The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Can I modify a HP charger to work on a Dell Laptop?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by ahl395, Feb 8, 2010.

  1. ahl395

    ahl395 Ahlball

    Reputations:
    3,867
    Messages:
    8,218
    Likes Received:
    72
    Trophy Points:
    216
    heyy everyone.

    Crazy idea here... :D

    I have a Dell 1520 laptop charger that died. But i have a spare charger for my dv9700. Can I Cut the connector end off and solder the dell connector end to it?

    The Dell charger output is 19.5V / 4.62A
    The HP Charger output is 19V / 4.74A

    Thanks in advance. ;)
     
    ahl395, Feb 8, 2010
    #1
  2. moral hazard

    moral hazard Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    2,779
    Messages:
    7,957
    Likes Received:
    87
    Trophy Points:
    216
    Let me answer with this quote ;)

    So it should work :)

    Just make sure you get the polarity right.
     
    moral hazard, Feb 8, 2010
    #2
  3. ahl395

    ahl395 Ahlball

    Reputations:
    3,867
    Messages:
    8,218
    Likes Received:
    72
    Trophy Points:
    216
    Ok, thanks. new problem now.

    I cut the wires and pushed the sheilding back....

    In the HP, there is one center group of wires
    In the Dell, it looks like there is sheilding, then insulation, and then sheilding again... then the center wire.

    What do i do now..? are the center wires the only ones that matter?
     
    ahl395, Feb 8, 2010
    #3
  4. moral hazard

    moral hazard Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    2,779
    Messages:
    7,957
    Likes Received:
    87
    Trophy Points:
    216
    How many wires are there in the HP cable?
    I wouldn't expect more than 3.

    And the dell has only one wire? It needs a min of 2...

    Any pics?
     
    moral hazard, Feb 8, 2010
    #4
  5. ahl395

    ahl395 Ahlball

    Reputations:
    3,867
    Messages:
    8,218
    Likes Received:
    72
    Trophy Points:
    216
    Ok... here is the picture of both of them.


    [​IMG]
    Full size: http://i49.tinypic.com/23jr9rc.jpg

    Dell on the Left... HP is on the right.

    Wires that point to the left are what i thought are sheilding on both.
     
    ahl395, Feb 8, 2010
    #5
  6. moral hazard

    moral hazard Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    2,779
    Messages:
    7,957
    Likes Received:
    87
    Trophy Points:
    216
    Is the dell adapter 2 pin and the HP 3 pin?
     
    moral hazard, Feb 8, 2010
    #6
  7. ahl395

    ahl395 Ahlball

    Reputations:
    3,867
    Messages:
    8,218
    Likes Received:
    72
    Trophy Points:
    216
    Yep, exactly.
     
    ahl395, Feb 8, 2010
    #7
  8. moral hazard

    moral hazard Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    2,779
    Messages:
    7,957
    Likes Received:
    87
    Trophy Points:
    216
    Wait sorry I meant is the dell 3 pin and the HP 2 pin?

    Because then you wont have GND connected. The notebook should work, but it wont be grounded.

    Anyway, you need a multimeter to do a continuity test on the wires. You will have to leave the GND unconnected and just connect the other 2 wires.
     
    moral hazard, Feb 8, 2010
    #8
  9. ahl395

    ahl395 Ahlball

    Reputations:
    3,867
    Messages:
    8,218
    Likes Received:
    72
    Trophy Points:
    216
    No, the Dell is actually 2 pin... the HP three pin.
     
    ahl395, Feb 8, 2010
    #9
  10. moral hazard

    moral hazard Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    2,779
    Messages:
    7,957
    Likes Received:
    87
    Trophy Points:
    216
    Ok, that's good.

    Just leave the HPs third wire unconnected (the GND wire).

    Use a multimeter to test which wire it is.
     
    moral hazard, Feb 8, 2010
    #10
  11. ahl395

    ahl395 Ahlball

    Reputations:
    3,867
    Messages:
    8,218
    Likes Received:
    72
    Trophy Points:
    216
    ok... but the Dell is the one with the three internal wires. BUT has a two pin plug.

    The HP has two wires... and a three pin plug.
     
    ahl395, Feb 8, 2010
    #11
  12. moral hazard

    moral hazard Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    2,779
    Messages:
    7,957
    Likes Received:
    87
    Trophy Points:
    216
    moral hazard, Feb 8, 2010
    #12
  13. ahl395

    ahl395 Ahlball

    Reputations:
    3,867
    Messages:
    8,218
    Likes Received:
    72
    Trophy Points:
    216
    Ok, thanks very much :)

    What i found out was the Center wire in the dell is a communication wire between the laptop and power brick to make sure its the correct charger.

    So what i did, was just connect the Pos and Neg of the two cables. and ignored the communications wire.

    It Worked! :D

    before starting a BIOS message came up saying the charger cant be confirmed. but it lets you continue anyway.

    Thanks alot. I can use the laptop again now :)
     
    ahl395, Feb 8, 2010
    #13
  14. moral hazard

    moral hazard Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    2,779
    Messages:
    7,957
    Likes Received:
    87
    Trophy Points:
    216
    Does the battery still charge?

    BTW, Nice work :)
     
    moral hazard, Feb 8, 2010
    #14
  15. ahl395

    ahl395 Ahlball

    Reputations:
    3,867
    Messages:
    8,218
    Likes Received:
    72
    Trophy Points:
    216
    nah, the battery doesnt charge :eek: but not a big deal. as long as it works until i get a new one :D

    thanks. :D
     
    ahl395, Feb 8, 2010
    #15