Thread: tragedy striketh another

Just a little venting, pay no attention:

So, lo and behold, I had my little car computer working great off AC power, and then came that triumphant day, when I dragged all my goodies out to the car with my multimeter and tools to hook it all up.

Everything went great, in fact, my little opus 90w was starting up and shutting down great. I even had the remote trigger firing up my amp and the rca cables running line out to the amp.

I then took my wire cutters to my Gain/Xenarc (bought thru DSCustoms.com) monitor (since I couldn't find an acceptable plug to replace the AC power cable). I read off in the manual and I quote:

"If you cannot find an identical power plug, cut off the included plug and connect +12 Volt to the pin line (should be the one with writing, please check with a multimeter first). Connect the other line to ground and you have a power supply.

Easy, sleazy, I think to myself. I attach my 12 V (from the computer's daisy-chained 12V regulated power - the yellow line) to my multimeter (just to check with a multimeter first) to the cable with writing. Looks good to me, I say. I then hook it up to the wire with writing. I then connect black (ground) to the wire withOUT writing. I turn on the ignition, wait a few seconds, power to the computer, and hit the switch on the monitor. Nothing. Uh-oh, I think.

I tried a few things, before I took the elevator back up to my condo just to check to see if the monitor is still working, and alas back on AC power it will not work.... Just for fun, I hook the multimeter up to the now cut AC adapter, and the F---ING line with writing is negative (indicating ground), and the one withOUT writing is postive 12 V.

So, I reversed current to my monitor and blew it out. I didn't smell anything, but it's definitely dead. And I really did follow the directions, it's just too bad I didn't "check with a multimeter first" the one that really mattered.

There goes my $400 monitor. I'm trying to purchase another one, or at least hear back from DScustoms.com about it, but haven't heard anything yet -- and can't find a number.

Oh well. Another set back. Oh, I also was one of those suckers who got an Epia M10000 C3--not the Epia 10000 Nehemiah. Good thing I remebered to vent about that.

Thanks for listening, back the the drawing board,
--
Charles Brian Quinn
seebq.com
Epia M10000 Nehemiah, 256MB, 40G, Slim Slot-Load DVD/CDRW, Wireless, XP Pro, Windows Media Player 9, Custom Skin