Can you plug 19.5V into 18.5 Computer? Safe? Okay?

Captain Kirk

Captain Kirk

Member
hello, hello.

just got done with a problem. but had a similar problem before.

was just wondering if it is "safe" to plug a 19.5 Volt power cord into a computer that requires 18.5 Voltage?

can i do this, or will i run into problems later?
is it bad for my computer?
should i be worried about doing this?

because if its okay to do this, then i could use this cord as my main cord that i will use for months for this computer.
 
No. Don't risk it. You're likely to fry something in the long run.

You can use something higher in amperage because it will only draw as much amps as it needs. However voltage is constant.
 
At the risk of damaging components I wouldn't, although a 5% swing is within tolerance for some electronic circuits.

Still, pay the extra and get the correct gear. It's not worth potentially ruining the laptop to save a couple bucks.
 
What if Volts is LESS than the computer Volts

voyagerfan99,
hi how is you?

thanks for telling me. i wasn't sure. i thought i might be able to do it, but i wanted to make sure before i tried it.

hello beers,
nice to meet you.

i heard that you can use 18.5V power cord for a 19.5V computer. and that anytime that the Volts is LESS than what you need for the computer, that its safe for sure...
is there any problems in doing this -- or is this true?

Captain Kirk
Still trying to figure out the computer universe
 
Captain Kirk said:
hello beers,
nice to meet you.

i heard that you can use 18.5V power cord for a 19.5V computer. and that anytime that the Volts is LESS than what you need for the computer, that its safe for sure...
is there any problems in doing this -- or is this true?
Click to expand...

Hi ;)

Usually you would want to match if possible. You might be able to get away with a 'sagging voltage' situation of 18.5v but more amperage will be pulled to reach the same wattage. Remember that Volts*Amps=Watts

'Safe for sure' is kind of a misnomer when you would be better off to just match it to the rated specs.
 
You really should match the voltage exactly. Using a higher voltage could damage the laptop, using too low a voltage will cause excess current to be drawn from the power adapter which may cause it to fail prematurely or possibly even cause a fire.
 
Captain Kirk said:
and that anytime that the Volts is LESS than what you need for the computer, that its safe for sure...
Click to expand...

As others have said, don't risk using lower voltage. Lower voltage than required means more amps are drawn. The higher voltage you go with lowered voltage (if that makes sense), the less of an issue it becomes due to increased tolerances. For example, running 115v to power something that requires 120v and 10 amps, you may be pulling 10.5 amps on the lower voltage, however the +/-10% will put that with the tolerance (10 amps becomes 9-11 amps).

With the lower voltage, lower tolerances result. So for something that needs 1.5 amps, the tolerance will be in the 1.35 to 1.65 range. If the voltage is insufficient to provide amp draw in that rang, damage can, and probably will, result over time.

Above math is purely for example only - I have no idea what specific power your devices needs.
 
incorrect specifications = danger

beers,
hello -- nice talking to you

wow, Volts*Amps=Watts, that good to know;) i didn't know that. its still a bit confusing, but i'm starting to grasp the concepts. one person, in another article, said that amps does not matter, but volts DOES. but that did not make sense to me, as it seems that one is relative to the other. so the thing that you watch is the watts? i guess its kind of confusing because everyone always refers to this subject in volts.

strollin,
thanks for getting back to me
hey, by the way, i like your avatar -- i think that cool. nice effect!

strollin quote
"Using a higher voltage could damage the laptop, using too low a voltage will cause excess current to be drawn from the power adapter which may cause it to fail prematurely or possibly even cause a fire."

holy carruba, that's some serious shezzite!! i have to take this all very seriously, and vigilantly watch the specifications!!!!
wow, man, you have really given me some really good advice:good: thanks bro, i really appreciate that!:)

imsati,
hi there, glad to make your acquaintance

wowww, that's some serious technical stuff right there -- WAY more than i knew. thanks for the advice bro. know i know that it is "very" importaint to use the EXACT specifications.

Captain Kirk
 
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