The need to repair or replace a laptop power supply is an inevitable result of improper use of the device, caused by frequent careless handling or accidents in everyday life.
Do not attempt to disassemble or open the charger case! The internal components are under the influence of life-threatening mains voltage!
Typical malfunctions that require repair of a laptop power supply
- Power cable damaged by beloved pets, cable pinched by furniture or a door. Most laptops have a charger in a cuboid case with two cables, one of which connects to AC 220V, and the second to the laptop. If a damaged power cord can easily be replaced on its own, then another one requires opening the power supply housing. Under no circumstances should you try to do this yourself, because some components may retain high voltage on their terminals even after being unplugged!
- The laptop power supply plug is broken as a result of an accidental sharp pulling out of the connector or an unfortunate fall of the laptop.
- The plug is bent or broken (for models of chargers that are originally equipped with a mains plug) when the wire is accidentally touched or pulled out of the socket abruptly.
- The laptop power supply burned out due to a power surge or overheating, which led to the drying of the electrolyte in the capacitors and subsequent malfunction of the circuit.
ASUS power supply with a broken mains plug
A common problem that occurs when an ASUS power supply is accidentally dropped or carelessly transported.
ASUS power supply with a broken mains plug
In addition to replacing the case, it is also necessary to replace the power cable due to the presence of several places where its integrity has been violated.
Repair of a laptop power supply in the above cases is inevitable, since, if the power supply is damaged, the laptop will not be able to fully work. The use of a faulty laptop power supply may adversely affect any components directly connected to it (they may subsequently need to be repaired or replaced), as well as cause a fire if the faulty device is left unattended and continued to be used.
If the charger breaks down, the laptop cannot be used for a long time - the duration of its operation in this case will be limited by the remaining charge of the existing battery.
Signs that indicate the need to repair the laptop power supply
- Severe overheating of the charger or its plug.
- The laptop only charges when the wire is moved or at a certain angle.
- A specific burning smell is felt or a noticeable crack is heard.
- The laptop won't turn on or charge.
- The charging time has increased.
- The LED on the charger case turns off when the laptop is plugged in, dimmed, or off at all.
If you are faced with a serious breakdown that requires a replacement of the PSU, then it is better to give preference to the original chargers, because only a qualified specialist with certain skills and equipment capable of measuring the quality parameters of the power supply can distinguish a high-quality Chinese analogue from a cheap fake. If, for some reason, there is no possibility of contacting specialists (business trip, vacation abroad, etc.), then even purchasing a used charger can be a much better idea than buying a Chinese counterpart, the quality of which cannot be assessed in advance.