Just Got 2 Universal Laptop Power Supplies But...

Hi! I'm at my mother's house right now and just received two universal laptop power supplies from Amazon, but I have a problem: they appear to auto-detect the right numbers, i.e. voltage, less than I thought they did. I have at least three laptops here that need them, but right now, I'm only working on one of them. It is a Dell Latitude D510 model. Where online can I go to get the necessary figures?

 

Please explain. How do you know they are not selecting the right voltage?

Do the laptops work when using these supplies? Are you 100% certain the laptops are good?

As for determining the correct voltage, you can start by looking at the batteries. The voltage should printed on them. Searching for a replacement supply using the laptop model number should help too.

 

I did not try the power supplies yet. I'm worried because the power supplies have a knob to select the proper voltage, and I'm afraid that using the wrong setting might fry the laptops.

 

If the power supplies have a knob to select the voltage, they are NOT "auto" detect.

Batteries are actually really robust devices so, unless you select a voltage that is WAY too high, you are not going to damage the battery. You actually have a much greater chances of damaging the laptop's charging circuits.

Chargers ALWAYS output a voltage that is slightly higher than the battery they are designed to work with. So again, look on the battery. 19VDC is a very common laptop voltage. Start there on the charger. If it never goes to 100%, you can increase the charging voltage 1 step. I would not go higher than that until you determine the actual correct voltage. Again, you should be able to research/Google the correct exact replacement supply.

 

I looked at the back of the laptop and saw "For use with adapter PA-10 or PA-12."

 

Ok. What are you expecting me to do with that information? You can Google it as easily as me and learn what it says faster than me doing it and posting it here.

But that still does not change the advice I've already given.

Good luck.

 

Okay. I'll Google the adapter names now.

 

I got that it needs 12V but can't find the proper connection. I'd better try dell.com now.

 

I couldn't find my model of laptop. I then tried another laptop and found the proper connection but could not find the proper voltage: every one I tried didn't work. BTW, this new laptop doesn't have a battery. It is an HP Pavilion ze2200 and contains some files for my C64C and Plus4. If you don't know, they were two popular computers during the early 1980's.

 

Did you Google "Dell PA-10 power supply?" I found the specs on the first page...
Google ALSO found specs (18.5 Volts) for your H-P laptop.

 

For the Dell Latitude D510 set the adjustable voltage out to 19.5 VDC.
OE Spec output:
Dell PA10 is 90W 4.62A 19.5VDC
Dell PA12 is 65W 3.34A 19.5VDC

 

Thank you.