Laptop power supplies, does current matter?

Posted by CodeSlave on Super User See other posts from Super User or by CodeSlave
Published on 2009-05-04T20:06:53Z Indexed on 2012/03/19 10:10 UTC
Read the original article Hit count: 260

Filed under:

laptop

|

power-supply

I have two laptops (same manufacture), with the same type of power connector.

However, the power supplies/transformers are slightly different.

The output on the first laptop's power supply is 15.6 V at 8.0 A. The output on the second laptop's power supply is 15.6 V at 5A.

Clearly the voltages are the same, but the currents are different. I assume the second laptop's power supply can not be used on the first, because it can't supply enough power to the laptop.

However, can the first laptop's power supply be safely used on the second laptop?

© Super User or respective owner

Related posts about laptop

Why does my laptop resume immediately after suspend?

as seen on Ask Ubuntu - Search for 'Ask Ubuntu'
I seem to be having some problem with suspend mode. Every time I try to suspend my laptop, it just locks the screen. Or maybe it successfully suspends just to resume only an instant after. What could cause such a behaviour? I'm running 32-bit Ubuntu 12.04 with the 3.2.0-25 kernel on a HP dv5-1178er… >>> More
Use laptop A's LCD as secondary monitor for laptop B

as seen on Super User - Search for 'Super User'
I have a working laptop (laptop A), but am interested in using the laptop's LCD as a secondary monitor for my main laptop (laptop B)...is there a way to do this via software or cabling without modifying laptop A? OS's are Windows XP SP3 and Windows 7. >>> More
Charging a laptop battery, without a laptop.

as seen on Super User - Search for 'Super User'
I have an old-ish laptop that only works on AC power because the battery is old and no longer holds a charge. I live in Christchurch New Zealand where there has recently been a number of very large earthquakes. During one of these earthquakes my laptop was thrown from my desk to the floor and now… >>> More
Aluminum Laptop Cases vs Leather Laptop Cases

as seen on Article City - Search for 'Article City'
Both aluminum and leather have been known for their excellent qualities in the world of business, travel and even fashion; but when it comes to choosing one, there are certain qualities that put alum... [Author: Shannon Hilson - Computers and Internet - March 23, 2010] >>> More
How to compare old laptop to new laptop?

as seen on Super User - Search for 'Super User'
I hope this question doesn't get closed at once :) I have an old laptop, a Compaq NC4200, which is going its final laps around the track these days. Battery is dead, and everything kinda runs slow. It also has only 1GB of memory, and even though I don't know if it can take more, I probably wouldn't… >>> More

Related posts about power-supply

Turn a Computer Power Supply into a Desktop Power Supply

as seen on How to geek - Search for 'How to geek'
If you’re looking for a desktop power supply for your electronics workbench, this tutorial video shows you how to turn a computer PSU into a desktop power supply. In the above video the guys at JumperOneTV show us how to make a desktop power supply. As an addendum to the video; they note in… >>> More
Power supply triggered to start by another power supply

as seen on Super User - Search for 'Super User'
I am building a raid array in a separate enclosure. I will be putting an empty tower case next to an existing tower computer, and this second tower case will only hold hard drives. There are many solutions for connecting the drives in the second case to the raid card in the first case (SFF-8088… >>> More
Recommendation for a redundant 60V DC Powersupply

as seen on Server Fault - Search for 'Server Fault'
We have some Telco-Equipment in our data space center which we had been given by our Telco. What they didn't provide is a redundant power supply and therefore we are struggling with outages of this equipment. What I am searching for is a redundant Power-Supply for 60V and 600W 60 Volt DC output 600… >>> More
Can I use this power supply + case combination without causing problems?

as seen on Super User - Search for 'Super User'
I am putting together a computer with a Antec P180 case and a Thermaltake TR2 RX 650 W power supply. The problem is that the Antec P180 case has a separate compartment for the power supply. With an opening for the on/off switch + ac connector to one side, a wall with a small hole for cables to route… >>> More
What is the minimum power supply wattage needed for a Pentium 2.4GHz system?

as seen on Super User - Search for 'Super User'
It looks like I've got a dead Antec True 330 power supply in an older desktop that has an Intel D845PESV motherboard, a Pentium 2.4GHz processor, 2 dvd/cd writers, 2 hard drives, and other typical devices. I have an even older computer that is not being used that has a 200W power supply. Can a 200W… >>> More