Question

AC Power Adapters

Asked by: SEO_Computers

I have a query that I believe may sound a little silly but I am confused and would some help / advice.

I have recently had to purchase a new power adapter for my laptop which cost £55. I had then been told by a friend that I could of got a universal power adapter for £25 which would do the same job.

What apart from switching voltages is the advantage / disadvantage of getting a universal power adapter over a specific made power supply?

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Asked On
2009-07-29 at 02:44:06ID24608846
Topics

Miscellaneous Hardware

,

PC Laptops

Participating Experts
4
Points
500
Comments
5

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Answers

 

by: marksitwellPosted on 2009-07-29 at 02:53:52ID: 24968555

What type of laptop is it. Most adapters are about the same price.
Advantages are: -
You can use it on many laptops, if you have many.
You have a spare for your next laptop
Maybe slightly cheaper

Disadvantages
Probably voids your warranty
Rick of damaging the laptop with wrong voltage
Laptop may appear to work, but you may damage part of it, like you network card (seen that before)

Let me know the laptop and i'll try and find a cost of replacing the adapter for you

 

by: garycasePosted on 2009-07-29 at 09:11:44ID: 24971678

As long as you have the correct voltage and a high-enough current rating, you can use an alternate adapter with no problem.     But be CERTAIN that the pinout is correct -- if you have any doubts, don't use it.

Note that a higher-than-needed current rating is fine -- but NOT a higher voltage.

 

by: arthurjbPosted on 2009-07-29 at 13:05:08ID: 24974034

Besides the possibility of the wrong voltage, there is the possibility of the wrong polarity.

What I suggest to folks it to search for the model number of your power supply on ebay.  For many of the more popular models there are clones, not universal as your friend mentioned.

Also you may find someone selling a used one.  (Their laptop was stolen or broken beyond repair.)

Good Luck!!

 

by: AliokasPosted on 2009-07-30 at 12:31:09ID: 24983574

Addition to garycase's post:

If its a Dell laptop, then i would recommend to buy original one, because dell have sensor to check it.
If its Fujitsu-Siemens, Advent, Toshiba, Acer, ...  then go ahead with universal one, basicly you can go with universal AC adapter with no risk if its a 1 pin socket on the laptop.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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