Laptop Power Supply

lokiman

Hello all,

Apologies for what may be a silly question but, though I'm generally pretty handy with a computer, electrical matters are not my forte, which is why I need some advice on getting a new power supply. Next week, I will be moving from Bermuda to the UK, and want to get a new power supply for my HP laptop. Now my understanding is that the supply that came with my computer will automatically switch between 110V and 240v, and that all I need to do is find an adapter to switch my two prong US plug to the standard UK plug. So far, so good. However, I'd like to pick up a second power supply in the UK that has a standard UK plug already installed. So, I've been trawling ebay and a bunch of other sites for a suitable universal power supply, but I can't find a power supply that has an 18.5v output, which my present power supply has. All of the universal supplies that I can find can be switched from 9v - 20v in increments of 1v. So, you can select 18v or 19v, but not 18.5v. My question is whether there is some degree of voltage tolerance in laptops, such that the voltage can vary somewhat. Are any of these universal power supplies likely to be any use, or am I going to have to pay top dollar and buy an 18.5v supply from HP?

Thanks.

ianeverton

In my experience the variable transformers, that you select the output required are pretty far off what they are meant to give out anyway.

I always test the voltage before connecting anything.

Why dont you just cut off the original plug top and fit a 13 amp standard uk plug top?

If you stick with buying a universal power supply always go under voltage as it wont impact any of the components running "light".

unrich

You should be able to get a PSU specific to your lappy from ebay there are always loads on there.

As an alternative you could have a look at the Kensington 120W universal power supply which will work from 110 and 240v also from 12v DC too. The Kensington site has a list of the laptops with which it's compatible.

If you look out for a "shaver adapter" when you get to the UK. These are available at most electrical shops and also big chemists like "Boots".