"HotRod" <NoSpam@YourEmail.com> hath wroth:

> I have two Linksys WRT54G V1.? wireless routers that are designed to run
>on 5V DC.

Actually, the WRT54G/GS will run on anything between 3.7VDC and about
18VDC. The internal switching regulator has a very wide input voltage
range. For my WRT54G v1.1:
Volts Amps
15 0.25
12 0.3
5 0.8
4 1.0


>A few weeks ago both routers, located at different locations 1/2
>km apart failed. Upon further investigation I've determinded that the power
>supplies both failed at the same time, however there was still enough power
>to keep the lights up and running but the routers would not complete their
>diagnostic test and just left the diagnostic light on.

Yep. The original v1.x WRT54G routers used 5V 2A(?) power supplies.
They were junk. I've lost 2 or 3 of them at various locations. Later
revisions use 12V 1A power supplies which had a better survival
record.

> I grabber a 5v power supply from on of our other Linksys routers and
>both "wrecked" routers started functioning normally, SO I found some 5V DC
>power supplies from other sources, tested them with a meter and then plugged
>them into the routers. THEY DON'T WORK.

I'll assume that "they don't work" means that the lights don't turn
on.

Careful. Just because they say 5V doesn't mean that they will work.
You need to verify that it has the proper connector. If the hole in
the power supply connector is too large, it won't make a connection.
Same with current rating. If it draws 0.8A at 5VDC, then methinks the
minimum rated current should be 1.5A. Any less and it will probably
get quite warm.

Of course, it has to be 5VDC, not AC and should be a positive center
pin, not a negative. Use a digital volts guesser if you're not sure.
If you plugged in an AC or reverse polarized adapter, you probably
fried the internal protection diode. It's a fairly easy replacement.

>What is so unique about the Linksys
>5V powersupply? I ended up trying three different styles of power including
>taking 5V DC from a USB port.

5V from a USB port is current limited to 1A total. You might be able
to run the WRT54G from a USB port, but I suspect the initial inrush
current (charging the cazapitors) might cause the USB overcurrent
protection to cause the port to shut down.

>IDEAS, COMMENTS.

Beware the ideas of March.

--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@comix.santa-cruz.ca.us
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558