that the third party EU power adapter has a little adapter on the DC plug, that goes from one standard to another (i think the plug that fits the KP3 might be Japanese, whereas the other type is likely more common in Europe and the Americas). Anyway, I looked around on eBay, and I think I found another one of these little DC plug adapters, and a splitter for what looks to be the other type. I'm going to try simply connecting these. Chances are the splitter might be too short, so I'll probably still end up having to do a bit of soldering, but I might be able to keep it minimal by using a preexisting splitter as a starting point.