Can I use any power cord in a notebook power adapter?

Factual Questions
1

The power adaptor for a notebook comes in two halves–the brick itself (the computer half) and a plug (the wall half). I have a working brick, but the cord/plug itself is gone. The notebook in question is an HP dv6. I have an old (~2001) Dell laptop, and it’s plug (again, just the power cord, not the adaptor brick) fits perfectly into the HP’s receptacle.

While I think it’s probably fine, I also think it’s a good idea to check that assumption before I end up with a blown adaptor.

Are those 3-circle-like power cords as interchangeable as regular PC power supply cords?

Thanks,

Rhythm

2

Yes, all those cables are standardized and rated for the same current.

3

Thanks!

4

I think I have actually seen one or two that were polarized and wouldn’t fit in a standard socket, but since they didn’t fit, it wasn’t an issue.

5

I think the OP is referring to the part that plugs into the brick.

6

Yup. that’s what I meant too. :slight_smile:

7

They’re not perfectly standard. Recent Toshibas use grounding plugs. They claim that the power bar won’t work right if you don’t ground it. Since the power cord to the computer is only two connector, I don’t understand this. For a while I used a power cord from an older Toshiba that was rated for the same voltage and nearly the same power (4,2 instead of 4.4 amps) because I don’t always have a grounded socket nearby at home. After relatively little use, the power cube stopped working. I can’t believe that a 5% overload, if it actually did overload, actually killed it.

The irony is that there appear to be no grounded sockets in Japan. Or at least there weren’t in 1998 and I cannot imagine them being very common today, if they do exist. I was visiting a modern research laboratory and they certainly didn’t have any.

8

Not all laptops use the same connector design (2-prong ungrounded vs 3-prong grounded), but all of those power supply cables with the same connector design are built to the same standard.

9

Just so we’re sure we’re talking about the same thing, I assume you mean this C5 connector, right? (See also this article about IEC connectors.)

10

That’s it exactly. That end fits in only one way into the brick, and the plug fits in a 3-prong outlet without a fuss.

11

Then, yes, they’re interchangeable, except that one cable might be a higher gauge for more amperage than another. I don’t think that’s going to be a problem for a notebook computer power supply, though, as it’s probably only a couple of amps.