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    Laptop Charger Voltage Question

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by thumbandit, Dec 7, 2008.

  1. thumbandit

    thumbandit Notebook Enthusiast

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    I have a toshiba Sat P300 and my charger has broken, i want to back some stuff up before i send it off, my missus has a toshiba satpro.

    Her charger fits and charges mine but the power is slightly different.

    My laptop is a 17" dual core and hers is just a 15" celeron.

    Her Laptop =

    Input = 100-240 v ~1.5 a 50 - 60 hz

    Output = 19v 3.42a - C +


    My laptop =

    Input = 100-240 v ~1.5 a 50 - 60 hz

    Output = 19v 4.74a - C +

    I want to know if using hers on mine will damage either the charger or the laptop ... it will not be long term.

    Thanks
     
    thumbandit, Dec 7, 2008
    #1
  2. DetlevCM

    DetlevCM Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    I think it will drain your battery when you use her charger on your laptop.
    It definitely has less potential to damage things than one that is too powerful, but still.

    I think you could use it - but I'm not sure.
    If it charges, charge the battery, and back up off the battery.

    Also, if your charger is broken, why do you need to send of the laptop?
     
    DetlevCM, Dec 7, 2008
    #2
  3. thumbandit

    thumbandit Notebook Enthusiast

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    you will have to ask toshiba that haha .... i plan on charging and using .... then disconnecting then charging etc
     
    thumbandit, Dec 7, 2008
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  4. Althernai

    Althernai Notebook Virtuoso

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    The voltage is the same, it's the current that's different. I don't think you can damage anything this way, but if you force your laptop into a state where it uses more power than the charger provides (P = IV so hers gives you 65W while your laptop is designed for 90W), it may get confused and/or start draining the battery. Just don't stress the machine and you should be fine.
     
    Althernai, Dec 7, 2008
    #4
  5. John Ratsey

    John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator

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    Yes, it should work provided you avoid anything that makes the GPU work.

    The PSUs normally have around 20W headroom for battery charging.

    John
     
    John Ratsey, Dec 8, 2008
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  6. ramgen

    ramgen -- Morgan Stanley --

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    You can use it as long as you are careful:

    1- Remove out your laptop's battery so that the adapter does not have to charge it.
    2- (As already said) One of the power hungry parts of a laptop is the GPU. Do not run any GPU intensive tasks.

    If you do these, you should be perfectly fine. Even you can use it long-term...


    EDIT: just came to my mind - if you want to re-charge your laptop's battery, turn off your laptop, insert the battery and connect it to the new adapter. 65W should be more than enough to charge the battery while the laptop is not running...
     
    ramgen, Dec 8, 2008
    #6