Shoutbox

Hey everyone,

Been a whole long time since I posted, but I got a question.  I have just gotten a new AC Adapter for my laptop (Universal 70W Home Charger), and using the right limiter thingy for the power.  Well, for some reason the battery light turned red.  Upon investigating in the BIOS, it informed me that there was an Battery Overvoltage. It had a picture of the AC Adapter Plug and an X going through it, and it turned off the AC Adapter on its own.  However, im using the correct tip to be compatible with my notebook, so I'm wondering what that means and how to resolve it and get my battery to work again without it exploding.

Dane

Does the brick itself have a voltage/current/power adjuster? Usually with universal adaptors, it's not just the right connector, it's also the right voltage/current settings. Laptops usually have a label underneath with information about what voltage and current the mains lead can supply without causing trouble. It's usually accompanied by a symbol that's two horizontal lines, like a long =, but the bottom line is dashed. Either that, or one like this image.

Edit: In fact, not just laptops: any electric/electronic device has this info.

Nope.  The only directions on the AC Adapter were to install the correct tip, which I did.  However, even with the AC Adapter unplugged, the battery still says overvoltage.

did you ever see what happened with the old charger?
is this the first time it happens?

Yeah, this is the first time its happened.  The old charger had a tear in the wire and no longer functioned and a replacement was really really expensive so I opted for the Universal one that wasnt as expensive.  Everything else works fine but the battery.

On your old power adapter, does it have an Input and Output listing? Make sure that output matches the one set on the new one.

Example: My power adapter says
Input: AC 100-240V~1.5A(1,5A)
Output: DC 19.5V(19,5V) 3.34A(3,34A)

quote:

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Originally posted by Old Adapter

Input: 100 - 240V~ 1.6A (1.6A)  50-60Hz
Output: 19 V == 3.42A (3.42A)

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quote:

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Originally posted by New Adapter

Input: 100 - 230V~ 2A   50-60Hz
Output: 15 - 24V == 65W Max

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The newer adaptor runs at a higher current, and has a variable voltage. Both of these can cause problems. The new adaptor should have a voltage setting on it at least though. Since you're getting 'overvoltage' errors, you've probably got it set too high.

The voltage setting on most universal laptop power supplies is determined by the plug adapter being used.

I suspect there is no solution to this problem, other than returning the not-so-universal  power supply to the store and getting the more expensive proper replacement for your laptop.

You may want to check on eBay, too.

lol, theres no setting thing, the only thing I can actually change is the tip that the adapter uses and thats supposed to control the current flow or something like that.  I'm using the tip number it said for my laptop model, so idk.