Re: Using a lower-current adaptor with my laptop

From: eug k (wired_au_at_change-this-to-ho.tmail.com)
Date: 06/07/04 

Date: 7 Jun 2004 17:55:56 GMT

EM <1@1.1> wrote:
> eug k wrote:
>>
>> I'm after a smaller/lighter adaptor for my thinkpad. The
>> laptop is rated at 16V, 3.36A. There's one that I'm
>> looking at that is rated at 16V, 2.2A. It also looks
>> a fair bit smaller. What I'm wondering is, can I safely
>> use it with my laptop?
>
> In a word, nope. NEVER use an adapter whose 1) output voltage(s) isn't
> the same as the one your component requires, AND 2) whose output current
> capability is LESS than the MAX. current rating of your component.
>
> It's okay if your adapter is capable of MORE current, though.

The original adaptor is actually rated at 4.5A but my friend
who has the same laptop got a 3.36A adaptor with his. The rating
on the laptop is the same. Dunno why they gave me a bigger one.

>> I get about three hours use on a 3.1AH battery, so the
>> actual current consumption is nowhere near 3.36A I'm
>> assuming.
>
> "Ampere-Hours" has little to do with how much current ("Amperes," or
> "Amps") your laptop uses at any given time. AH and A are two different
> units.
>
> Even though the battery is rated @ 3.1AH, it's no doubt quite capable of
> providing the 3.36A *continuous* that your laptop MAY demand of it...
> only, if you do the math, the battery will last under an hour at such a
> high, constant load:
> (3.1AH / 3.36A = ~ 55 min.).

Yes, but since I get about three hours before getting a low
battery warning, the average current draw would be quite a bit
less. It also puts out only 11.1V, so the draw at 16V should be
lower.

I'm not sure at what discharge rate the 3.1Ah is for, but
if the laptop actually took 3.36A, the batt life should be much
less than 55min.

There would no doubt be peaks like when the hdd spins up after
sleeping or something. I'm hoping that the battery would kick
in during those peaks.

Does anyone know if that is the case?

thanks! 

--

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Riggers Diary: Jamie will now apologise
    ... Ray Porter?s trials and tribulations (A laptop video out problem, ... is because reception on channel 37 from Emley Moor is ... The next snag came when I tried to buy a new battery. ... The whole point of a UPS is to protect IT ...
    (uk.tech.digital-tv)
  • Re: Best bang for my laptop buck ?
    ... Does someone know of a SIMPLE online comparison of the CPU products from a potential user viewpoint? ... I don't need to buy the latest/fastest CPU for my laptop - I'm gonna use it to run ... ... VISTA thing settles down. ... You can certainly make a case for long battery life. ...
    (comp.sys.laptops)
  • Re: Thinking About Laptop Computers (yet) Again
    ... a week or so) to buy a new laptop computer. ... have to drive the display, as is the case with the 855GM and 955GM chipsets. ... Total bag weight is 12 lbs, ... Asus will sell a 90WH battery direct to ...
    (rec.audio.pro)
  • Re: What is a decent Price--Need Quick Response
    ... penny higher) and the fact that a new battery costs $150 and that they do ... How high should I bid on this? ... Laptop has been used in a corporate environment and is in great ... Built in 56K Modem Dial up Internet Ready right out of box ...
    (alt.sys.pc-clone.dell)
  • Corporate America (HELL) and Re: Returning Dell Products
    ... I've been a Dell customer for many years, since the days of Pentium 3 ... I had a Toshiba Satellite laptop. ... or more if I carried a spare battery. ... do production support but you don't have a computer at that location ...
    (alt.sys.pc-clone.dell)
Loading