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AC laptop adapters...substitutes ok?
Old 10-04-2009, 08:55 AM   #1
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AC laptop adapters...substitutes ok?

Well, as we speak I only have about 1.5 hrs of battery life left on my laptop. My AC Adaptor appears to have fried out - green light doesn't come on when I plug it in. I did some research on the web, and it appears this is a common problem with my laptop (it's a Dell Inspiron 1525). I've only had it maybe a year or two.

I researched the Dell site and even they don't list an adaptor that is compatible with my laptop. I called them, and the tech guy told me the part number that should work, but when I double checked it on their website, it still didn't officially list my model computer as compatible. So I'm thinking - if Dell wants to sell me a $69 AC Adaptor that doesn't officially list my computer as compatible, why not order something from Amazon or Radio Shack that isn't "Dell", but runs more around $25? However, I don't want to fry my laptop by being cheap!

DH will be able to help me with this (he's a techie), but he's at work right now, so I thought I'd pick your brains...lots of computer techie's right here!

Any advice is welcomed. Of course, I may not reply, b/c my laptop may soon be dead!

Adaptor: 65 watt
Input: AC 100-240V-1.5A, 50-60 Hz
Output: DC 19.5 V, 3.34A
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Old 10-04-2009, 10:04 AM   #2
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Make sure the output on the adapter matches. 19.5V is a bit unusual, but some of those adapters are variable output. And make sure the plug matches. If your laptop is listed as compatible, both should match.

I left my adaptor in an airport once, and had to buy a generic kind with variable output and lots of different plugs, and got a combo that matched, and it seemed to work fine.
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Old 10-04-2009, 10:14 AM   #3
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Quite likely that you'd be fine with a knock-off, but I understand the worry. There are plenty on eBay.

I have two adapters so that I can leave me laptop at two locations in the house, but I don't remember how I got the extra one.
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Old 10-04-2009, 10:14 AM   #4
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I had my laptop power supply fizzle out on me as well. I went to Fry's and they had a universal power supply with many different tips. It was about $60 -- and now will work on both of my husband's and my laptops.
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Old 10-04-2009, 10:30 AM   #5
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I paid too much at best buy for a universal power supply ($100), but I was under the gun and could not afford to have my main laptop out of service (with some critical files that I needed to access ASAP). I have since learned to make sure I have an immediate backup of critical files on my notebook, flashdrive, and archive backup drive.

I believe you need to ensure that you have the same or more power output (watts).
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Old 10-04-2009, 11:02 AM   #6
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Any supply should work if:
  1. It is rated 19.5v;
  2. It is rated 3.34A/65W or more;
  3. It has a plug of the same size and polarity (i.e. the positive and negative terminals are the same)...
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Old 10-04-2009, 12:38 PM   #7
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Thanks everyone! DH just looked at it, and by his magic touch it is now working again. I swear he is like the Fonz.

He is not convinced it is totally fried...going to keep an eye on it, but I am now prepared. I found what appears to be an exact match on E-bay (thanks T-Al), and it meets all the specs you guys outlined. And only about $20.

Oh, and I do keep all of my files backed up on a jump drive. I learned that the hard way a few years ago...but a scare like this is always a good reminder!

If it fries completely and I purchase one on ebay, I'll let you guys know how it works. Thanks again for all of the feedback!
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Old 10-04-2009, 02:30 PM   #8
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If he was McGyver, he could make you a new power supply with a coat hanger, a stick of gum, a light bulb, and a shaker of salt. But you wouldn't have it until 3 seconds before your job or some critical deadline depended on having it powered up.
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Old 10-04-2009, 03:17 PM   #9
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On Dell's, the motherboard contains the battery-charger circuitry. It often fries before the AC-adapter is dead. So what happens is that you can't charge your battery in your laptop, but you can still use your computer either via the AC-adapter or by charging your battery elsewhere (like another laptop).
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Old 10-04-2009, 04:12 PM   #10
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My Dell Inspiron now boots up with a message that the battery isn't recognized, and cannot be charged. I can hit a key to continue. I read up on it, and it would appear that the battery is going out.

It's not a huge deal, because I almost always run on AC power, but sometimes I move it to another place in the house, so I don't want the battery to totally die. I thought I'd monitor and see how much life it has left doing those quick moves. Well, the plug went out once and it drained almost all the way down. I plugged it in, and got the charge back up to a bit over an hour. That's happened a couple of times now, and it still recharges. So it looks like I'm ok, except that I have to hit a key during startup, and only have about an hour or so of battery life.

Any idea what's up with that?
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Old 10-06-2009, 08:45 AM   #11
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There are external batteries that can be connected to the AC imput line to extend battery use.
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