Need 5volts from laptop

**arcane004** · 12-23-2003, 04:36 PM

Anyone know how I can get 5v from a laptop?
I need it to drive a CU20045SCPB-W5J-01 VFD display.
It requires 250mA.

Thanks!

**gospeed.racer** · 12-23-2003, 05:12 PM

Usb has 5v, but not sure how much you can draw off of it.

**davesaudio2** · 12-23-2003, 06:28 PM

why not just use a portable electronics(walkman etc) car adapter, univeral one that has multiple voltage settings?

**arcane004** · 12-23-2003, 11:37 PM

Originally Posted by davesaudio2

why not just use a portable electronics(walkman etc) car adapter, univeral one that has multiple voltage settings?

My thought as well. Just two questions.
I can only find a 4.5V adapter , will this be enough?
Any special grounding requirements I should keep in mind? Like will it be sufficient to connect +5V from adapter and GND from adapter to +5V and GND on the LCD?