Where can I get a power cord for this old machine?

April 25, 2007 5:34 PM

What kind of power cord will fit into this old EMG machine?

I have an EMG biofeedback machine that was bought in the 1980s ("Cyborg J33" is the model name). All parts are there except for the power cord, which seems to have been lost. I want to get a new power cord so I can get the machine to work again, but I can't figure out what kind of power cord will fit into the back sockets. There are two holes, one 3mm in diameter and one 2mm. Their centers are 13mm apart.

What kind of power cord might I use to plug this thing in? Were there any kind of standard power cords from the 1980s that are no longer used? I can't find any information on this machine on the web, except for a bunch of articles on medical research experiments that employed this machine. The company does not seem to exist any longer.

In case it's of value to anyone, here is a picture of a similar model, though from the front.

posted by wireless to Technology (10 answers total)

theres not enough info in your photo to tell what the power cord should look like. Can you post a photo of the sockets?
posted by postergeist at 6:02 PM on April 25, 2007

If you post a pic of the socket we might be able to identify it for you.

If it were my machine, and it wasn't some collectible item, I'd open it up, remove the old power socket and put in a standard IEC socket, like what most computers use, since the cords for those are cheap and widely available. It's not rocket science but it would help to be a little handy and know a bit about electricity. The most complicated part would be actually cutting the hole since most IEC sockets fit a rectangular-ish hole. If the item is potentially worth something significant in the future I'd remove the old socket but wire in a cord exiting through the hole, keeping the old socket taped inside the machine. That way it can be returned to near stock condition if ever need be.
posted by 6550 at 7:12 PM on April 25, 2007

One further note, my comments only address an appliance running on standard mains power, which is likely indicated by something like 115 (120/220/240) VAC on the rear. It's a possibility that it runs off DC, in which case it might mention something like 15 VDC 3 A on the rear. If it's the latter then you need to purchase an appropriate power supply which converts the AC mains to the right voltage DC.
posted by 6550 at 7:16 PM on April 25, 2007

Well, I found a picture of the front of it, but not of the back ... is this what you have?

http://www.kroslakent.com/imgshop/product/003870.jpg

If so, these guys might be able to help you out:
Kroslak Enterprises, Inc.
Riverview, Florida U.S.A.

They're a used medical equipment dealer and apparently were trying to unload one of those machines at one point.

A long time ago, I got a cable that I needed for an old Burdick EKG machine by calling up a bunch of medical supply stores and asking...it was so old (1960s) that eventually one of the places just sent me one for free.
posted by Kadin2048 at 7:30 PM on April 25, 2007

Response by poster: Thanks for the replies, guys.

Here's a link to a picture I took of the back of the machine. Unfortunately, there's no text on it.

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u189/wireless_photo/Photo_042507_002.jpg
posted by wireless at 7:54 PM on April 25, 2007

Well ... I can't really tell from that photo, but are you sure that both holes are part of the same connection? I've never seen a connector quite like that, and although it's possible that it might exist, I just wonder if only one of those is the power, maybe a coaxial plug (think of the plug on most laptops ... it's just one hole but there is an inner center connector and an outer shield; usually the tip is hot and the ring is ground), and the other connector is something else entirely.

You might have to go digging for this one. Opening up the machine would probably let you know for sure. Alternately, a good closeup photo or examination of the plugs might allow you to tell whether each one is only one conductor, or whether there are two contacts in each.
posted by Kadin2048 at 8:08 PM on April 25, 2007

It's hard to say but it looks like it might be a DC type connector, unless it's not the power input and is related to some medical use. Can you take a better pic of the entire back? This may be way too obvious but look on the bottom of the machine to see if there is any further info, especially relating to power.

Your best bet may be to contact the company with the info Kadin2408 provided and ask them for a cord and/or documentation on the device. I'd also probably open it up just to see if it was obvious to me what type of supply it wants. If the pic is indeed of the power socket, and it runs on AC it'd be really easy to remove the socket and run a power cord out the hole.
posted by 6550 at 8:12 PM on April 25, 2007

Response by poster: Here are two more photos. Although they don't reveal that much more, I did observe that the two metal rings are "corrugated" on their outsides; that is, it seems like you are supposed to screw something on the outside of them, rather than just plugging something in the inside of the ring.

closeup 1
closeup 2

I'm going to try to contact the company, although as Kadin2048 said, they're just a used medical equipment reseller. Next is finding someone around me who knows electronics; maybe someone at an electronics store?

Thanks again.
posted by wireless at 9:09 PM on April 25, 2007

An electronics store, at least the type that sells tvs and computers and such, almost certainly isn't the place to take the device. A repair place, possibly computer but tv would be a better bet, might be able to help but it will probably cost quite a bit. If you were my friend I'd take a look just out of curiosity so do you have any friends into electronics and circuits?
posted by 6550 at 12:41 AM on April 26, 2007

It's an EMG, so a power supply for it would probably have to have FDA low leakage specs... I forget which ones. Might explain the odd nature of the connector. Often, such connectors are made 'proprietary' as opposed to general purpose to make SURE someone doesn't just connect a spare PC power brick and get their ass electrocuted.

Medical grade power supplies aren't that hard to find... and you can probably replace it with one from Digi-key if you are willing to open it up and discover its power requirements. PAY ATTENTION TO THIS MEDICAL GRADE ISSUE. Inadvertently connecting mains power to your body is a potentially fatal mistake, and leakages can kill you. The safest thing is to contact the manufacturer. If they are out of business, your personal efforts to reanimate this device may expose you to some hazard, so beware.

It may also be that it's battery powered, which makes things somewhat safer, and it may use some sort of rechargeable battery pack instead of a plug-in. Lots of biofeedback devices are battery powered. (Most bio signals are pretty small and power mains noise is sometimes something that is easily avoided with battery power.)

Too much info... sorry! (I don't have time to write something shorter!)
posted by FauxScot at 2:21 AM on April 26, 2007