If the device says something like “DC-12V-IN”, will any 12V AC adapter with the correct connector work?
And why don’t they mark the adapter somehow so it’s obvious which device it goes with?
In: Technology
There are a few different factors that need to be considered:
* AC vs DC
* Voltage. The power source needs to provide a voltage within this range. For DC, its likely a low single number.
* Wattage or amperage. The power source needs to be able to support *at least* this amount. Wattage and amperage are *not* the same: `watts = amps * volts`.
* If DC, there should be an indictor for polarity. This is typically shown as a half circle with a dot inside linked to a + and – symbol. Some devices don’t care about polarity, but many will.
* If AC, there should be a frequency listed, or a range of frequencies. In the US, this will typically be 60 or a range that includes 60.
If the input matches *all* of those, you can use it if the plug fits.
As such, the information you provided is not enough. You know you need a 12V DC power supply, but you fail to specify the required polarity and the required wattage.
Many devices do use fairly unique connector types, however that has the drawback that it is much harder to replace the charger if it breaks or gets lost.
That problem is part of the reason USB has taken over a lot of DC charging systems. Its a single standard specification that can support a *huge* range of DC inputs by design, while also being able to be used for communication. The drawback is that USB requires a lot more complexity for the device, cable, and charger – you need a fairly complex computer chip in each, even if only using it for power.
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