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I have a Toshiba Settilate laptop, my charger stop working (chewed by the dog:), I have a friend with a Lenovo charger, can I use this charger on my computer?

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2 Answers

up vote 6 down vote accepted

Unlikely.

Chargers can be different in a number of ways:

  • The size and shape of the connector on the laptop.
  • If they are the same size & shape then the polarity of the tip might be reversed.
  • Most importantly the voltage and current they supply might be different.

If all of these are the same then you might be OK. If not (especially the last) you might end up with a dead laptop. Though as Robert points out if the charger provides higher current you can use it. With one that supplies lower current it will be the charger that blows up rather than your laptop.

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Small Note - The voltage and polarity of the new charger must be the same as the old one but the amperage of the new charger can be higher (i.e. can be higher but not lower than the old one). – Robert Cartaino♦ Aug 30 '09 at 14:43
@Robert - thanks for that note. – ChrisF Aug 30 '09 at 16:08
Aren't there standards governing the polarity of the connectors? I thought the tip part was always positive. – RJFalconer Nov 26 '10 at 9:23
@RJFalconer - but that's only one factor. – ChrisF Nov 26 '10 at 9:25
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up vote 0 down vote

Take a look at what voltage they supply, the voltage shall be the same.

And then check polarity on the connector, i.e. positive pole in the middle.

And lastly is it big enough, how many ampere do they delivere?

All this is usally printed on the power supply or on the computer it self, and if the above seems ok then you can try at your own risk.

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