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How to check if a new type of charger is harming your laptops battery? (lemmy.zip)
submitted 3 months ago by to c/linux@lemmy.ml
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My current charger is broken, but I found another charger which kind of fits, but im suspicious if it will harm my laptops battery in the long run, what commands can I run or what can I look at to see if a new type of charger is harming a laptops battery? as this isnt usb-c or anything really official.

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[–] 2 points 3 months ago* (6 children)

Depends on the connector. "Kind of fits" and "isnt usb-c" makes me think you might be dealing with the type of barrel plug that's very common on pre-USB-C non-Macs.

Unfortunately, barrel plugs tell you zilch about the power supply they're connected to. They're a dumb connector with no data capability whatsoever, and I've seen the same size of plug on power supplies with output anywhere from 3V to 24V. You need to look for the data panel on the old power supply and make sure the new one has the same voltage, the same or larger amperage, and the same polarity.

Polarity on a barrel plug is marked by a symbol that looks like this or this. Make sure the old and new match. Nearly all barrel plug power supplies are center-positive, but better to get it right the first time and avoid any risk of damage to your laptop.

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  • [–] 1 point 3 months ago

    They’re a dumb connector with no data capability whatsoever

    Usually, then there's Dell and friends:

    Brands like HP and Dell use OEM "smart" adapters (often with a central pin in the barrel) that actively communicate with the laptop motherboard. These communicate battery health, authenticate the charger to prevent overheating, and ensure the correct wattage is pushed to the device.

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  • [–] 1 point 3 months ago (4 children)

    Unfortunately, barrel plugs tell you zilch about the power supply they're connected to. They're a dumb connector with no data capability whatsoever, and I've seen the same size of plug on power supplies with output anywhere from 3V to 24V.

    That’s definitely not true: Dell laptop chargers and desktop power supplies do communicate what wattage they are able to supply.

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  • [–] 3 points 3 months ago (3 children)

    Hadn't heard about those, but a quick search shows those aren't standard barrel connectors, although they look similar. The Dell connectors have a third pin for data. Normal barrel connectors only have two pins.

    For the OP, that means that if your laptop is a Dell from the period where they were doing this, you need a specialized cable and charger intended specifically for Dells.

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  • [–] 1 point 3 months ago (2 children)

    Given the context that we were talking about laptop chargers rather than generic power bricks, I think it’s fair to consider standard laptop power supplies. (HP has the same connectors even though their protocol is different, and I’m not familiar with other brands but I expect they are much the same).

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  • [–] 2 points 3 months ago* (1 child)

    Now you got me curious, so I got up and checked:

    2008 HP laptop: Appears to be a standard barrel with no center pin. (Also has yellow trim and is in-line with the cord.)

    Circa 2013 HP laptop: Has the connector with the center pin. (Larger than the barrel on the 2008 model, and at right angles to the cord)

    So it's era-dependent (and I used that 2008 model too long). TIL.

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