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Almost all consumer power cords in the USA have the same voltage and nearly the same amps, so, while you are right, 99% you can just use any power cord.
I've never had a problem not worrying about the power cord specs.
E: I'm also talking about using the same kind of device. Do not try to nigger a washing machine cord into a USB phone cord, if that is even possible.
Now give me an example where I am wrong?
E2: I'll just say, my "crazy" life of almost 50 years, I've never had a problem.
Setting aside the incompatibility of proprietary plugs used on consumer devices in the Western Markets; what you are saying is categorically false. Voltage and amperage have wide and various applications across a variety of devices. Confusing or being ignorant of those differences can and will cause device/battery failure, sometimes catastrophically causing burn out, melting of capacitors, or even combustion with certain types of lithium or ion batteries.
Especially older versus newer adapters. The old heavy ones weren't usually regulated, so e.g. a 12V adapter would put out 17V open-circuit. Also a lot of them used negative-tip polarity instead of the near standard positive-tip now used. Then the older device would use an inefficient linear regulator. Some devices like routers (that I've seen) still use an internal (switching) regulator so you can feed them with more than 12V, but others expect regulated voltage.
Newer lightweight ones are almost all positive-tip and regulated. Cheapo devices have cheapo adapters which I wouldn't put on an expensive device. Also they tend to cut power when the current rating is exceeded, so for something needing a 2A 5V supply don't use your cheap 0.5A or 1A phone charger unless you want random device reset when it happens to actually need 2A.
Huh? Never had it ever occur.
I'm lucky.
It is worth being mindful of if you care about preserving the lifespan of power servos, motors and capacitors/alternators/adapters. Not saying it will cook them every time but it certainly can.
we used to pop polycom phones at work all the time, plugged an ATA ac adapter (48volts) into the phones power (24v), makes a pop and smells like ass.
Honestly though, if you know how to read, this is easily avoided.
Almost all consumer power cords in the USA have the same voltage and nearly the same amps
Input voltage yes, output voltage no. A USB power brick will output 5v, a laptop power brick might be 12v or 19v.
Amperage also varies, but that's less critical provided there's more than you need.
Polarity is also an issue, annoyingly there isn't an absolute standard on which side of the DC output is positive and which is negative.
Do not try to nigger a washing machine cord into a USB phone cord, if that is even possible.
You guys have DC washing machines?
You guys have DC washing machines?
Yeah, the Democrats.
No. No they don't. Not even close.
I wish I could hit you on the nose with a newspaper
Do you keep losing all your imaginary Internet points?
Anyway, I will accept the newspaper on my nose (my parents did way worse; not crying like a bitch). I was semi-bullshitting. While I use any power cord with impunity, nothing bad has happened so far in my almost 50 years of life.
E: My only really bad electrical moment was in an upper-hallway at my parents house trying to plug a vacuum cleaner plug into an exposed outlet while it was completely dark. I got a massive shock on that one. It rattled me. I went right back to trying to plug it in again in the dark. I was meant to die.
E2: And just recently, the microwave at my brother's house supposedly was spassing out. My sister tells me about it. I say to replace it. But I can't help myself. I say that I must see the problem. I turn it on. My sister is hiding around the corner. It is zapping and smoking. I give credit to my nephew who is standing side by side with me (I thought he was cowardly) staring at it as it is behaving like it will explode or do something really bad.
Oh sorry. I wasn't really referring to danger. Just the equipment not working properly. Many things use timing devices to calculate whatever math they need to do. low voltage can screw with results.
Most appliances that use any sort of power are large enough that they have everything internal and don't depend on the wall brick to sort out voltage and current.
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