I recently discovered an old Creative Inspire P5800 sound system that seems to be in great condition, except for one major issue: the power supply unit (PSU) is missing. Creative made a questionable choice by using an AC to AC PSU that steps down from 220V/110V AC to 13.5V AC at 5A. The problem is, I can't find a replacement PSU at a reasonable price; the ones available are primarily from US sellers, and shipping to the EU along with customs fees would cost around 80-100€. I've considered using an electronic transformer that converts AC 220V to AC 12V, which typically costs about 10-15€. My concern is whether this lower voltage is acceptable and if it's safe to use such a transformer for a speaker system, given that it's designed for halogen lights. Anyone have insights on this?
2 Answers
I found an eBay listing for a PSU priced at $42, which is a pretty decent option if you're willing to deal with shipping costs. Beyond that, it seems like you might have to bite the bullet and cover those shipping fees from US sellers.
Using a slightly lower voltage like 12V should generally be fine—it won't damage the system as long as you don't exceed the voltage rating. Many times, these older systems can handle a bit of variance. Also, I wouldn't be shocked if it runs just fine with DC, as Creative might have skimped by using a simple transformer and having the rectifier inside. Check out this guide I found; someone else modified a similar system and it seemed to work well for them! [Guide Link](https://x86macerasi.blogspot.com/2018/04/speaker-with-ac-adapter-so-make-it-work.html) Let me know how it goes for you!
Sounds promising! I’m curious to see how it works out. Creative's decisions sometimes leave us scratching our heads, but I think this approach could help you revive that system.