Laptop charger

[Mark Hancock]

Is there a way of checking if a laptop charger is working. We have a Compaq laptop from the daughter which shows no sign of life when the charger is plugged in. Just want to check if it's worth trying keeping the laptop - I'm assuming at the moment that no power is getting to it

 

[KevM]

Do you have a multimeter? If so, worth checking to see what it's putting out. I've had a laptop which showed no signs of life until I removed the battery, a dead cell was holding the whole battery down and even with the charger connected nothing happened, with the battery removed all was fine, a replacement battery from Ebay and all was well. Clearly this is easier said than done if you don't have a removable battery...

 

[Spindle]

Hi

Guess you don't have a multi meter then.

Does the charger hum when put to your ear? - Indicating power is getting to it, ie plug fuse is OK

Do you have a 12v automotive bulb you could briefly put across the output to see if it lights up? - use straightened out paper clips for conductors if no other wire available.

Regards Mick

 

[Mark Hancock]

Thanks for the replies.

Have tried without the battery in the laptop but with no joy. There is no light indicating the laptop is on mains supply. Have checked the fuse and that's okay.

I don't have a multi meter so will try the car bulb idea. At the moment I'm thinking it's the cable from the charger that is at fault. We'll see

 

[Harbo]

Plenty of cheap laptop chargers on the bay - I've just bought one for £11.

Rod

 

[MMUK]

Just be wary of the eBay cheapies, they all come from Chiwan one way or another. They get very hot compared to the OEM ones.....

 

[JustBen]

Do you have another laptop you could try the cable in? A lot of the modern laptops share the same plug just run at different volts/amps. Don't forget to check polarity though.
Providing you are within the chargers range, it will work.
For instance, swimbos acer cable will power my compaq but won't charge it.

It's worth a blast.

Also if you do buy off eBay, you should only need 1 half of the cable. The kettle plug lead should be the same.
This makes it a bit cheaper.

She got a new lead for £5.

 

[tekno.mage]

Just be wary of the eBay cheapies, they all come from Chiwan one way or another. They get very hot compared to the OEM ones.....

And some of them even catch fire or explode - according to recent consumer TV progs.

 

[MMUK]

Just be wary of the eBay cheapies, they all come from Chiwan one way or another. They get very hot compared to the OEM ones.....

And some of them even catch fire or explode - according to recent consumer TV progs.

I bought a cheap one for my Toshiba. Ended up taking it out of the plastic case and fitting it into an aluminium heatsink sleeve, it was getting almost too hot to touch.

 

[JustBen]

The one swimbo bought is a cheap Chinese one and it actually stays cooler than the original acer one.
It's on all the time too.

 

[JustBen]

Just be wary of the eBay cheapies, they all come from Chiwan one way or another. They get very hot compared to the OEM ones.....

All chargers come from 'Chiwan'. OEM or replacements.

 

[MMUK]

Just be wary of the eBay cheapies, they all come from Chiwan one way or another. They get very hot compared to the OEM ones.....

All chargers come from 'Chiwan'. OEM or replacements.

The difference being that OEM ones are made to higher spec.

 

[SteveF]

and they not all the same lead

kettle
figure 8
mickey mouse

 

[KevM]

A useful reference for the bewildering array of power connectors: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEC_60320

I've got a couple of converters, ~1" long male to female adaptors that are designed for use with PAT testing equipment, that I use for travelling with just a single Thinplug/Flatplug power cable.

 

[JustBen]

Just be wary of the eBay cheapies, they all come from Chiwan one way or another. They get very hot compared to the OEM ones.....

All chargers come from 'Chiwan'. OEM or replacements.

The difference being that OEM ones are made to higher spec.

Mmmm..... I'm not convinced.
I'm sure some are but I wouldn't be surprised if most are made in the same factory and rebranded for each company

 

[AES]

@Mark Hancock:

QUOTE:
Have tried without the battery in the laptop but with no joy. There is no light indicating the laptop is on mains supply. Have checked the fuse and that's okay.
UNQUOTE:

I had a Compaq laptop in the past and IF I remember correctly, the design was such that without the battery fitted (or with the battery fitted but gone open circuit) then there was no way of getting mains into the thing. In other words, you MUST have a serviceable battery fitted, otherwise the light will not light up, even though the lead (and fuse in the plug) are both OK.

HTH
AES

 

[Mark Hancock]

Thanks for all the comments and help. It was the charger that faulty. I did the car bulb test and then had it confirmed at Maplins.

Now in the process of sorting it out so the misses can use it.

By the way it turns out the battery is also knackered but it still works with the mains charger plugged in.

Thanks again.

 

[Hudson Carpentry]

Ring mark at pcpuk.co.uk he supplies laptop psu's oem at very good prices. The cheap ebay ones I have had before and 3 in a row blow up within a week of each other.