Re: Connect one model's AC adapter to other model?

On Dec 26, 1:25 pm, spamme9 <spam...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
dubiousd...@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
On Dec 25, 4:22 am, spamme9 <spam...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
M.I.5¾ wrote:
"spamme9" <spam...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:SZj4l.827$BC4.240@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
dubiousd...@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
Is it OK to plug a Latitude D630 AC adapter into an Inspiron 8000?
The specs are at
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/latd630/en/UG/ug.pdf
(AC Adapter section of Specification chapter) and
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/plav/sm/specs.htm#1075001.
They look similar, but I don't even want to try testing the physical
fit unless I know I won't screw something up (for example,
calibration).  My vague understanding of batteries and chargers is
that they are very sophisticated these days (with software monitoring
and control), and closely coupled.
You should be asking DELL.
Don't ever trust random "shoot from the hip" info you get off a
newsgroup...without independent verification.
Unless you find someone who has BOTH computers and swears that they
have PERSONALLY interchanged power supplies...and you TRUST them...don't
do it.
If you do it wrong, it makes smoke.  Oughta, shoulda, kinda just won't do
when it comes to power supplies.
Sometimes you can draw conclusions from comparing info on this site:
http://216.71.88.83/index.html
It's also worth bearing in mind that even if the plugs look the same, they
may not be.  There are a myriad of different sizes and constructions and
some of the differences can be quite subtle.
All the pages on the powerstream site have the same address, so
people who bothered to navigate the pages to the laptop power supply
page found that for each laptop, they give the actual dimensions of the
plug
and the voltage/current rating of the power supply.
 From that info, you can draw some compatibility conclusions that might
be useful.

I can't say that I was able to locate the adapters for the two
models.  

That's the most comprehensive list I know about.

Do you actually sell Dell adapters?

I don't sell anything.

  Does the specs apply

100% to the Dell adapters?  

nothing is 100%

Does it require and electrical engineer to> understand the ramifications of the specs?

You'd think so, but sometimes you assume that the designer
was NOT a total idiot but you were wrong.

If the connector has the exact same dimensions and polarity,
it will plug in.

If the voltage is exactly the same and the current rating is exactly
the same, you can be sure that it might work.

Some laptops have a switch in the socket.  A barrel just a little
too small won't activate the switch.  The switch is there for a reason.
What it does when you don't activate it is only known the designer.
To big can bust the switch.  Doesn't take much.

A well designed laptop has WIDE latitude in what it can accept.
A poor design may be very critical.  And we have no way to know which.
A compaq Aero 4/33 has a bad design.  I exploded the battery pack and
nearly my face.  The designer oughta be shot.

In any discipline, half the people are below average...some, WAY
below average.  And some of those people design laptops.  Even if
you know what you're doing, you can't assume they did.  Usually, often,
shoulda, is no consolation if you're dealing with the exception.

If it were me, I'd go up in the attic and dig out a similar supply
with the same plug, crack the case, reverse-engineer the thing,
change parts to make it do what was required...but that's just me.
I don't have anybody else here to be injured by my stupidity.
I'd NEVER sell one like that.
And I'd never tell anybody in a public forum to do it.

   I'm equally concerned

about whether the calibration scheme (if any!) will be affected.

What's the cost of a new supply?
What's the cost of a new laptop when you break it with the
wrong supply?
What are your alternatives?
How much risk are you willing to take?
Pick the scenario with the lowest risk/reward ratio,
put on your safety glasses, send the kids to the mall,
put 911 on your speed dial and get on with it.

Hmm. My reason for the original post in this thread was to put
feelers out on the level of confidence that the laptop won't be
damaged, based on the response of more experienced tech people (vetted
through the filters of my finite experience on usenet, which suggests
high caution). My assessmment (which aligns with what I've heard
here) is that the risk is high.

Thanks.
.

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