Are Laptop Chargers Interchangeable?


Every laptop model comes with an original and unique laptop charger. However, there are times when it might stop working. Therefore, one of the main questions that laptop owners ask is whether laptop chargers are interchangeable? I, too, was curious, and so I did some research.

You should not interchange laptop chargers as there are no standard laptop chargers. You have to get a charger that is uniquely designed for your laptop to avoid damaging the laptop. For instance, connectors are not standardized, so you can not accidentally plug a wrong charger into your laptop.

In this article, you will learn about charging your laptop with a different charger, the safety of universal chargers, and laptop-charger compatibility. You will also learn about what happens if you charge a laptop with the wrong charger and how to charge a laptop without a charger.

Sounds interesting? Keep reading for more detailed information.

How To Go About Charging Your Laptop With a Different Charger

If you are charging your laptop with a different charger, you need to consider a few things such as;

  • The shape and size of the connector
  • Polarity
  • Voltage
  • Amperage

The first thing you need to consider is the shape and size of the connector. For instance, you need to ensure that the charger you want to use has a connector that perfectly fits the charger port of your laptop.

The next vital thing you need to consider is the voltage and polarity. In many cases, you will find voltage ratings listed on the power brick. It is critical to have the voltage and polarity on your laptop to match the charger’s voltage.

It is also vital to consider the amperage. For instance, amperage regulates how much power will flow from your charger per unit time. For the correct functionality, the amperage rating listed on your charger should match or exceed the one needed by your laptop.

Are Universal Chargers Safe?

Universal chargers are available for laptops. They have wide voltage ranges and come in many DC tips to fit different laptop brands. For instance, they are known for their convenience and versatility.

But are they safe to use?

Universal chargers are safe to use as long as you have the right charger. For instance, the charger’s amperage, wattage, and voltage should be right.

This is to say, although a universal charger might have a wide voltage range, it is vital to use the right fit. It is also critical not to use a low voltage amperage charger with a high amperage laptop.

Choosing a Universal Charger

Choosing the right universal charger that works well with your laptop can be a hard task. It entails considering customer reviews and a few requirements. One of the primary considerations is the number of tips. As such, DC tips will allow you to charge multiple laptops.

It would be best if you also focused on voltage and power wattage range. Most laptops have a maximum output wattage and voltage range of 90W and 20V.

Other vital factors are cord length and portability. For instance, you need to look for chargers with a power cord that can reach up to power outlets and boards. This should be about 6feet long.

Lightweight and portable universal chargers are easy to carry over long distances. Therefore, if you are a person who travels a lot, you should consider buying a portable, lightweight, universal laptop charger.

How Do You Know Which Laptop Charger Is Compatible?

Knowing which laptop charger is compatible with your device is not a difficult or overly inconvenient process. It all entails a little research.

For instance, all the information you need to know which laptop charger is compatible with your laptop can be easily found on your laptop or charger.

Supposing you are in an electronic shop looking for a laptop charger, you will be required to take time to look at the computer models the charger you are looking at is compatible with.

All this information should be listed on the laptop charger packaging. If your specific laptop model is on the list, then that specific laptop charger is compatible with your laptop. Else, it is recommended that you look for another laptop charger.

Looking at the bottom of your laptop will also guide you in knowing if the charger is compatible with your laptop. For instance, manufacturers stamp product specs on different laptop parts to help you get the right replacement parts for your laptop.

Although there are many stamps, you need to look for the stamp that says “AC adaptor” or something similar. You will be able to see the model number, which will assist you in knowing the right charger that is compatible with your laptop.

Another way that you can know if a charger is compatible with your laptop is by ensuring that the specs for the laptop and those for the charger are the same.

This includes ensuring that the input and output voltage are identical. Besides, the charger’s connections should fit your laptop.

What Can Happen If You Charge a Laptop With the Wrong Charger?

You might be asking yourself how a charger can be wrong if its connectors properly fit the laptop’s charge port with the correct polarity.

A charger could be wrong if it has the wrong voltage, wrong current, wrong polarity, or wrong amperage.

A wrong voltage will potentially cause a problem. For instance, a high voltage will burn things in your laptop, thus destroying it. On the other hand, low voltage won’t work – the laptop will not work properly.

Charging a laptop with a charger that supplies a high current will not affect your laptop. On the other hand, a laptop charger with a very low current will fry the power supply but does not affect the laptop.

If the laptop charger has a wattage higher than required, there will be no problem. Your laptop will only take the power that it requires. However, if the wattage is too low than required, the charger will overheat. As a result, it could fail and potentially damage your laptop.

How To Charge a Laptop Without a Charger

Normally, laptops are charged by chargers connected to the power source. However, with the rapid technology innovation, new methods have been developed for charging laptops without a charger.

The available methods are few, and they include;

  • Charging a laptop with a USB
  • Charging  a laptop battery externally
  • Charging a laptop using a phone
  • Charging a laptop in a car using a cigarette lighter and an inverter
  • Charging a laptop using another laptop

1. How to charge a laptop using a USB

This is one of the emerging methods you can use to charge your laptop. It is similar to charging your mobile phone using a power bank.

We all know that laptops have many ports which can not be used for charging purposes.

However, recent innovation has allowed the introduction of Type B and Type C ports. These are the ports that allow charging your laptop through a USB cable.

To deliver power to the laptops through USB -Type C, you need to have a power bank. This power bank should supply the needed power of between 60W to 100W and a voltage of 20V.

However, it is important to note that if the power bank voltage is less than your laptop’s rated voltage, it won’t be of any use. Therefore, the rated power source voltage is vital when charging a laptop with a USB.

2. How to Charge a laptop battery externally.

You can charge your laptop battery externally using one of the following methods.

  1. Directly connect the charger to the laptop battery adapter port. An AC adapter must be available in your laptop battery for this method to work.
  2. Use an external battery charger. The charger must be compatible with your laptop model. It is vital to be sure of the external charger specifications.
  3. Buy an extra battery that fits the specifications of your laptop. Before buying, you need to ensure that the battery is equipped with an AC adapter port.

This will allow you to externally recharge your backup battery while using the other battery running out of power. When it is out of power, you can replace it with an externally charged battery. This method only works if you have a power source or a power bank.

3. How to charge a laptop battery using a phone

You probably have charged your phone with a laptop. But, did you know that you can charge your laptop with a phone?

For this to work, you should have a C-type charger. Your laptop must have a female port that will support the C-type USB cable. It must also have a USB-C charging feature.

Besides, you will need a type-C to type-C USB cable. These cables have type-C output on either side of the USB.

When you connect one USB port to your phone and the other to the laptop, a menu will pop up as it does when you connect a phone to charging.

Click on it and choose ‘Supply power to the other connected device’. Your laptop will start charging.

However, this method is not recommended because phones and laptops have different charging capabilities, battery types, and lives. As such, this method will destroy the USB or the battery of either device.

Therefore, this method should be your hope of last resort if the other methods do not work for you.

Final Thought

A laptop comes with a charger designed to provide the desired voltage and wattage output to power the laptop. You can use the same charger for many laptop models; however, you risk slowing down or damaging your laptop.

Therefore, before you charge your laptop with any charger, you should read the specifications carefully.

Besides, instead of interchanging laptop chargers, you can use other methods to charge your laptop without a charger.

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Robert

Hey! Robert here. - I've been dealing with computers for a very long time. At first, I was only drawn to computers because of the amusement they provided through games, music, and videos. Later, I found out that there's very little you can't do with a computer. My understanding and personal interest in the topic lead me to pursue a career in the IT industry.

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