Off topic: generic laptop adaptor?

[Lennart Sorensen]

On Thu, Sep 22, 2005 at 09:48:49PM -0400, Peter Hiscocks wrote:
> I took my laptop to Cuba last Christmas, where the line voltage is 220V. The
> adaptor said it could work with 220V, so with some trepidation I plugged it
> into the hotel wall outlet. There was a flash and a giant ZZZZAAAAP sound
> which I'd never heard before, and so I yanked out the plug and assumed that
> the adaptor was dead, dead, dead.
> 
> Got home, checked with CPUsed, and they wanted something like $75 for a new
> one, which is not unreasonable given the output current of the thing.
> Anyway, I decided to try the adaptor on 117VAC line. Again, the zap thing,
> but a bit more subdued this time and I noticed that the laptop was charging.
> So the charger survived completely.

Well I have seen some laptop power adapters cause quite a sparc (zap)
when you plug them into the wall even when not connected to the laptop.
I guess some of them just draw a lot of power right when you connect
them.  If it is in fact a 100-240V capable adapter, then it also makes
sense that if it does the zap thing at 117V it should do the same
(except twice as big) on 220V.

It may in fact be normal behaviour for that adapter.

Lennart Sorensen
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