OMG my Laptop almost FRIED from using a universal AC adapter! Need your HELP!

[Madcowz]

I brought my laptop home, only to find out to my dismay that I had forgotten to bring the power AC adapter. So I looked around for a any old AC adapter that might fit the plug and came up with a universal AC adapter with different fittings, one which actually fit. So I plugged it in and messed around with the voltage settings until the laptop would receive power. I set it to 12volts at + pol. sw. (whatever that means... Polarity perhaps?) In any case, it seemed to be working fine until several minutes later when my laptop started freaking out. It turned of and started making weird noises, and the battery status display was going nuts. I immediately unplugged it and tried turning it on with the battery power I had left. LUCKILY, it's still working. Now I'm wondering, could I have been using the wrong voltage/polarity settings? Perhaps someone can help. These are the available settings:

V. Change Sv.
1.5V, 3V, 4.5V, 6V, 7.5V, 9V, 12V

Pol. Sw.
- , + , - , +

It says on the thing:
Universal AC/DC Adaptor/Charger
Input: 110/220V AC. 50/60Hz
Output: 1.5, 3, 4.5, 6, 7.5, 9, 12V
D.C. 300mA

Any ideas?

 

[minendo]

You have to match it up with the necessary settings on your laptop. The polarity is set by which prong of the different fittings is plugged into the different holes of the adapter. You have to set the power of the adapter to the power required by your laptop. It should say it by where you plug the adapter into your laptop.

 

[Madcowz]

On the back of laptop it says Input 19V
3.16A
Rating: DC

On the battery, it says: 14.8V
3.0AHR

On the back of the laptop, it has two selections; 110-120 VAC and 220-240 VAC

What's the deal with that?

Basically...

Should I try it at 12V or is it not worth the risk?

 

[amdskip]

Whoa, don't use that adapter period. It needs 3.16 amps and your only giving it 300mA which is not enough. Laptop takes anywhere from 15-19 v and you are giving it only 12 which isn't enough. I believe this still could fry your laptop which I would not risk.



<< On the back of the laptop, it has two selections; 110-120 VAC and 220-240 VAC >>



I believe this is the same as say a desktop system with two power settings for different countries, etc. The US is 110-120 VAC (volts alternating current)

 

[hans007]

man.... why didnt you just ask for an adapter. i have 3 extra HP 3.16 amp 19volt adapters sitting in my room at home. If you want one $45 shipped paypal.


they also work on some toshibas. sat 1005 and 3005 i know for sure

 

[Jerboy]

<< I brought my laptop home, only to find out to my dismay that I had forgotten to bring the power AC adapter. So I looked around for a any old AC adapter that might fit the plug and came up with a universal AC adapter with different fittings, one which actually fit. So I plugged it in and messed around with the voltage settings until the laptop would receive power. I set it to 12volts at + pol. sw. (whatever that means... Polarity perhaps?) In any case, it seemed to be working fine until several minutes later when my laptop started freaking out. It turned of and started making weird noises, and the battery status display was going nuts. I immediately unplugged it and tried turning it on with the battery power I had left. LUCKILY, it's still working. Now I'm wondering, could I have been using the wrong voltage/polarity settings? Perhaps someone can help. These are the available settings:

V. Change Sv.
1.5V, 3V, 4.5V, 6V, 7.5V, 9V, 12V

Pol. Sw.
- , + , - , +

It says on the thing:
Universal AC/DC Adaptor/Charger
Input: 110/220V AC. 50/60Hz
Output: 1.5, 3, 4.5, 6, 7.5, 9, 12V
D.C. 300mA

Any ideas? >>



Your adapter: 300mA, Your laptop 3.16A :Q

There's your answer. A 12V 0.3A(300mA) maximum AC adaptor is by no mean meant to power a laptop that needs 19V at 3.16A(3,160mA). You were simply severely starving the laptop. The voltage will drop when you overload the adaptor and this is what caused your lappy to go nuts. You might have fried the universal adaptor however.