Priority Electronics Blog

In the past two years the world has seen several laptop computer manufacturers recall millions of batteries. The biggest recall occurred with Sony made batteries, which affected companies such as Dell, Toshiba, Apple, and several more. The recalls came after consumers reported fires caused by defective laptop batteries.

Since the recalls companies that specialize in the battery industry have been working on prototypes that will make them safer. The biggest challenge in creating a safer battery is finding a stable polymer that still conducts the lithium ions.

Researchers at the Frauhofer Institute for Silicate Research (ISC) in Germany have found a stable polymer. In a recent statement released on their company website, the ISC leader Dr. Kai-Christian Moller said “We have succeeded in replacing the inflammable organic electrolytes with a non-flammable polymer that retains its shape.This considerably enhances the safety of lithium-ion batteries. What’s more, because it is a solid substance, the electrolyte cannot leak out of the battery.”

In the same statement Moller also said, “Normally, the more solid a polymer is, the less conductive it becomes. But we had numerous parameters that we could adjust - for example, we can use coupling elements with two, three or four arms. As a result, we have more possibilities with Ormocer®s than with a single type of plastic.”

Currently the ISC has a prototype battery made. Although the prototype has been created it is far from being mainstreamed into cell phones, PDA’s, laptops, cordless screwdrivers, etc. This stage is just one breakthrough. The ISC hopes to have this new battery in electronic devices in 3 to 5 years.

It will take several years for production because the ISC has come across one challenge; creating a battery that will store the amount of energy that current batteries store. Once they create a larger storage capacity these batteries could revolutionize more then the laptop battery industry. They could be used for lawnmowers and cars. This new discovery could make battery fire hazard a thing of the past.

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Want a new AC power adapter? Whether you’re looking for a replacement adapter, a spare, or an extra one for home/office use, our article will guide you toward making your decision.

Step 1: Check Your Current Adapter

On our site, there are two ways for you to find the adapter that will power your specific laptop model. First, you can find adapters by using our enhanced search tool to input the make, series, and model of your laptop. After you have inputted the information about your laptop a list of compatible products will appear. From there you can select the adapter you’re looking to purchase.

Second, you can input the part number in our search box. The part number is often located on the adapter on the underside of the power adapter box. Examples of part numbers are: 325112-001 or 09T215. After you input your part number, a list of products that will work with your laptop will appear.

Step 2: Volts

When looking at the specifications of an adapter you will see that some are made specifically for your laptop model and others are universal. Either type will work. Deciding between a universal and non-universal adapter is a matter of preference.

There are some advantages with choosing a universal laptop adapter. This type of adapter can be used with many laptops, which may be convenient if you have multiple laptops that are from different manufacturers or are different models. Every universal adapter comes with multiple tips to fit different laptops. They also have a switch for you to adjust the volts.

Whether you choose a universal or non-universal adapter you want to check the volts. Each laptop is unique and requires a different amount of energy. The amount of volts your unit requires is printed on the bottom of your laptop. You may also check your owner’s manual for this information. Using an adapter with less volts than is required for your laptop will not work. There simply will not be enough power to run it.

Step 3: For Travelers

Planning on leaving the country? The power outlets in European countries have different power ratings. Their outlets release more power than those in the U.S. Be sure to use an adapter that will prevent short circuits and ensure compatibility. Another option is to make sure your AC power adapter accepts 100-240 volts. You can find this information in the specifications section of each laptop ac power adapter.

Step 4: Resources

For our full line of discount laptop power adapters please CLICK HERE.

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Like all other electronic devices, laptop adapters eventually stop working. There are many causes from excessive wire bending, exposure to extreme temperatures, or simply that it’s an aging adapter. Unfortunately there is no definitive amount of time that adapters last. Their lifespan is dependant on how much they’re used. Below we list ways of checking if your adapter has ceased working.

Check Your Laptop

Your laptop adapter may not power your laptop due to a loose connector. Make sure all connectors are inserted correctly. Also, check the adapter box. Laptop adapters often have an LED light that lights up when your adapter is powering your laptop. If this light is off, then your laptop is not receiving any power.

Once you have checked all your adapter’s connectors take a look at the electrical outlet. The problem could simply be that the power socket you’re connected too is no longer working. Change sockets to rule it out.

For laptop DC power adapters check the DC-jack. These adapters must fit snugly. If you have to have your adapter plugged in just the right spot or angle, then your DC-jack may be broken.

Check Your Adapter

A bent cable can be the culprit of a malfunctioning power adapter. Think of this like a garden hose. If you pinch or bend a garden hose while it is running water, the water will not exit the hose. A laptop power adapter works in the same basic way.

Make sure nothing is resting on your power cable such as a book, laptop bag, or anything else that could pinch the adapter cable. If nothing is bending the cable, check the cable itself. The constant bending from storing your adapter could have exposed the wires within the adapter cable. This exposure can cause it to stop functioning properly.

Replacing Your Power Adapter

If you find that your adapter is no longer working, there are a few options for replacing it. The first option is to order the same or a similar compatible adapter. The second option is to order a universal one.

Note: Universal adapters come with multiple tips to fit the different types of laptops on the market. If in the future you choose to purchase a new laptop, a universal laptop AC power adapter may have a tip that will work with your new one. The advantage is that you would have a spare for future use or one to keep at home or in the office, which would make one less thing to carry.

Resources

For a full selection of laptop power adapters CLICK HERE.

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Power Rating Terms

Every laptop battery is given a power rating in order to show you, the consumer, about how long your battery should last before it needs to be recharged. These electrical specifications are given using volts (V) and milliAmps (mAh). For example, you may see your battery is given a rating of: 10.8V, 4000mAh.

Volts and milliAmp hours are used because they measure the amount of energy used by a laptop battery. A volt (V) is a measurement used for the amount of pressure the positive and negative electrodes produce in a battery during the process of discharging energy. Amps (A) measure the amount of resistance the energy in your battery produces in order to power a laptop.

Think of volts and amps in terms of a shower. When a shower is turned on half way, the water that goes through the pipe produces a certain amount of pressure. When you turn it on to its full amount, the water produces more pressure in the pipe. This pressure, or power, is similar to the volts a battery uses. If a laptop is running simple programs, little power is needed to discharge energy into a laptop. However, if a laptop is running a DVD movie or other high energy consumption applications, more power will be needed to discharge the necessary amount of energy to run the DVD movie.

You may also notice that increasing the size of the pipe and shower head without having to open the faucet all the way will produce similar results. This is an example of the amount of resistance in the flow of energy. Measuring this resistance is measured in terms of amps. In terms of a battery, the amount of resistance is dependant on the size of the battery and the amount of energy inside.

Battery life: A Few Things to Consider

Laptop ratings are given in terms of amp hours (Ah). Amp hours measure the length of time a battery will discharge energy before it needs charging. In order to adequately measure battery life, manufacturers use milliAmp hours (mAh). This means that every 1000mAh is equal to 1Ah. What does this mean for your new battery? If your original battery is measured at 2500mAh and your replacement battery is measured at 5000mAh, then your battery run time will double.

Keep in mind that technology constantly changes. Your old battery may be rated at a lower run time than a newer one because of technological advancements that have produced longer lasting batteries.

Additionally, your battery’s run time depends on the programs you use. Some programs require more energy to run than others. Examples are: the screen (particularly if set at the brigh test setting), hard drives, CD and DVD drives, and wireless network cards. Unfortunately, there is no definite answer to the question, how long exactly will my laptop battery last? The key factor is how and what you use your laptop for.

One way of conserving power is to go to your Power Management settings icon in the Control Panel. You can shut off settings or programs you do not use. Also consider dimming your screen and shutting off your wireless card when you don’t need it.

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