Pain and suffering caused by power plugs, or, is something burning?

To the manaufacturers of all electronic goodies that use “wall wart” or otherwise external power supplies that plug in with those little cylindrical plugs I plead: Make the plugs different! Make your devices immune to incorrect power! Label the power supply with what it’s for!

Last night, I wanted to see if my DSL connection had been transferred to my new address so I rummaged around and found the DSL modem and the wireless router and their power supply thingies. The modem’s power supply is plainly labeled with the maker’s name and has a unique plug. I plugged the DSL modem into the appropriate phone jack and turned it on. The “ready” light comes on, so it appears I have service. Yay!

I plug the router in and at about the same moment I realize it’s not lighting up, it’s sending out smoke signals. I yank the plug, but it’s too late. As the acrid smell of charred silicon permates the room, I realize that I plugged the router into an incorrect power supply. At a quick glance, they look alike. Black plastic blocks the approximate size of two side-by-side sticks of butter with cords coming out of either end. One says something like “Shin Mei” and 5.0 volts, 2.0 amps and the other says “Ling Wah” and 12 volts, 4 amps. Obviously, I was supposed to use Shin Mei with the router, but it’s too late.

Why the fuck can’t the goat-felching, moat-belching asshat manufacturers at least put a label on these damn power supplies that at a minimum has their brand name on it and better yet, says what particular thing it’s for? For want of a 1-cent sticker, a three week old, $130 router has gone up in smoke.

Now, I have to call the manufacturer to RMA the damn thing and get it replaced. I realize that I was the one that plugged it into the wrong power and cooked it, BUT, I’m not the one that didn’t label the power supply or make it immune to being plugged into a nearly identical and similarly unlabeled laptop power supply.

You’re buying a new router, right?

'Nuf said.

I hear in heaven they have a different shaped plug for each voltage rating.

You can make your own labels with Masking Tape and a Sharpie.
-It works for me.

Bill Howard of PC Magazine is on my side and in his latest column says:

(bolding mine)

From the same page, you’ll also find Bill Machrone describing the factory-installed smoke and Bad Smell components, the release of either causing the device to fail.