Comments on: Universal Laptop Power Supply?

By: Ivan Berger

Ivan Berger — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 21:34:36 +0000

Power cords are easy to standardize at least partially. Connections to laptops are harder.
For power supplies that adapt to any input voltage, you might need at least two power input types, a three-wire and a two-wire. For power supplies that are only 110-120V or 220-240, you might need different types for each.
But PCs vary in their voltage requirements and current draw (may be even polarity). So what’s needed is a set of standard DC input jacks, corresponding to various requirements, as an extensible standard in case future voltage needs differ.
Damage problems like those Mike Young states are avoided by the new power connector on current laptops. I’d like to see something similar on USB connectors and such.

By: Immanuel Manurung

Immanuel Manurung — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 03:49:14 +0000

It’s about time the manufacturer fix this mess. Or should the government take charge? China, for example, require every mobile phone sold there using USB connection for its chargers. So no matter what mobile phones you have, you always can charge your mobile phone anywhere (just borrow from anyone!).

By: Philip

Philip — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 23:20:12 +0000

Pet peeve #14723 – people who exaggerate

no seriously… power supplies/wallwarts that don’t identify which equipment they belong to. Most of them are identified solely with the PSU maker’s name… I know a kid who blew up a pair of speakers and telephone answering machine because he guessed.. wrong.

I know PSUs and devies (usually) have voltage and polarity marked but at best they’re hard to read. and almost always need a magnifying glass or a very careful squint.

Now I grab a sticky label and put on my own “Anonymizer Router” label before I even plugit in. On the base, hidden by the wall, it is never unsightly and always there if needed… I’ve never regretted labelling a wall wart.

By: Mike Young

Mike Young — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 22:28:37 +0000

I have another beef about laptop connectors. They are too vulnerable to damage, because the connector sticks out of the socket. My own laptop has become unusable because of failed soldered joints on the circuit board where the power socket is mounted and they are just about impossible to repair reliably.

By: Kenneth Lawson

Kenneth Lawson — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:04:49 +0000

I agree completly with the idea of a universal power supply or at least connectors from the pc to the brick,

They have done it with other types of electrical items, ie; power cords for desktops, and most small portable cd players use the same cord, wouldn’t it be nice if I could just grap a cord and use it without worry too much if it would fit, if its a laptop cord it should fit any laptop, same as the d shaped cords fit any item that has a d shaped connector.
Power cords should be universal . A type of removable cord should fit any unit that has the same connector on the unit end,

By: Steve Vaught

Steve Vaught — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:37:48 +0000

I have an HP Pavilion zd8000 I’ve been using for almost 3 years now. I call it Behemoth, because that’s what it is – 17″ screen and all. Not exactly super portable but I don’t care since it’s my main (and only) computer. With a Pentium 4 processor you can imagine the power draw is on the heavy side. We’re talking a true power “brick” here. Even with a brand new battery I only got 40 minutes of computing time. No biggie, I planned on plugging it in most of the time anyway.

The machine really has been a trooper, but an additional power supply can’t be found. Less than a year after purchase I tried to buy one from HP and even they didn’t carry it! Even tried two different after market vendors on ebay but they didn’t work.

I know I’m on borrowed time hoping this power supply doesn’t give up the ghost anytime soon. Needless to say, I back up a lot.