How to Troubleshoot Laptop Power Supply Issues
You can have big problems if your laptop ac adapter is faulty, especially if the laptop’s battery is low or dead. Apart from hindering you from completing your work, it can also be a fire hazard or cause electric shocks. Troubleshooting a non-functional laptop power supply can be difficult, because there are many factors which could be preventing the computer from drawing power. Here are a few pointers as to what to look for.
What Do Laptop Adapters Do?
Laptops are powered by DC [direct current], which is what batteries produce. Direct current is a steady, continuous stream of power from the source to the laptop. The laptop power adapter is an AC [alternating current] adapter.
Alternating Current is what you get from your electrical mains supply [not a continual stream], and the AC adapter’s job is to convert it into the DC that your laptop needs.
Electrical Cord
Many laptop power supply failures are caused by problems with the cord. For instance, if an office chair with castors is rolled over the cord on a hard surface, it can damage the cord’s conductor. This can cause an electrical short,
which will prevent the adapter from working. The cord is not always visibly damaged, so it can be difficult to see if this is the cause. Most adapters have a LED which indicates when it is drawing power; an unlit LED would be a good
indication that there might be a short.
Whenever a power cord has cuts in its insulation, or pieces of the insulation are missing, it needs to be replaced immediately. Bare wires can cause severe electric shocks, and they are also a fire hazard. Never attempt to repair a damaged cord yourself; in this case it’s time to find an AC adapter replacement!
Problems with the “Brick”
The “brick” is the box which sits between the power outlet on your wall and your laptop. It has a fixed or removable cord to the AC outlet and usually a fixed, thinner cord which plugs into the laptop. It’s the part of the adapter that does the actual work, and despite its chunky appearance it contains some delicate components. It can easily be damaged if dropped from any height. If the brick stops working, the LED which indicates power will not light up. In case of a damaged brick, there is nothing else for it but to look for a replacement adapter.
The Laptop Itself
The point on your laptop where the power cord plugs in is not typically prone to problems, but it is soldered onto the motherboard without much support, and could possibly break. If you have to wiggle the adapter to get power, or the
laptop only draws power intermittently, there is a good chance that the power input is broken. This is not simple to fix, and might involve an entire motherboard replacement. In some cases your laptop might not be worth the cost
of the repair; in any case, a technician should be able to diagnose the problem and give you a quote for the repair.
Troubleshooting Power Supply Issues
There are two LEDs which indicate the presence of power; one on the “brick”, and one by the laptop’s power inlet. So, plug the power adapter in and check if these two LEDs light up. If either of them fails, there’s definitely a power
issue somewhere.
To check if the adapter is at fault, try using a known-good, identical power adapter from another laptop [if one is available]. If this works, there is a problem with the original adapter, which needs to be replaced. If the laptop
still gets no power, there is most likely a problem with the laptop itself. In this case, the laptop needs to be taken to a technician for diagnosis and repair.
When using a different laptop AC adapter as described above, it’s very important that the adapter’s input and output voltages match the old adapter exactly. Never use an adapter from a different brand or model, even if it fits. For
instance, if your laptop is a Compaq, not any Compaq laptop ac adapter will do; it needs to be the exact model, or a model with the exact same power specifications.
If you do need to replace the power supply, bear one thing in mind. An own-brand AC adapter replacement [for example a Compaq AC adapter replacement] can be quite expensive. But there is a cheaper alternative. Laptops For Less has a wide range of power adapters in stock which are compatible with every leading make and model of laptop on the market, at a saving of 30% to 70% of the original own-brand replacement. Check out their website and see for yourself!
If you want to troubleshoot your laptop power supply further, check out the video below.
27 Responses to How to Troubleshoot Laptop Power Supply Issues
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