AC/DC Power adapter
AC/DC power adapter as known as power supply or power brick converts the high voltage AC power from a wall outlet into the low voltage DC power needed for your laptop.
The AC/DC adapter provides power for the laptop and charges the battery. It’s very important to use the right adapter for your laptop.
If you are looking for a new adapter, you should check the following:
1. Your new adapter must have exactly the same plug (adapter tip) as the original one.
2. Your new adapter must output exactly the same voltage as the original one.
3. Polarity on the new adapter’s plug must be the same as on the original one.
You can find the output voltage and amperage on the adapter’s label. As you see on the picture below, my adapter outputs 19V-3.42A.
When you buy a new adapter, you can follow this rule:
The output voltage must be the same, the amperage could be the same or higher than on the original power adapter.
For example, if my laptop requires 19v-3.42A adapter, I can safely use 19v-3.95A adapter.
HOW TO TEST OR REPAIR POWER ADAPTERS.
Most newer laptop power adapters are sealed and you cannot repair them. If the adapter is dead, you’ll have to buy a new one.
1. How can you tell if the AC adapter is dead? You can test it with a voltmeter. On the picture below I’m testing a 15V adapter and as you see the output is 15.45V. It’s pretty normal and there is nothing wrong if the output voltage is a little bit higher but if you are getting 0V, the adapter is definitely bad.
2. If you accidentally damaged the adapter plug, you can replace it with a new one. Just make sure the new plug has the same size as the old one. Cut off the old damaged plug and solder a new one. You can search for a new adapter plug (adapter tip) here.
Laptop parts | Repair Man | 
December 26, 2008 2:51 pm
171 Responses to “AC/DC Power adapter”
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Pages: « 7 6 5 4 3 2 [1] Show All
April 12th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
Rob,
I really hate all these generic AC adapter with multiple heads and variable voltage output. I don’t trust them at all.
At this point it’s hard to tell what is causing the problem. That could be just a faulty AC adapter, maybe it’s not providing enough power for your laptop. Or there could be something wrong with the motherboard, maybe the battery charging circuit is not working properly.
The only way to find out what is wrong is testing the laptop with another known good AC adapter. I would suggest testing the laptop with an original Toshiba adapter.
Just in case I’ll give you the part number for a new Toshiba adapter. You can use A000005020 or A000006140. Do you still have the power cord for your original adapter? If not you might need a new cord: A000001040.
Google part numbers and you’ll find them.
Yep, I would try replacing the adapter first. By the way, I don’t want to frustrate you but most likely the new motherboard is not brand new. Most likely it’s a refurbished one, so it might have a problem too.
There is not much you can do without new AC adapter, you’ll have to get a new one. If the laptop still fails even after you replace the adapter, there must be a problem with the motherboard.
April 12th, 2009 at 10:46 am
Help with Toshiba,
I have a Toshiba P105-S6084 purchased in 2006. I purchased the extended “Geek” warrenty and didn’t have any issues until January of 2009. My screen had blue lines going down it, 2 usb ports broke and the AC adapter quick working. I took it to the retail outlet and they replaced the LCD Screen, Motherboard and mailed me a replacement ac adapter. All in all, a brand new computer for free. My problem is the AC Adapter had 5 different size heads and only one of them fit the outlet. This worked fine for 30 days or so and then the battery light started blinking and it would not charge. I went back and they mailed me a new battery. It arrived fully charged and the laptop functioned well, unplugged. Once I ran it down to 80%, the battery would not charge when plugged in but the icon read “80% plugged in, charging”. In would not charge and actual slowly discharged while plugged in. Now I have the icon reading 100%, plugged in, not charging”. When I unlug the adapter, the computer turns off. If I try and turn it on, nothing.
I believe this to be a AC Adapter problem as the motherboard is brand new. I called the retail store holding the warrenty and they are giving me the run around. Before I buy a new AC Adapter, or send it away for another 2 weeks, I thouht I would post to get some opinions.
March 15th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
Help Needed,
I don’t know but I think you can test the adapter with a voltmeter. Plug the adapter into the wall outlet and test the voltage output on the adapter. Now move the power cable and find out if power cuts off when you touch/bent the damaged area of the cord. If it does, apparently that’s your problem. It’s just a guess.
March 12th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
I have a Acer laptop which erratically shuts itself off. I do not believe it is due to over heating based on several diagnostics I have completed. I do, however, have an AC adapter which shows wear around the area where the cord meets the Adapter. Through the rubberized area where the cord meets the Adapter, I can see the wires. I have wrapped this area with electrical tape to stabilize it, however, the problem remains. Do you think the erratic shut down is due to the AC adapter problem? Or, do I have two problems?
March 10th, 2009 at 11:45 pm
Kerri,
Unfortunately, on that particular model the power jack harness is permanently attached to the motherboard. Toshiba doesn’t sell this power jack harness separately and there is no power number for that harness.
Basically, you have four options:
1. Purchase a new motherboard and replace it.
2. Find a damaged motherboard somewhere (maybe eBay) and use the power jack harness from there.
3. Purchase a generic power jack in RadioShack which fits your adapter and make a modification. Cut off the damaged original jack and replace it with a generic one.
4. Use a similar power jack harness from another laptop. I’m not sure if you can do that but I’ll take a look tomorrow when I’ll be at work. Maybe I can find something similar and give you the part number. Cannot promise.
March 10th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
HP ze4800 Says:
January 30th, 2009 at 4:50 pm
I have a ZE4800 that I have replaced my adapter with the replacement from HP. The replacement had a plug size adapter that went from a smaller size to a larger size to fit the laptop. I have broken the plug size adapter. The power adapter works, but will not fit the laptop now. Where can I find just the small plug adapter instead of buying a complete new power supply?
———————–
actually try here…
http://www.targus.com/us/powerstore.asp
March 10th, 2009 at 10:27 am
Hello. I have about the same problem with my DC power jack and I am convinced this is the’problem’ however, I only had my computer for two years now and I am not able to find the part I need; not even on the Toshiba website (Toshiba Satellite A135-s2266) I had to replace the power adapter once before and maybe that worked for about 2 or three months because the plug was tighter or something, I’m not sure but I really need to find a DC power jack because this is very frustrating – or buy a new computer which is really going to stress me out because I bought both my boys one for Christmas and we really cannot afford another. But on a good note, Toshiba pays you to recycle your old computer
–Makes me a little happier.
Thanks,
Kerri
Brohdaw AT comcast.net
February 2nd, 2009 at 12:26 pm
Ara,
I don’t think that you can fix that. The AC adapter is a sealed unit and you cannot take it apart, cut off the damage part of the cord and reattach it back to the adapter.
If the power cord is damaged, you’ll have to replace the whole unit and in your case I would do that as soon as possible. If you accidentally short wires inside the power cord while your adapter is connected to the laptop, you can damage the laptop.
February 2nd, 2009 at 12:12 pm
I have developed a tear in the AC adapter at the location in which it connects with the black box. The rubber is torn and the silver wire threads are showing and beginning to fray and be torn. Is there any way to fix this? Thanks
January 30th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
HP ze4800,
I really don’t like that adapter. I know what you are talking about, I’ve seen something like that on Toshiba adapters.
I think this is really bad design because you can easily damage the power jack.
I’ve tried searching but I didn’t find any. I doubt that you can find this piece separately from the adapter. Fortunately, adapters for HP Pavilion ze4800 are not expensive at all. You can find a new adapter here for less than $20.
January 30th, 2009 at 4:50 pm
I have a ZE4800 that I have replaced my adapter with the replacement from HP. The replacement had a plug size adapter that went from a smaller size to a larger size to fit the laptop. I have broken the plug size adapter. The power adapter works, but will not fit the laptop now. Where can I find just the small plug adapter instead of buying a complete new power supply?
January 22nd, 2009 at 2:26 pm
Semir E.
Could be bad power adapter. Try replacing the adapter first. If you still experience the same problem even with a new adapter, take a closer look at the power jack. There could be a problem with the power jack inside the laptop. Just recently I had to replace a broken power jack on a Sony Vaio VGN-FZ220 laptop. I think it’s similar to your Sony laptop.
January 21st, 2009 at 7:12 pm
Hey,
I got a Sony Vaio VGN-FZ240E, and a few days ago my power adapter seemed to have shut off and at the same time my laptop just shut down. Then from then on my power supply, the led light doesn’t turn on or even charge my battery anymore, all i hear is a faint “click click” noise as i plug in the power supply to the outlet. Just ordered a same power supply, but I rather know what the problem is first before it happens again.
January 13th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
Natali R.
I think there is a problem with the DC-IN power jack – the socket where you plug the AC adapter. Apparently, the power jack is not making good connection with the motherboard and has to be replaced or resoldered. I’ve seen this problem happening many times before on Toshiba Satellite M35X and A75 laptops.
I don’t think that a new adapter will fix your problem. The battery is charging fine when the laptop is off, right? Most likely the adapter is working correctly.
Here’s something to try. Turn on the notebook and wait until the battery charging light goes off. Now move the tip of the AC adapter inside the socket. Does the battery charging light light up or flicker when you move the adapter tip? If it does, there is a problem with the power jack.
January 12th, 2009 at 11:02 pm
I have a 3 years old Toshiba notebook. It fails but I cannot figure out what’s going on.
The battery charges when the notebook is off. When I turn it on, it starts but the battery charge light goes off. I can make it work if I move the adapter tip in the laptop. When I release the tip the battery light goes off again.
Here’s the strange thing. When I turn off notebook than unplug the adapter and plug it back into the laptop, the battery starts charging again and the battery charge light works until I turn on the notebook. Do you think my adapter is failing? Should I buy a new adapter?
January 4th, 2009 at 1:19 am
Thanks. I found a new plug for my adapter and installed it. Looks goofy but works!
January 3rd, 2009 at 9:56 pm
ron,
You’ll have to replace the power socket, that’s for sure. If you cannot remove the pin from the plug, you’ll have to replace the power adapter too or cut off the old plug and solder a new one.
January 3rd, 2009 at 3:20 pm
I pulled the cable to hard and broke the power socket in the laptop. The center pin broke off of the socket and stuck inside the plug.
January 1st, 2009 at 12:15 pm
I have universal adapter and it works with my HP notebook.
I had this adapter for 2 years and no problems.
Andrea
December 27th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Sam,
That’s a good question. I know that universal adapters work but I personally don’t trust them.
Just recently I was troubleshooting a laptop with a universal adapter. The laptop was working fine but it for some reason it didn’t charge the battery. The laptop worked with or without battery installed, so the adapter was providing power.
The problem was fixed as soon as I replace the universal adapter with the original adapter.
I would recommend to buy the original adapter. That’s my two cents.
December 27th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
My power adapter is dead. As you mentioned in the post, I tested my adapter with a multimeter and there is no voltage coming out.
I have a question. My old adapter was rated 19V and I’m thinking about replacing it with a universal adapter, you know the one with a variable voltage output. The universal adapter puts out 12-24V. Should I buy it or should I search for the original adapter?