# Laptop Power Adapters with a Right Angle Plug? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 28, 2009, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-power-adapters-with-a-right-angle-plug/522846 "2009-12-28T22:12:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tacoloco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tacoloco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tacoloco)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-power-adapters-with-a-right-angle-plug/522846/1 "2009-12-28T22:12:38Z")
One of our laptops is used most often on an actual lap here at Casa De Taco. We keep having problems where stress point on the wire next to the laptop side connector gets strained and eventually breaks. A right angle connector would solve this issue. Anyone aware of such an adapter. The laptop is a Dell, but 3rd party compatible adapters would be fine too. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-power-adapters-with-a-right-angle-plug/522846/2 "2009-12-28T22:16:29Z")
My Thinkpad came with one. Dunno how helpful that is. If you like, I can dig up make/model. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-power-adapters-with-a-right-angle-plug/522846/3 "2009-12-29T00:30:31Z")
Here’s what you need: > **[121 2591 - POWER STRIP LIBERATOR FLAT 18'' SINGLE - is no longer available at...](https://www.cyberguys.com/product-details/?productid=37278)** > > We are sorry! 121 2591 - POWER STRIP LIBERATOR FLAT 18'' SINGLE - is no longer available at Cyberguys.com. If possible, please remove any links to this product. Only $2.69 plus shipping! ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-power-adapters-with-a-right-angle-plug/522846/4 "2009-12-29T01:14:51Z")
Many, if not most, [universal adapters](http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0026VMPWM?ie=UTF8&tag=shopwiki-uk-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738) have right angle adapter plugs so if you are looking for a replacement there is that option. Short of cutting and splicing in a new plug you could (if you’re handy with a soldering iron ) make a male to female adapter with a right angle plug termination. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-power-adapters-with-a-right-angle-plug/522846/5 "2009-12-29T02:01:20Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > Here’s what you need: > > [http://www.cyberguys.com/product-details/?productid=37278](http://www.cyberguys.com/product-details/?productid=37278) > > Only $2.69 plus shipping! Except he wants a right angle adaptor for the laptop end of his cables, not the wall end. Still, that’s a handly link; I may buy one of those myself. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-power-adapters-with-a-right-angle-plug/522846/6 "2009-12-29T09:37:51Z")
I just recently replaced a laptop charge cable which had a right angle plug because the wire got frayed just past the tip of the “stiff” part. It lasted about 1 year of daily use, pretty much exactly the same life expectancy of my previous 4 laptop cord replacements. Don’t expect the right angle cord to be a miraculous fix, because no matter where the “soft” part of the cord begins, the wire’s gonna get frayed there. ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-power-adapters-with-a-right-angle-plug/522846/7 "2009-12-29T18:09:29Z")
Another thing you might try is to wrap the area where the wire joins the plug with several layers of electrical tape. This will strengthen the area and reduce stress on the connection. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-power-adapters-with-a-right-angle-plug/522846/8 "2009-12-29T18:13:31Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Except he wants a right angle adaptor for the laptop end of his cables, not the wall end. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![gwtx2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@gwtx2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwtx2)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-power-adapters-with-a-right-angle-plug/522846/9 "2010-07-01T19:24:15Z")
> [@Mosier](#): > > I just recently replaced a laptop charge cable which had a right angle plug because the wire got frayed just past the tip of the “stiff” part. It lasted about 1 year of daily use, pretty much exactly the same life expectancy of my previous 4 laptop cord replacements. Don’t expect the right angle cord to be a miraculous fix, because no matter where the “soft” part of the cord begins, the wire’s gonna get frayed there. Well, my current laptop has a right angle adapter and it has outlasted a couple of previous laptop adapters which had a straight connection. In my opinion, the right angle is the way to go. It relieves much stress on the cable, especially when your power outlet is opposite the laptop connector. Also, my laptop’s power connector is on the rear, and that help tremendously as well. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-power-adapters-with-a-right-angle-plug/522846/10 "2010-07-01T20:03:25Z")
Man, there’s a ton of zombie threads that have been revived lately!