Laptop Power Adapter Question

T

Techtronic

New Member
Hello all,
The power cord on my laptop is getting a short in it. It's a Toshiba Satellite P205D laptop. The power will intermitently kick on and off depending on how I wiggle the cord where it plugs into the computer. It's done this in the past, and I managed to fix it with a little solder, but I'm tired of fooling with it and I'm in the market for a new one.
Now, my question. On the adapter itself, it says it's a 19V, 3.95A power adapter. The plug that goes into the computer is 2.5mm ID, and 5.5mm OD, 12mm long. When I search online for new adapters, most websites list that the P205D has a 19V, 6A power supply, but that's not what I've been using since I bought this thing, and I'm wary of ramping up the current like that.
When I *do* find a 3.95A power adapter, it says it's for a different model of satellite, however the plug dimensions are the same.
If the voltage and current match, and if the plugs that go into the computer are the same dimensions, will it work even though it says it's for a different model number?
If not, will switching to 6A instead of 3.95 cause issues?
I appreciate the help.
 
Sure thing, I should have thought to be more specific to start with. It's a P205D S8804.

I double checked just to be sure, and the adapter I've been using for months now is in fact a 3.95A adapter, not the 6A everyone else says this model calls for.
Another reason for me asking the question is to see if I can't get away with buying an off brand adapter. It seems to get an "official" adapter, I'm looking at 60 bucks minimum, whereas if a 3.95A adapter with an identical plug will work (regardless if it's "supposed" to be used on this comp) I can save a good chunk of money.

Edit: Thanks for that link. I looked through most of them, and every one I ran across was either 4.7 or 6 Amp. :confused:
 
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The important thing is the voltage being the same and NOT to replace the adaptor with a lower wattage/amps one.

If your laptop is designed to use a maximum current of 3.95 amps then it will only draw that maximum whether the charger is capable of outputting 6 amps or not.

The adaptor would be capable of delivering a maximum of 6 amps if asked to do so but if the laptop design said 3.95 amps then it will happily deliver that with ease.

So it doesn't matter if you buy a higher amperage adaptor.
 
Techtronic said:
Hello all,
The power cord on my laptop is getting a short in it. It's a Toshiba Satellite P205D laptop. The power will intermitently kick on and off depending on how I wiggle the cord where it plugs into the computer. It's done this in the past, and I managed to fix it with a little solder, but I'm tired of fooling with it and I'm in the market for a new one.
Now, my question. On the adapter itself, it says it's a 19V, 3.95A power adapter. The plug that goes into the computer is 2.5mm ID, and 5.5mm OD, 12mm long. When I search online for new adapters, most websites list that the P205D has a 19V, 6A power supply, but that's not what I've been using since I bought this thing, and I'm wary of ramping up the current like that.
When I *do* find a 3.95A power adapter, it says it's for a different model of satellite, however the plug dimensions are the same.
If the voltage and current match, and if the plugs that go into the computer are the same dimensions, will it work even though it says it's for a different model number?
If not, will switching to 6A instead of 3.95 cause issues?
I appreciate the help.
Click to expand...

Are you sure the problem isn't with the power port on the laptop?
 
Pretty certain, yes. In the past I've had this same problem, and what it ended up being was frayed wires in the power cord. Right where the plug is attached to the cord got bent too often and the metal in the wire started to break from stress. I pulled it apart, stripped down the wire until I got to a fresh area, then resoldered it onto the plug. I wrapped the whole thing in epoxy to keep it rigid and protected, and it's worked great for a few months now.
As I'm using the laptop, the power will kick on and off, and if I adjust the cord *very* gently it will kick back on. If it were a problem with the port, I would expect I'd have to jiggle the plug harder to see a difference. As it is, I can just barely move the cord without disturbing the plug in the socket, and it begins working again.
 
TFT said:
The important thing is the voltage being the same and NOT to replace the adaptor with a lower wattage/amps one.

If your laptop is designed to use a maximum current of 3.95 amps then it will only draw that maximum whether the charger is capable of outputting 6 amps or not.

The adaptor would be capable of delivering a maximum of 6 amps if asked to do so but if the laptop design said 3.95 amps then it will happily deliver that with ease.

So it doesn't matter if you buy a higher amperage adaptor.
Click to expand...

Exactly what I was looking for, thank you so much. I appreciate everyone's help.
 
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