Is Your Laptop AC Power Adapter Working Properly?
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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