COR20 driver power adapter replacement (for eight time)

[AaronFReef]

Alright I’m sick and tired of paying for replacement Neptune COR20 power adapter bricks. I’ve tried the 1Link power supplies and while better, they’re still a garbage brick with a year or two life span. What’s the off-the-shelf or if I have to DIY solution here my electrical engineering reef brethren and sisters?

 

[Jamie814]

Can't help much with your original question but just curious why your power bricks keep burning out?
Are you running them at 100% ? If so maybe look for a 24v - higher amp rated supply than the OEM Neptune ones and see if they last longer...

I have 2 COR 20 pumps that have been running at about 70% for 2 years on the original power supplies.
Where are your power bricks located? Are they in an enclosed area and getting too hot?

Looks like the Neptune are 24v 5amp get a cheap 8-10 amp supply on amazon for $25 and see if it lasts longer?

 

[AaronFReef]

I run mine about 70% constant no change. They are elevated inside of an electrical cabinet. Just holding it it’s probably about 50 Celsius. It sounds to be a pretty common problem, but the best solution I’ve ever googled up is 1link power supplies, which are slightly higher quality than the stock one.

I’d love to get a different brand and try that, but I’m not sure about the different plug types. I know enough to know I don’t know enough. Polarity on the barrel plug, etc..

 

[oreo54]

I run mine about 70% constant no change. They are elevated inside of an electrical cabinet. Just holding it it’s probably about 50 Celsius. It sounds to be a pretty common problem, but the best solution I’ve ever googled up is 1link power supplies, which are slightly higher quality than the stock one.

I’d love to get a different brand and try that, but I’m not sure about the different plug types. I know enough to know I don’t know enough. Polarity on the barrel plug, etc..

Polarity is usually listed on the power supply.
Heat rises sounds like you may have them in a bad spot.
Those plastic enclosed ps's do have heat shedding issues.Even meanwell "bricks" are only guaranteed for 2 years.

Consider changing open cage type power supplies or improve cabinet ventilation.

Btw some power supplies are susceptible to failure due to brown outs or voltages dropping too low.

PS's look to be 24v 5A.
If your "enviroment" allows it..

 

[Jamie814]

It sounds to be a pretty common problem

I have seen a lot of people complaining about it failing as well.

The power brick Neptune uses is nothing special. just an off the shelf supply.

The COR 20 power supply uses a 3.5 mm outer diameter barrel connector with a 1.35 mm inner pin, center positive. Any 24v power supply with 5 or more amp capacity would work I would shoot for 8amp or more. If you can't find one with these barrel sizes, barrel adapters are only a few bucks.

 

[oreo54]

I have seen a lot of people complaining about it failing as well.

The power brick Neptune uses is nothing special. just an off the shelf supply.

The COR 20 power supply uses a 3.5 mm outer diameter barrel connector with a 1.35 mm inner pin, center positive. Any 24v power supply with 5 or more amp capacity would work I would shoot for 8amp or more. If you can't find one with these barrel sizes, barrel adapters are only a few bucks.

Odd, that size plug doesn't have a very high power rating. Like 3a max.

 

[Jamie814]

Odd, that size plug doesn't have a very high power rating. Like 3a max.

If that's correct I have no idea why the engineers would have used that size barrel since the stock brick has a 5 amp max rating. @BeanAnimal ?

 

[AaronFReef]

I do have a common house voltage of 114V according to my EB832 but I think that’s within spec, right? As for ventilation it’s in a pretty well ventilated region of my Crystal Dynamic Aquarium stand but it does get warm locally with the quantity of power bricks. I leave the door cracked open always too.

 

[oreo54]

If that's correct I have no idea why the engineers would have used that size barrel since the stock brick has a 5 amp max rating. @BeanAnimal ?

Actually I think it's more to make it "proprietary" since most generic ps's seem to come with a 5.5mm dia plug.

As to current ratings ect . there are prob dozens of variations of a single size of plug with all having different ratings.

Electrical ratings can be quite conservative as well.

 

[oreo54]

I do have a common house voltage of 114V according to my EB832 but I think that’s within spec, right? As for ventilation it’s in a pretty well ventilated region of my Crystal Dynamic Aquarium stand but it does get warm locally with the quantity of power bricks. I leave the door cracked open always too.

114v sounds low but ? I'm no electrician. EB 832 may be in error. It's under 3% of normal which would be considered not good.

My UPS and my VOM has my house at 122V.
( 116.4 to 123.6 is +- 3%)

122F cabinet is pretty warm.

As to voltage..

Hello - I'm a retired EE who spent a career working in and around coal-fired electric generating plants. Nowadays I make my own electricity from the sun, while selling any excess back to the grid.

I came across this forum while googling for what the acceptable standards are for US household voltage. I found a couple of old threads and most seemed to indicate plus or minus 5% of 120 volts, but in my experience here in NE Ohio, my house sees over 130 volts quite often in the springtime, before my utility changes their xfmr taps for summer loads (at least, I think that's the explanation...). The reason for my search is that my home power system has grid-tied inverters that don't like it when the voltage on either 120 volt leg rises above 130.

I'd suspect heat or cheap parts kills your ps's over voltage differences.

another take..
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mains_electricity

In the United States[18][19] and Canada,[20] national standards specify that the nominal voltage at the source should be 120 V and allow a range of 114 V to 126 V (RMS) (−5% to +5%). Historically, 110 V, 115 V and 117 V have been used at different times and places in North America.[citation needed] Mains power is sometimes spoken of as 110 V; however, 120 V is the nominal voltage.