We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Hardware

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is a DC Jack?

By Mike Howells
Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 50,511
Share

A DC jack is a component used in many electronic devices that allows a steady power source to be plugged in. Though electronics require direct current (DC) power, alternating current (AC) is the type of electricity supplied to and available in household wall sockets, mainly because of its ability to be delivered over long distances without losing strength. Therefore with most electronics, an AC adapter connected to a DC jack is necessary to supply power in a usable way.

Unlike AC plugs, which are uniform and regulated on a country-by-country basis, DC jacks and plugs, which are technically referred to as coaxial power connectors, are generally not standardized. Many electronics manufacturers have their own proprietary AC adapters, also known as power bricks, which employ unique sizes of DC jacks. Currently Germany and Japan are the only countries that have attempted to issue standards for DC jack sizes. Different AC adapters and DC jacks can vary in many ways, ranging from voltage to physical diameter.

Given the fragile nature of electronic circuitry, power supplies from different devices should not be mixed and matched. A DC jack is designed to accept only one size of connector. While various sizes may indeed look similar, it can be potentially dangerous to try and pair an unsuitable power supply with a device.

While the most common DC jack connectors measure .21 inches (5.5mm) in diameter and .37 inches (9.5mm) in length, it is not unusual to encounter some that are much longer and wider. Though not an absolute rule, larger connectors typically indicate higher voltages. Sony® is notable for instituting a system for its devices that indicates voltage in this way.

With laptop computers in particular, a DC jack is susceptible to suffering from wear and tear over time. With frequent connections and disconnections, the jack itself can begin to loosen and wear down it its housing, allowing the connector to slip out and disrupt power. While do-it-yourself repair can restore a tight fit without expensive labor costs, soldering is required and, for amateurs, the risk of doing greater damage to the device can be considerable.

Less common than the DC jacks that pair with AC adapters are styles known as snap and lock connectors. These jacks are standardized, with an outer diameter of .394 inches (10 mm) and connecting pins of .06 inches (1.5 mm) in diameter. The outer jacket of a snap and lock connector is grooved in such a way that matches grooves inside the paired DC jack, offering a resilient physical connection. Examples of this design include the PS/2 connections used by some computer keyboards and mice.

Share
EasyTechJunkie is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
By anon955760 — On Jun 09, 2014

A magnetic jack is brilliant as long as they do not interfere with all of the other components.

By Logicfest — On Mar 02, 2014

It is very true that the DC jack is often the weak link on a laptop. A good solution to that problem is from the Apple world where some laptops have abandoned the traditional DC jack in favor of a magnetic connection. Even some laptops that have the traditional DC jack have gone away with soldering by securing the jacks in plastic or metal harnesses of some sort -- simply pluck out the old jack, slap in the new one, plug it into the motherboard through a cable and you're back up and running.

Share
https://www.easytechjunkie.com/what-is-a-dc-jack.htm
Copy this link
EasyTechJunkie, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

EasyTechJunkie, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.