Buying cheaper replacement laptop power supplies

Laptop power supplies come in all shapes and sizes and it seems that nearly every one is different from every other one. Not only do they have different plugs that go into the laptop but they often have different plugs that go from the mains supply into the laptop ac adapter itself. The chances are quite high that a laptop ac adapter from one laptop will not fit another laptop, even if it is made by the same manufacturer and even if it does, you should be careful to check a few things first.

Part of the reason that laptop manufacturers make it so that you cannot swap the ac adapters is so that you don’t accidentally give your laptop too much power, or the wrong sort of power and this is great from a safety point of view, but it also means that laptop manufacturers can charge the earth for a new adapter if yours happens to break.

It is possible to buy replacement ones made by other companies and there are various websites who will sell third party laptop power supplies that will fit the vast majority of laptops ever made. As long as you know the model of your laptop, the size of the plug that fits into the laptop and you know the voltage and current that your original adapter gave out, it should be relatively easy to make a selection.

You can find the information on the voltage and power written on your original adapter and some typical figures would be a voltage of 19v and a power of 90W. Most modern power supplies will take just about any mains voltage from 100 to 240v though you will have to make sure that you order the proper mains plug for your country when you get the power supply. If in doubt, ask the company you are buying the replacement power supply from if this one is compatible with your model.