Forum Discussion

Phil_C's avatar
Phil_C
Reel Rookie
2 years ago
Solved

Need a 12v DC power supply to use Roku Ultra 2024 in an RV

The headline says it all really. I need to find a suitable, or ideally a *recommended* 12v DC power cable (cigarette lighter style plug) to power a Roku Ultra 2024 in an RV. It would be horribly inefficient, not to mention expensive, to use an inverter to convert 12v DC to 120v AC, then use the standard PSU to convert 120v AC back to 12v DC. 

Does Roku recommend something, or has anyone in the community found an ideal adaptor that is working for them?

 

EDIT:

I just found the Power Adaptor thread which had eluded me before, and based on the information gleaned there, I'm going to try the following, which is center-positive, 2A, and has a variety of connector sizes.

DC 12V 2A Car Charger Universal Power Cord Cigarette Lighter 

 

TV & Player Setup
  • RokuRiamie-D's avatar
    RokuRiamie-D
    2 years ago

    Hi Phil_C,

    Welcome to the Roku Community!

    We are more than happy to share additional information regarding the power adapter for the Roku Ultra 2024.

    The power adapter provides 12V 1.5 amps. If you find a travel adapter for the RV that meets these criteria and fits the device, it should function properly. We recommend not using a 2-amp adapter, as it may deliver excessive power, which could lead to issues with the device.

    We hope you find this information helpful.

    Regards,
    Riamie

4 Replies

  • jamesa08's avatar
    jamesa08
    Newbie
    17 days ago

    I know this post is old, but just wanted to clarify something — the current rating (amps) on a power supply doesn’t actually “push” power into the device. That’s not how it works physically. What matters is the voltage — it has to be 12 V.

    The amps just tell you the maximum current the adapter can supply if the device needs it. The Roku will only draw what it requires (around 1.5 A). So a 12 V 2 A adapter is completely fine — even better, since it’ll run cooler and have more headroom.

    It’s simple physics: the device controls how much current it takes; the power supply doesn’t force it in. The only thing that can actually cause damage is giving it the wrong voltage, not “too many amps.”

  • RokuRiamie-D's avatar
    RokuRiamie-D
    Community Moderator
    2 years ago

    Hi Phil_C,

    Welcome to the Roku Community!

    We are more than happy to share additional information regarding the power adapter for the Roku Ultra 2024.

    The power adapter provides 12V 1.5 amps. If you find a travel adapter for the RV that meets these criteria and fits the device, it should function properly. We recommend not using a 2-amp adapter, as it may deliver excessive power, which could lead to issues with the device.

    We hope you find this information helpful.

    Regards,
    Riamie

    • Phil_C's avatar
      Phil_C
      Reel Rookie
      2 years ago

      Many thanks for the response! I double-checked the specifications for the model I am considering and see this detail noted:

      Output: DC12V 2A (Compatible with 0.5A, 0.75A, 1A, 1.5A and more lower 2A)

      As far as I can tell, that seems to be standard across cigarette lighter based DC supplies.

      I'll give it a try, and report back.

      With over 11 million RVs in the USA, and knowing how popular streaming is for those who travel a lot on their RVs, I am surprised at the dearth of *official* information about DC power options. The older USB powered devices, were less capable, but more predictable when looking for power options.

      • RokuRiamie-D's avatar
        RokuRiamie-D
        Community Moderator
        2 years ago

        Hi Phil_C,

        Thank you for your response.

        We appreciate your cooperation and understanding. Please don't hesitate to contact us again if you have concerns that you want to address.

        For further Roku support, you can:

        • Create a post here in the Roku Community
        • Check out the dedicated Roku Contact Us page for device or account issues.
        • Explore our comprehensive collection of help FAQs and videos. Get started here: Roku Support page

        Thank you for your understanding and continued participation in our community!

        Regards,
        Riamie