Laptop Power Adapters

If you suddenly find yourself without a power source for your laptop, don’t worry, the AC adapters for laptops are abundant everywhere.  The laptop power adapters have a tendency to go bad fairly quick, especially if you are like me and are constantly on your laptop.

The AC in AC adapters stands for alternating current.  All laptops though are powered using a DC or direct current which simply means that it has a constant flow of power going into the laptop.  The AC adapters for those laptops basically convert the AC power into a DC power so your computer will charge and operate normally.

The AC adapter changes the power to a lower and smoother voltage supply so it does not fry or burn up your computer.  AC adapters can be used in cars or airplanes to convert the power into DC form from the cigarette lighter.

Finding the right replacement adapter for your laptop is easy to do.  First you need to figure out what kind of computer you have.  This includes the brand name or manufacturer, i.e HP, Dell, IBM, Apple, etc.

You also need to know the model number of your laptop.  This is a bit trickier to find but is usually located on the bottom side of your laptop on a small sticker.  If the sticker is gone or you just can’t find it, the model number of your laptop is also available on your computer.  Just look into the control panel under your system properties to find out exactly what type of computer you have.

The most important thing to find out is just how many watts your computer requires.  Too much will burn up your battery and too few just won’t charge it.  If you have the actual model number of your laptop this should be enough to determine how much wattage your computer will require.  Otherwise, if you are ordering away from the actual manufacturer you might need the wattage number.  Look right on the adapter pack of your current AC adapter.  It should say right on their how many watts and how many volts it has.  If not, contact the manufacturer for more information.

Finding the right AC adapter for laptops can be as easy as visiting your local computer store or simply ordering through the internet.  eBay, Overstock, and Amazon are just a few places online that al carry various laptop adapters.

If you have been having problems with your adapters and have ordered more than a few or if you have multiple laptops you might want to consider buying a universal laptop power adapter.  These will be able to fit for any laptop and you can adjust the wattage and voltage settings as needed.

When ordering online, be aware of shipping and handling costs.  Many companies will take this charge themselves, others will not.  You should also find out the policies and procedures of the company you are ordering from.  Most companies will offer a warranty on their AC adapters for laptops.