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How to test the laptop power brick

Hello Experts! Typically when a client has a problem with their laptop not getting power, I spend a while trying to figure out if it's the power brick or something in the laptop. How do you test the power brick to see if it is producing a charge? I hate billing time for something I can make into a quick check.

The laptop I am working on now turns on for a couple of seconds and then shuts down. Even if it's plugged into the wall. I took the battery out and ran it that way with the same results. The client told me that she had her DSL modem plugged in next to the laptop charger and during the last storm we had, the laptop and DSL modem wouldn't power on (she had it replaced). So I need to know if it's a power strike that smoked the laptop or if the power brick caught the brunt of the surge and is acting funny. The power brick does light up with a green LED. Thanks for the help Experts.

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

rid

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samiam41

ASKER

rid -> Thanks for the information. I hate messing with electricty but it sounds like I will have to get over it to try this out. I have a voltmeter and some other device that came in this huge box of tools. It has a light bulb and two clamps (red and black). I suppose I can use the bulb and measure the load with the voltmeter.

Good work. I will try it. If I haven't respond in a few days, I probably got electrocuted. : )

rid

Let's hope you survive.... a bulb should be like 20-24 V and no less than 25 W (and no more than 40 W), so it's not your ordinary 230 V bulb. Finding a 7-10 Ohm resistor that can handle 25 W might be easier, if you have some sort of electronics shop available. Mind you, the resistor will heat up considerably, so make the test a short one and place it on a non-inflammable surface.

Good luck!
/RID

SOLUTION

nobus