If the original charger for your laptop broke or you just can’t find it, you may consider using a different charger. Most of us have dozens of chargers lying around, and once our original chargers break, we often look at those old ones or look for help on the internet. But, can you use a laptop charger with a higher wattage than the laptop?
If your laptop charger has higher wattage than your laptop, you should be able to use it without a problem, as long as several other conditions are met. For example, the connector has to match the laptop and the amperage has to be equal to or higher than the laptop’s amperage.
Of course, using the charger that was specifically designed for your laptop is always best. Click here to search laptop chargers on Amazon.
There are even more caveats that you have to be aware of, as well as some precautions to take. It’s always best to be informed and to know as much as you can about a subject before you try something new. So, if you want to use a charger with a higher wattage than your laptop, read on.
Does Wattage Matter for a Laptop Charger?
If you want to charge your laptop with a charger that’s not its original one, you may have to look at several factors, including wattage. Here are some things to consider.
The Plug
The most important thing for a charger is that its plug matches the laptop. If it doesn’t, then nothing will work. For example, most phones have similar chargers and most can be changed easily without bothering with other elements like wattage or amperage.
But, laptops are a bit different since most usually come with different plugs. Each manufacturer could have a proprietary plug and this creates issues. There are all kinds of connectors, from round ones to USB ones, all in different sizes. If your charger matches your laptop, you are already halfway there and you should have fewer problems charging with it.
If none of the chargers you have fit your laptop, you will probably have to order the right one and pay for it, and these can get expensive sometimes, but it depends on the manufacturer.
Once you find out whether it matches or not, it’s time to move on to more technical details, and see if the setup you are going for can work. These technical details include wattage, amperage, and voltage. And if they are not suitable for your laptop, then you might cause a small fire in your room. So, you have to be precise and careful.
The Voltage
The voltage comes first and you will likely find it on the box that’s attached to your charger. This box is called the power brick. The voltage number defines what will pull the power to your device. If the number on the power brick marked for voltage doesn’t match that on your laptop, you could cause a big problem and destroy your equipment.
Laptops generally have around 15V [more or less] and most chargers will match that. The voltage is a very important factor and it should match the voltage on the laptop. Find the voltage of your laptop in the papers and guides that came with it, on its box, or even perhaps at the bottom of it.
The Amperage
Amperage is another important factor in this process. The amperage states how much volume of power the laptop can take and the charger can provide. You’ll find the amperage on the power brick as well and in the papers that came with your laptop.
If you want the charger to work for your laptop, you need to make sure that these numbers match. At the very least, the amperage on the charger can be a bit bigger, but not by a lot. It should never be lower than the one on your laptop. Otherwise, you could start a fire or cause damage to your equipment.
The Wattage
The wattage is the final important factor. The wattage is the amount of power a device draws and needs, so your charger should provide the same or higher amount of power. You’ll find these numbers on your power brick as well and on the bottom of your laptop. So, make sure that they match or that the one on the charger is higher than the one on the laptop.
Most laptops will need between 45 and 10 watts of power, so if the charger provides less by any chance, don’t use it. Maybe your charger isn’t showing the watts, but if the amps and the voltage match well, you shouldn’t have an issue. Still, if you notice smoke or overheating, remove the charger from the laptop immediately.
Other Tips When Matching a Charger to a Laptop
Of course, this is not the complete list of things that you’ll need to check when looking for a new charger to buy, but if you just need to know whether one of your chargers will work on a laptop, this will be enough.
Because chargers are often expensive, you may start looking for one that doesn’t necessarily come from the manufacturer. Knock-offs come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, but they are not always the best option for you. They will break often and they might even damage your equipment. They are not the safest either since there are basically no standards in the knock-off industry.
These chargers will also not work well — they won’t charge. So, your laptop may sit on the charger all day long and nothing will ever happen. It’s better to go with the original chargers or a charger from another brand that works on your laptop.
Can I Use a 90-Watt Charger on a 45-Watt Laptop?
If you want to use a 90-Watt charger on a 45-Watt laptop, you should know that this is possible. Wattage defines how much power a device can draw. In this case, your laptop has a wattage of 45 Watts, so it will draw that much power from the charger.
Your charger can take it and it won’t get too hot during the charging process. In fact, you’ll have quite a smooth experience with this. Of course, you have to consider the amperage as well. The amperage should match as well.
If it can’t match, then it should be higher. Wattage is a measurement that will tell you how much power a device can draw, but the amperage defines the volume of electricity that flows to your laptop at once.
Naturally, make sure that the plugs are matching too.
On the other hand, if you have a laptop charger with 45 Watts and a laptop with 90 Watts, you would not be able to use them together. The problem here is that your charger wouldn’t have enough power to give to your laptop and it would work harder than it has to provide it and match the needs of your laptop. All of that heat would cause various issues like a fire, overheating of the charger, and so on.
If the amperage doesn’t match or is higher than your laptop’s amperage, you would also have issues. Your laptop would require a volume of electricity that your charger simply wouldn’t be able to provide. So, stick to higher or equal when it comes to connecting chargers and laptops.
Conclusion
So, there you have it, as long as your amperage and wattage are higher than the one on your laptop, you should be able to use it properly. Of course, first, make sure that the plugs are right for your laptop.
However, don’t try to do the opposite and plug a charger with lower wattage than your laptop into it. This could cause some serious damage to your equipment at best, and at worst, it could cause a fire. So, be careful when tampering with electronic equipment or you might get hurt and cause damage. Always take the time to get informed on what you are trying to do or ask an expert for their help.
For more, check out Can I Use Water to Clean My Laptop Screen? [With Two Alternatives].
Hey, I’m Jim and the author of this website. I have always been interested in survival, fishing, camping, and anything in nature. In fact, while growing up I spent more time on the water than on land! I am also a best-selling author and have a degree in History, Anthropology, and Music. I hope you find value in the articles on this website. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or input!
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