Sometimes you would need a new or an additional laptop power supply. In this guide, we will go through the methods on how to identify what power supply you will need and the places where you can get them, online or offline.
The easiest way to identify what power supply you need is to look at the laptop’s model number. For example, if your laptop is Toshiba Tecra M3, then you would need to get the Tecra M3 power supply. The model number is usually printed on the sticker that is found on the laptop casing. Sometimes, the only place where the laptop model name can be found is beneath the laptop on the dark sticker.
Another method is to look at the power supply voltage that the laptop needs. This information is always printed on the sticker on the underside of the laptop. For instance, it could be 16V and 2A. So, you can buy a universal laptop power supply, set the voltage to 16 volts, pick the right plug and connect it to the laptop. Usually, universal power adapters have enough power, which means you don’t need to worry about the amperes.
Here is an illustration of how a universal laptop power adapter looks.

 


Where to Find a Universal Laptop Power Supply?
You need to first look in your local shops. Look in small computer repair shops or in big chains such as PC World. Surely you will find the right power supply for your laptop in such places. However, they would cost more.
Another way is to look online on computer retailers’ websites. These people also sell laptop accessories. Another good place to find laptop accessories is eBay. However, sometimes, the quality might be lower than expected.
If you aren’t sure what voltage your laptop power supply has and you don’t want to connect it to the laptop before knowing that, connect your power supply to a voltmeter. A voltmeter—a millimeter is also a voltmeter—is widely available in electronic shops all over the world. In the UK, the best place to find them is in Maplin Electronics.