Hi folks, I'm not an EE but super into network engineering and got my hands on a 10BASE-T Netgear hub that I want to compare to my 1000BASE-T/Gigabit Netgear switch. Doing a comparison, I notice that the power on the back of the hub is labeled 7Vdc, whereas the switch is simply labeled 5V. Does this mean the switch uses AC power? Is there an implied AC if it's not labeled DC?

I'm sort of aware of the very basic differences between AC/DC power but overall, I'm just looking for interesting things between the two of them and how I should be powering them. Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

You are not reading the labels very carefully.
The picture on the left shows 7.5 Volts DC and it consumes 1 Ampere of current for a maximum power draw of 7.5 watts
The picture on the right shows 5 Volts DC and it appears to consume 0.7 Amperes for a maximum power draw of 3.5 watts

There does not appear to be any role for an AC source. It's all DC.

 

symbol for DC and for AC

Sorry I cannot draw well. Something like that.

 

The solid line above the dashed line is a symbol for DC. It is also understood by those who do not read USA "english". In Dong gUong City, in CHINA, the trade electricians understand the symbol quite well. Just a slightly different language.

 

You are not reading the labels very carefully.

I actually did read them carefully, but I don't know how to read them, so. But thanks.

 

I actually did read them carefully, but I don't know how to read them, so. But thanks.

You may have read them approximately correctly, but 7.5 V ≠ 7 V. Recognizing this difference would be critical in finding an alternate power adapter.

 

Many of those unusual power adapter specifications are for the purpose of making a substitution more difficult. An old trick still used today.