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    Power supply

    Discussion in 'Gateway and eMachines' started by sonido, Jan 20, 2007.

  1. sonido

    sonido Newbie

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    If my power supply is rated for 18.5 volts 4.9amps and I tested it with a multimeter and it said it was running at 18.99-19 volts would this cause my laptop not to power up? Please help me.



    ps: sorry this should have been added to my other post
     
    sonido, Jan 20, 2007
    #1
  2. John Ratsey

    John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator

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    1. What is the accuracy of your multimeter? digitial meters may give Apparently accurate readouts but are actually +/-5% or more.

    2. If you measured the voltage when the PSU was not connected to the computer then a slightly higher voltage is normal. The voltage will drop a little due to internal resistance when the PSU is connected.

    3. I would expect that the computer's internal electronics could handle about 1V either way from the rated voltage.

    So no cause for panic.

    John
     
    John Ratsey, Jan 20, 2007
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  3. sonido

    sonido Newbie

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    So there must be something else causing it not to power up. That sucks. I've stripped the it down to the bare motherboard and tried powering it up and still no go.
     
    sonido, Jan 20, 2007
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  4. Airman

    Airman Band of Gypsys NBR Reviewer

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    Maybe your motherboard is fried, It's happend to me before in the past.
     
    Airman, Jan 20, 2007
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  5. John Ratsey

    John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator

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    I have come across defective power supplies which show the right voltage at no load but can't deliver the current. The only way to test this is by either creating a dummy load for the PSU (effectively a laboratory exercise) or using another PSU.

    John
     
    John Ratsey, Jan 20, 2007
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