Airplane Charger / Laptop Power Question

[LMc2]

Stumbled across this forum and WOW what a SMART group of people participating! Please help an "electricity" challenged brain.

I just got a new laptop and the power adapter is rated at 12V at 3.0A.

I have an older APC "TravelPower" charger with give me the ability to plug in to the wall or car or plane; and it has different laptop adapter tips. This system can set the voltage for the notebook with choices ranging from 15V up to 20V in one step increments.

In the skimpy manual, it lists a 100+ laptops with the matching Volts. But this is old and the website no longer has a list of new notebook computers to work with.

I plan to use the standard charger that came with the laptop almost all the time, but I wanted to know if it would be safe to use the APC charger on occasional trips when travelling by plane.

MY QUESTIONS:

1. Obviously this APC charger does not have a 12V setting; if I go to the lowest setting of 15 V am I putting my notebook at risk?
   
   The manual does not make any mention about 3.0A. What am I to make of that and should I be worried?
   
   Bottom line: is this safe to use or should I shell out $120 from the manufacturer to get their airplane charger?

Thanks in advance!

 

[corkyg]

I have two A/C adapters - both from the laptop's OEM. One is for travel and the other stays home. Both are identical except that the travel kit has the right plugs for commercial aircraft, cars, and whatever as well as standard A/C. And, I carry plug adapters for that for use in foreign lands where 220 VAC is standard.

Your question is a good one. A good travel adapter will accept all voltages from 90 to 240, 2 A and 50-60 Herz. They will output something your laptop can live with. My OEM travel adapter puts out 20 VDC at 4.55 A. My stay at home adapter puts out exactly the same.

I would compare your APC adapter to your lappie's OEM charger and if the specs are reasonable close, give it a try. I would do that at home before travelling, however.

Personally, I would opt for the OEM travel adapter. It might do a much better charging job and provide greater peace of mind.