So I got me a Netgear Nighthawk X8. Fancy mama router, worked real great–until a big-arsed bolt o’ lightnin’ fried the power supply six ways from sunset. Now here’s my dilemma. Netgear, bafflingly, does not make replacement power supplies, nor, when I asked them, could they point me to an authorized supplier of power supplies for their gear. Their representative simply said “buy one on eBay.” Problem with that is the “Netgear” power supplies one finds on eBay and Amazon are all Chinese knock-offs that blow up.
So now I am at a loss. Anyone got any idea where I can find a legit power supply for this router?
If you do this, be sure to save the old one, as you may need to transplant and splice the barrel jack. They are not standardized and come in a zillion sizes and configurations. Make sure you get the + and - sides right, as well.
Thanks, guys, for your response. Yeah, I was reading a review of a supposedly legit power supply for this unit earlier on Amazon and the guy mentioned needing an adapter for the connector. Jeez, though, you’d think a company as big as Netgear would license their name to a reliable electronics manufacturer to produce replacement power supplies for their devices.
Since the router appears to cost $365, it would be churlish just to expect the OP just to live with it and buy a new one.
I’ve never had a router suffer an accident; but I would seek a repair before junking it — the only worry would be if the lightning damaged the router’s electronics as well as the PS; only to be found out with a new PS…
They really should supply replacement parts. I note that some chap asked on the Billion [ my favourite maker ] forums regarding a replacement and the admin got one to him.
On the Netgear forums they confirm they don’t supply them, but say any compatible item will do. ( post 06 ).
It really should not be hard to find a replacement power supply. Take the router to a Goodwill or Radioshack (are they still around?) or Microcenter or similar. Find something with the right DC output voltage and amperage and make sure it connects. Plug it in at the store, see if it lights up, and if so you should be good to go.
Also, get a surge protector and plug all your electronics behind it. Let that be what blows up/melts next time…
This site does a good job with the basics of how to read power supply specs.
Match the voltage, be sure the amps are the same or higher than your device requires. Be really sure to get the tip polarity right. Once you know that, getting a tip that physically fits is the trickiest part.
There are plenty of generic replacement Laptop power supplies at 19V ~4A, and they usually come with interchangable tips/polarities for a variety of laptops.
If Netgear are using 19V switched-mode power supplies for the router, then they are probably leveraging existing laptop equipment and adapters.
If a destructive current was incoming to that power supply, then where was an outgoing current flowing? It is called electricity. If current is incoming on AC mains, then at the exact same time, that same current is also outgoing into a Netgear router. How do you know that router is good? Most damage never has a visual indication.
President of Sony was on Koppel one night explaining how he had suitcases full of power supplies. Because even Sony did not bother to standardize their power supplies. It is easy. View a volt number for that supply. 9 volts? 12 volts? Ironically, the Netgear (like most electronics) will often have another single chip power supply inside to create 5 volts or 3.3 volts. Any voltage from 7 to 16+ would be good. That says how many electronic devices could all be powered from the same one standard supply - if the industry had more engineers and less business school graduates in top management.
Meanwhile, you had no effective protection or made damage easier by using a nearby power strip protector. That damage is directly traceable to your mistake. You did not earth that transient BEFORE it could enter your building. How many other appliances (most less robust) were also not protected?
First, you have no idea that a Netgear router still works. Second, you all but invited a surge inside to hunt for earth ground destructively. So it did so. Direct lightning strikes without damage (even to a protector) is routine if ‘whole house’ protection and (far more important) single point earth ground are learned.