Volts/Amps - important?

[ianbergman]

My laptop's power adapter just died - I didn't even know they could do that, but there it is. My laptop takes 19V=4.2A input, and I have an older adapter that delivers 19V=2.64A output. Am I going to destroy my laptop's battery (or the laptop!) by using the older one?

 

[AbsolutDealage]

Probably will not destroy it... but it probably will not work either. You need something that is 19V and >= 4.2A

 

[ianbergman]

well... it works; charges the battery and powers the laptop. Given the cost of a new adapter, I'm willing to take some risk as long as someone with an EE degree doesn't tell me I'm about to have an exploding battery on my hands...

 

[fell8]

It poses little to no risk to the PC. Unless the PS fries, which could easily happen as it is likely the PC draws more juice than the PS is rated for.

If the PS doesn't get very hot after prolonged use you have little to fear.

 

[lobadobadingdong]

as long as you don't do much to draw too much amps your safe, if you think your going to pull lots of amps at any given point in time, I'd charge the battery, and unplug the adapter while doing whatever job it is that puts the high load on the power brick.