Laptop Computer Charger

Computer chargers together with cellphone chargers are essential for keeping connected in the Internet Generation. Most computer users have transitioned away from desktop computers in favor of laptops which require chargers to stay on once the battery depletes. Although they can be bulky and hard to pack in your laptop bag, its a good idea to keep your computer charger handy so you can be ready for any situation.

The rectangular box in between the wall socket and the end that plugs into the computer transforms the voltage from 110 Volts in the United States down to a level that the computer battery can handle. In some older laptops, the transformer is built into the laptop itself and makes the entire unit much heavier and bulkier. One of the most interesting advances in laptop charger technology is the fact that most newer power supplies can handle an input voltage range from as low as 110V to as high as 240V, which enables the user to charge their computer while traveling without the need for a voltage converter.

One of the biggest misconceptions that the general public has about laptop batteries are that they still have a "memory" problem and tend to decrease in capacity after starting charging when the battery is at less than 100%. In reality, newer lithium-ion and lithium-polymer batteries deplete over time, based on the amount of charges occurring during the lifetime of the battery. My advice is to charge your battery as needed and let it fully discharge and fully recharge once a month if you have a lithium-ion or lithium-polymer battery.

Probably the most famous computer charger is Apple Computer's Macbook "mag-safe" charger. The great thing about these chargers are that they are connected to the computer by a magnet, so if you or your pet trips on the cord, it will safely unhook itself from the computer without damaging the electric connections. Other computer manufacturers are coming out with similar safety features to prevent damage against unexpected connection disruption.

One of the best pieces of advice that I can give you is to never plug your charger into a laptop that didn't come with the charger even though it still might fit. Although the charger from a laptop from the same brand might fit into another computer, it's highly likely that their batteries require different voltage inputs and you could potentially damage your battery.

Another important consideration to keep in mind is to never leave your laptop charger in a warm environment; Doing so can cause costly damage to the power supply and might make your battery unable to be charged until your get a new power supply.