Why are laptop chargers so bad???

bigpinkelephant · 15-09-2008 8:19am #1

Hi all,
I have had my laptop a year and a half, and in that time have gone through 3 chargers. No matter what I do, the tip that plugs into the laptop always breaks. The original charger lasted for maybe a year. Then it was working less and less- the tip was getting loose- til I had to hold it in place to get the laptop to charge. Then it stopped working altogether. I got a new charger, one of the ones that can charge any laptop, it was 50 euro. Lasted maybe 5 months. Then the tip on that broke, and the same as the last one- stopped working. Then I spent €100 on a new one at the beginning of September, and returned it yesterday- same problem!

Does anyone else have this problem with them?

Silenceisbliss · 15-09-2008 9:03am

sounds like your abusing the connection a little. ive never had any problems.

jsut take it easy with plugging it in and out, and dont go swinging your laptop around on the cable....

Alanstrainor · 15-09-2008 9:35am

Never had that problem myself, what kind of laptop is it?

bigpinkelephant · 15-09-2008 11:13am

It's a Toshiba.
The connection is on the back, and when I am using the laptop, I generally sit on my bed, i have it on my lap. I would usually be sitting with my knees up. I am thinking maybe sitting like this is putting pressure on the connection?

humaxf1 · 15-09-2008 11:46am

yea, could be straining the plug alright. especially if there is any downward pressure, it wont help. put a loop in the cable and "clamp" the main part of the cable between ur thigh and the laptop to relieve the strain.

rearrange your sitting position too. a laptop resting on your thighs blocks air vents and if you're a bloke, it doesnt do your reproductive system any good either.

get a laptop cooler pad instead.

kikel · 15-09-2008 11:53am

bigpinkelephant wrote: »

It's a Toshiba.
I am thinking maybe sitting like this is putting pressure on the connection?

Thats your problem right there. This can be a weak point of the laptop and strains the connection.

bigpinkelephant · 15-09-2008 8:09pm

The Toshiba parts store quoted me 85 euro for the new charger... think I'll get it on eBay, much cheaper! Will have to wait for it though...

AlmightyCushion · 15-09-2008 8:14pm

bigpinkelephant wrote: »

The Toshiba parts store quoted me 85 euro for the new charger... think I'll get it on eBay, much cheaper! Will have to wait for it though...

Make sure to deal with a reputable dealer as some of power adapters are dangerous cheap knock offs.

Run_to_da_hills · 15-09-2008 8:56pm

Sounds like you have been tugging at your charger supply cable, count your self lucky you haven't reefed the power supply socket off your motherboard, then you would be in big trouble.

bigpinkelephant · 15-09-2008 9:08pm

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

Make sure to deal with a reputable dealer as some of power adapters are dangerous cheap knock offs.

The shop have over 99% positive feedback but do you reckon I'd be better off just getting it from the parts store here? Will be twice the price though.

I have bought phone chargers off eBay before but I guess a laptop charger is a lot more powerful and I will be using it more in a day than I'd use a phone charger in a week?

AlmightyCushion · 15-09-2008 9:12pm

As long as the seller is reputable then you will be fine just don't buy off someone who just signed up and is selling them for €10. 99% feedback with a lot of sales is fine.

kikel · 15-09-2008 9:14pm

one thing i've noticed about these replica chargers is that the leads are not as long as the original. A pain in the nads when the charger no longer reaches the couch.

bigpinkelephant · 15-09-2008 9:21pm

Maybe I should just get another cheap 50 euro one in Peats or somewhere, since it seems to be me that is causing the problem?

jimmycrackcorm · 16-09-2008 1:09am

I've gone through quite a few laptop chargers but the weak point always has been the lead coming out of the converter. I've had to selotape more than one connection.

I'd be wary on the ebay chargers, one melted right through and luckily didn't start a fire. Maplins / Argos have good replacements.

bigpinkelephant · 16-09-2008 8:15am

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

I've gone through quite a few laptop chargers but the weak point always has been the lead coming out of the converter. I've had to selotape more than one connection.

I'd be wary on the ebay chargers, one melted right through and luckily didn't start a fire. Maplins / Argos have good replacements.

Are you serious? Your charger melted?
Maybe I should get the one from the Toshiba parts store then... it's twice the price but I guess I will have it sooner and can return it easier if it doesn't work?

jimmycrackcorm · 16-09-2008 12:27pm

One of the othe rproblems I've had with those all-purpose chargers is that they have interchangeable ends and they always end up getting broken rendering the chareger useless. If only they would make them sturdier rather than relying simply on the two small pins to keep them from being bent off and broken.

Overheal · 17-09-2008 12:19am

Ive had problems with chargers but not the pins. The first one died of a short and the 2nd one was an ebay piece of ****. It sounds like you're putting stress on the plug: you have to be careful not to put pressure on it when you sit in an armchair, etc.

kikel · 17-09-2008 11:03pm

I've seen chargers and laptops melted at the point where the two connect. Not a pretty site. OEM equipment to.

clearya · 18-09-2008 7:18pm

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

Make sure to deal with a reputable dealer as some of power adapters are dangerous cheap knock offs.

That happened to me, got one for 11euro and it was broken within a month, but my own fault for not double checking. Ordered another one but this time it should be a good quality one

Why are laptop chargers so bad???

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