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using wrong powersupply on notebook

post #1 of 13
12/8/04 at 6:11pm
Thread Starter 
Hi

I have a hp notebook zt1180. It says on the bottom that it requres 18.5v power supply. I have been using it through another spare HP notebook power supply (19v) the amps also vary from what is stated on the underside of the notebook. I'm sure its not great to be using the wrong powersupply...but im curious to what extent this is hurting the computer. Can it blow(figuratively speaking) or what?


Thanks in advance.

Funk
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post #2 of 13
12/9/04 at 12:46pm
By how much do the amps vary??
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post #3 of 13
12/9/04 at 1:15pm
Thread Starter 
POWERSUPPLY says
input: 100-240v ~2.4a(2,4a) 50 - 60hz
output: 18.5v (18,5v) 4.9a (4.9a) than below it says 90w

laptop says

input:19v (3.16-3.30a)

while the universal power supply(which i could buy in the store)

is

input: 100- 230volts ac
output up to 70watts of continuous power and 80 watts of peak power


I'm pretty savy with electronics but not electricty. I would rather just drop the 80 bucks and get the universal if the power supply im currently using is going to destroy the laptop. Its a crappy laptop 1.2ghz P3 mobile/512ram/40gb/dvd/cdrw/ but i picked it up for 116.00 which i thought was a steal. I appreciate any help anyone can offer.
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post #4 of 13
12/9/04 at 1:27pm
I would definitely get the universal... just make sure the universal output is in amp range of the laptop...
Is the universal specifically compatible with your laptop?
Get Volts and Amps of universal...
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post #5 of 13
12/9/04 at 1:33pm
I would definitely get the universal... just make sure the universal output is in amp range of the laptop...
Is the universal specifically compatible with your laptop?
Get Volts and Amps of universal...
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post #6 of 13
12/9/04 at 2:17pm
Thread Starter 
why would you get the universal? what will happen if i continue to use the wrong one? will it happen slowly over time, or immediately?

universal power supply(which i could buy in the store)

is

input: 100- 230volts ac
output up to 70watts of continuous power and 80 watts of peak power
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post #7 of 13
12/9/04 at 2:58pm
it may happen quickly... but probably slowly over time..
1 amp is more than it sounds... your pushing too much current through those old circuits.. thats just asking for trouble.

what is the output volts and amps for the universal?
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post #8 of 13
12/9/04 at 3:00pm
Thread Starter 
dude i appreciate your help but answered your question twice....refer to above for universal input/output
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post #9 of 13
12/9/04 at 3:14pm
dude..
I need OUTPUT volts/amps NOT watts...
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post #10 of 13
12/9/04 at 4:27pm
You can get away with a little variance in the current (amps) but you want to match the voltages. Say for example your computer uses a 65 watt power supply at 19 volts. This would be rated at ~3.4 amps. If you wanted to use a more powerful power supply (more watts), say a 90 watt, it would still be harmless so long as the voltage is still 19, even though it's amperage would state ~4.7A.

You can think of the amperage output of the adapter as the “capacity” that is available to the laptop. Thus, the laptop will "pull" current as needed (which varies continuously with operation) but if the voltage (potential difference) is too high, current will be "pushed" through. So as a rule, voltage output should not differ materially from the original but amps/watts can differ to a greater extent.

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post #11 of 13
12/9/04 at 4:54pm
Thread Starter 
so in this case the volts on the powersupply is less then what the notebook wants...will it be okay?
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post #12 of 13
12/9/04 at 5:17pm
If you need to have unmatched voltages it's better to go lower than the requirement of the device rather than higher. If the supply is half a volt under the stated req of the laptop (which I think is what it is in your case?) you should be okay. In fact, the voltage fluctuation (drop) of a fully charged Li-Ion battery and a discharged one can be greater than that.
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post #13 of 13
12/9/04 at 5:22pm
I used my friends like 14 volt toshiba supply with my sager 20 volt, and it did not do any damage, but it was just barely enough to power it, but be careful
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