Maximum Temperature for a Plug?

[jessadamessa]

Our house has an alarm system from the 90's that was installed by the previous owners. The keypad is downstairs and the entire system gets power from a plug upstairs. Here's a pic:

The box, not the wire, gets very hot. I put an IR Thermometer on it and it read 170 degF. How hot is too hot? Is there a spec that states what too hot is (UL, etc.)? Thanks for the help.

Jesse

 

[pentavolvo]

im pretty sure i have a brand new of that same exact transformer. its for alarm systems. get the specs off it and if its same ill send it to you

 

[goneflyin2002]

Hi Jesse,
They do get warm, but yours gets too hot... scary!
I have one on my garage alarm, it's a black one about the same size and it only gets lukewarm.
Ditch yours and replace it!
Here's a link to where I got mine.
http://www.aartech.ca/fps-2012-atc-frost-plug-in-ac-adapter-12vac-20va.html
Good eye man, better to do it now before it melts down on ya.

Don

 

[Teken]

Our house has an alarm system from the 90's that was installed by the previous owners. The keypad is downstairs and the entire system gets power from a plug upstairs. Here's a pic:

The box, not the wire, gets very hot. I put an IR Thermometer on it and it read 170 degF. How hot is too hot? Is there a spec that states what too hot is (UL, etc.)? Thanks for the help.

Jesse

Jesse,

170 F is 76.66 'C that is FN hot! Unplug the transformer and confirm how many VA this transformer outputs. This information will be stamped on the underside of the transformer.

You can't just replace it with anything. It must be rated the same VA to provided the required current to the alarm panel.

The transformer is going to be either 12 volts for 99% of alarm panels. But, you could have a 24 volt too, so check.

Next, you need to know what the voltage output is required. More than likely it will be 16.5 VAC.

Teken . . .

 

[jessadamessa]

Got it unplugged...thanks a ton fellas.

Specs are 16.5VAC and 20VA. Pentavolvo, I'll gladly take yours if you let me cover shipping plus give you some beer money...let me know if your specs match. Does it matter which wire goes where when installing? Thanks again yall!

 

[jessadamessa]

Oh yeah...and sorry for calling the transformer a plug

 

[Midnight_America]

Is your panel an ademco? That power supply looks like one of the old Ademco powers supplies. Mine ran so hot for so many years that the white/beige plastic turned brown in places from the heat. It was still sluppying the proper voltage and current though. I complained to ADT and they replaced it for free two years ago.

 

[Teken]

Got it unplugged...thanks a ton fellas.

Specs are 16.5VAC and 20VA. Pentavolvo, I'll gladly take yours if you let me cover shipping plus give you some beer money...let me know if your specs match. Does it matter which wire goes where when installing? Thanks again yall!

The transformer is AC, so it doesn't matter where the wires goes on the screws.

Teken . . .

 

[ishiboo]

The transformer is AC, so it doesn't matter where the wires goes on the screws.

Teken . . .

Well, true in this case bot not for AC in general of course

 

[theoldwizard1]

You can't just replace it with anything. It must be rated the same VA to provided the required current to the alarm panel.

Actually, you want the same voltage and at a minimum, the same VA. Higher VA with the same output voltage is acceptable and possibly beneficial.

 

[pentavolvo]

mine is 24vac so it wont work for you but this one will and not too pricey

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HONEYWELL-A...967?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cccfb872f

 

[jessadamessa]

Yall are awesome...thanks for the help!

Jesse

 

[Big-Foot]

Make sure that the replacement is rated for the same or higher amp rating and the same voltage...

Using one rated for a lower amp rating will cause it to get excessively warm/hot.