When faced with the necessity to replace your Dell’s adapter cord, pay attention to the details. Your Dell laptop requires only a fraction of the voltage an ordinary wall outlet provides, so the electricity must be converted to the correct amount by the AC adapter. Although many adapter retail websites will tell you exactly what adapter you need by simply selecting your particular Dell model, some do not. Knowing what to look for and how to treat your adapter will help prolong its life and provide your Dell with the correct amount of electricity necessary for proper use.

Choose Right Adapter

The exact voltage required by your Dell varies, and is printed on the underside of the machine, along with the amperage. To determine the proper wattage necessary from your adapter, multiply the voltage and amperage together. A Dell that requires 19V and 3.16A needs an Dell Inspiron 1300 AC Adapter that offers at least 60W. Adapters that offer higher wattages, such as 70W, are also fine to use. You can always use a higher wattage adapter on your laptop, but never a lower wattage one. Keep alert to the adapter’s connector size and shape, as not all Dell adapters fit in all Dell laptops.

Third Party and Universal Adapters

Although you can certainly purchase a Dell manufactured adapter labeled specifically for your laptop, don’t overlook third-party brands and universal adapters. These lower-priced offerings work just as well as the name brand ones, so long as you purchase an adapter that offers the right connector shape and correct amount of wattage your laptop requires. Universal adapters offer the added bonus of allowing you to use the same cord to charge multiple laptops and devices, as long as the voltage and wattage requirements fit within the adapter’s specifications.

Keep It Cool

Like most other  Dell NX061 AC Adapter, those for Dell laptops have a rectangular “brick” in the middle of the cord. This brick holds the circuitry required to convert the house current to the lower current required by the Dell, and can become warm as it works. Avoid the possibility of overheating the brick by keeping it in the open and properly ventilated to help dissipate the heat before it builds to risky levels.

Avoid Undue Stress

Wrapped inside the insulating cover of your adapter cord are wires that carry the electricity from the wall outlet, through the brick and to your laptop. Placing undue stress on the cord through repetitive movements such as twisting and wrapping the cord, or positioning your laptop in an angle that encourages the cord to hang freely and add strain on the HP Pavilion Dv6-1300 AC Adapters jack, can degrade these wires and cause them to fray. Frayed, damaged wires do not carry electricity properly, and will result in improper energy delivered to your laptop.

Use Surge Protection

Even tiny electrical surges can cause problems to the delicate electronics of your adapter and laptop. Although a lightning strike is an extreme example of a surge, smaller electrical surges occur during the operation of a major appliance or the return of power after an outage. These can affect your adapter or laptop without your knowledge, causing power issues and shortening the lifespan of your devices. Keep your adapter plugged into a surge protector at all times to avoid these problems.

Laptops have a fixed battery life. This battery drains out as you continue using your laptop for a long time. After a while, you need to recharge your laptop by using a laptop power supply. It is important that you use laptop chargers of a high quality. One should always use a branded laptop charger as recommended by the manufacturer of the laptop. The compatibility of the charger with the laptop is extremely important. This compatibility is measured in terms of voltage and amps. Also, branded laptop power supplies have several other foolproof features that very few people are aware of.

Always think that complications in your notebook can destroy its circuits too. Getting burnt out circuits mended can be terribly costly. Actually a significant number of folk simply buy new machines rather than correcting an old one with a burnt out motherboard.

Flawed Chinese Compaq AC adapter are answerable for such electric misfortunes to a significant degree. Laptop users are convinced to buy these chargers due to their reasonable prices. Many alternatives claim to supply scores of different features. These portable computer chargers are now simply sold on the internet.

Virtually all of these chargers have no licenses or producing laws. Even the basic security features aren’t built within these chargers. If you have acquired one during the past, you might already know how frequently they get overheated.

Some  laptop adapters have even led on to fire accidents. It is kind of possible that a copy charger catches fire due to sparking or overheating. The fire can spread quickly to every other objects like a table or upholstery where your laptop computer and its charger are placed. Buying an inexpensive and apparently feature-rich  laptop charger because it’s inexpensive can finish up being a unpleasant call long-term.

During the last one or two years, universal chargers became very fashionable. Many of these chargers come from the Chinese market. These chargers are basically defective and make your laptop exposed to diverse electric accidents. A Dell AC adapter should be bought from a real local seller or a reliable online seller.

Legitimate chargers sold by these suppliers are a right match for the power settings of your laptop computer battery. There’s a large quantity of inexpensive and copy portable computer chargers in the market. Never fall for these inexpensive alternatives ; go for a branded portable computer charger. Real chargers are literally capable of carrying the high temperature generated when a laptop is powered on.

On innumerable occasions, you’ll be using your charger the entire day. Extreme heat and pressure can cause a dysfunctional charger extremely fast if it hasn’t been made with quality concerns under consideration. The only objective of inexpensive charger makers is to earn fast and easy money rather than concentrating on safety, quality, and life. Simply make a telephone call to your manufacturer or laptop PC seller for a charger replacement, or skim the site of a portable charger supplier to find the best make of genuine  Fujitsu AC adapter for your gadget.

According to ComputerWorld.com, a leading source for technology news and information, shipments for purchases of laptops in the first quarter of 2010 grew 43 percent. Each of these purchases includes necessary accessories for the unit to function, including the laptop charger. The charger, or IBM laptop adapter as it may also be called, is essential. The most sophisticated laptop is rendered unusable if it cannot be recharged or plugged in.

Take Care of the Cord

Proper use and care of the laptop charger prolongs its lifespan so that replacements and repairs are not necessary. According to PCWorld.com, an online magazine for computer-related concerns, one of the most common problems with laptop use is that the charger’s cord becomes frayed. Since laptops are conveniently brought just about anywhere, the constant plugging and unplugging wears out the cord. Mishandling it, such as leaving it twisted or tugging and jiggling it from the base unit, can produce the same result. This is also true for folding or rolling the cord incorrectly.

Other than being careful with the cord, wear and tear should be brought to the attention of a capable repair center. Neglecting this can lead to other damage, which may also affect the laptop’s battery performance or create a fire hazard, according to PCWorld.

Store the Charger Properly

As with laptops, which are typically placed inside laptop bags or padded envelopes, cords should be stored properly when not in use. The charger must never be exposed to extreme temperatures, such as those on a car’s dashboard in the middle of summer or dead of winter. It must not become wet or be exposed to corrosive chemicals, as these elements can severely damage the charger. The manual for a Belkin Compaq Laptop Power Adapter, for example, specifically states that users must avoid these. It also instructs users to avoid placing the charger near heat-sensitive materials.

When not in use, laptop chargers should be kept in the same bag as the laptop. If there isn’t enough space, putting the charger in a convenient cloth pouch or a small box is also an option.

Keep a Backup Charger

When traveling with your laptop frequently, it’s a good idea to get a second LG AC adapter to avoid wear and tear. Having a back-up charger may also save you the headache of buying one in an unfamiliar place should your first charger adapter become damaged. BraveNewTraveler.com, a daily online travel magazine, recommends packing an extra power source, such as a portable charger adapter, when going on trips with your laptop.

Step 1- Disconnect the power power cord.

Disconnect the plug from the wall and the computer as you will be testing the wires for continuity.

Step 2- Disconnect the power cord from the AC adapter power supply.

Disconnect the power cord side from the AC adapter side. Now you have two separate pieces, the power input cord, and the power supply with the thinner cord that plugs into the laptop.

Step 3- Test resistance though the plug prongs.

Connect your meter while in the Ohms setting to the two main prongs on the power cord. With the cord isolated from the power supply, you should get an open or infinite Ohms. Note: If your adapter does not disconnect in the middle, then you will be reading through the power supply, but you should still get an open on the test.

Step 4- Read from plug ground to outer shell of laptop side.

Connect the power cord and laptop AC adaptor together again. Connect one meter lead to the ground prong of the wall plug, and the other meter lead to the outer shell of the laptop side plug. You should get a reading of continuity here, or zero Ohms. If you don’t, then your ground is defective.

Step 5- Be sure the cord is not plugged into the power outlet.

STOP: Make sure the cord is not plugged into the wall, severe shock could occur or meter damage.

Step 6- Jumper the inner contact of laptop side.

Make a jumper wire that will fit into the adapter tip. You can also wrap a piece of safety wire around the meter lead, and use that to insert into the contact.

Step 7- Test for a short on laptop side contact.

Check for a direct short between the outer shell and the inner contact of the laptop side plug. You should read an open on this measurement.

Choosing the best laptop network  AC adapter depends a great deal on what exactly you need from an adapter and how much experience you have with installing new hardware into a laptop. In general, it is usually a good idea to avoid installing or removing any hardware into or from a laptop unless you are experienced with laptop modification. For the most part, you should try to use devices that connect externally, usually through a universal serial bus (USB) port. You should then determine whether you need a laptop network adapter for a wired or wireless network, and once you know this you can easily find a good adapter in whatever price range you desire.

While you can purchase and install a laptop network adapter inside of your laptop, this is usually a fairly complicated process. Unless you have extensive experience working with laptops, it is generally inadvisable to make alterations inside the case. Even if you have experience working on desktop computers, you may want to avoid trying to make hardware installations on a laptop, since doing so may void any warranties on your laptop. This means the best option for most people will be an external laptop network adapter, and knowing what type of adapter you need will make choosing the best one for you easier.

In general, there are two basic types of  laptop AC adapters devices: those for use with a wired network and those intended for wireless networking. Either type will typically connect to a USB port on a laptop, so be sure you have an available port. Many laptop users will use a separate mouse that is often connected to the USB port on a computer, and printers or external display devices may also use USB ports on your laptop.

A laptop network adapter that is intended for wired use will simply be an Ethernet connector that can be plugged into a USB slot on your laptop. It is worth noting that many laptops come with an Ethernet port and you should be sure that you do not already have such a port before buying an adapter. A wireless network adapter for a laptop will usually connect to a USB port and allow the computer to connect to a wireless network.

Many new laptops are built with an AC  adapters, and you should be sure you do not already have  connectivity before purchasing a AC  laptop network adapter. You should look for product reviews on Internet technology sites and find an adapter that is well reviewed by professionals and customers as well. This type of device will usually be fairly inexpensive, though high-end USB adapters can be more expensive, but often provide higher performance.

Choosing the correct laptop adapter is all a matter of voltage, output power, and proper connection. If all of these things do not match the original specifications of your computer, than a new laptop AC  adapter will likely not work on your machine and may potentially cause a lot of damage. In the end, most replacement power adapters will have a list of computers they are compatible with.

The first thing to consider for the laptop power adapter is the voltage. The easiest way to check this is to turn the computer over and see if there is a voltage listed anywhere on the bottom of the machine. A sticker may be affixed with this information and other similar laptop specs listed. It should be a number with a V attached to it, such as 19.5V. This information is also available on the original adapter, if it is available.

The second thing to look for is the current output needed for the laptop  AC adapter. This number will have an A of mA associated with it. For example, it may say something like 4.7A or 950mA. These numbers ensure that the power going to your machine will be acceptable and keep it operating within normal parameters. Not paying attention to either of these numbers could cause the electrical systems in the computer to malfunction and quit working altogether.

Once these two issues have been settled, the other important step is simply to make sure the connection fits the port in your computer where it is to be plugged in. The voltage and output current of the laptop adapter will not matter if it is not able to be connected. If ordering online or if you do not have your computer, it is advisable to check this out as soon as possible.

Many may choose the safest route possible and go with a replacement laptop adapter directly from the manufacturer, if available. While this is a good option, these parts may be more expensive than others that may be available from after-market manufacturers. Further, as long as the numbers match, all should work nearly the same and be just as safe and effective.

Another thing to consider is whether you want an AC laptop adapter or DC adapter. An AC adapter is made to be plugged into any standard electrical outlet such as those in a home or office. The DC adapter is made for automobile use.

Typically, laptop adapters can be found for sale anywhere computer accessories or laptop batteries are sold. Though the price will depend on the model and manufacturer, most tend to run between $40 US Dollars (USD) and $100 USD. They are also available from many online retailers as well.