Laptops have arrived with a charger almost from the beginning of time – or at the very least since the introduction of the first laptop computer. Typically, these chargers are exclusive to their respective brands and require an alternating current power source. But what happens if you don’t have access to alternating current power? If you require access to any critical information that is saved on your laptop, a dead battery can effectively prevent you from accessing that information. For your convenience, we’ve put together five distinct solutions, including quick fixes and long-term remedies.
Bring a Spare Battery
We’re going to reveal a shocking industry secret: laptop makers are motivated by the desire to profit. It’s the very reason they’re in business in the first place! However, this also implies that they are frequently willing to offer spare parts. The addition of a second battery might be really beneficial if you’re concerned about running out of charge while on the road.
If you want to charge your backup battery quickly and conveniently, you might want to consider purchasing an external battery charger. These gadgets are designed to be plugged into a power outlet and to let you immediately connect your laptop battery to them.
You may then put your laptop into a wall outlet to charge your primary battery while using the external charger to charge your spare battery. Take note that an external charger, like your major charger, will be specific to a specific brand, and in many cases, a specific line of laptops, just like your primary charger. Make certain that you purchase the correct model for your laptop.
Use a USB Type-C Battery Pack
Your laptop model may allow you to utilize a USB Type-C battery pack, however this will depend on the model you have. While prior USB Type-A connectors could only supply power in one direction, USB Type-C ports can supply power both in and out of the device. If your laptop is equipped with a USB Type-C port, you may power it with a USB Type-C battery pack, just as you would for your smartphone.
You should be aware, however, that most computers operate on 8 to 12-volt power, whereas most USB chargers operate on 5 volts. A power bank of at least 8 volts will be required if you intend to use your laptop while it is being recharged.
Even at 5 volts of output, you’ll be able to receive an hour’s worth of charge in a rather short period of time, if not less. If you attempt to charge your battery by connecting it to one of the USB ports in your car, the identical problem will occur. If you’ve got some extra time on your hands and the engine is running, this will get the job done.
However, if you need to use your laptop for work purposes throughout the day, it will not last. You’ll need a higher powerful external battery pack or power bank to complete the task at hand. We recently published a review of the Jackery Supercharge 26800. With a capacity of 26,800mAh, it has more than enough juice to fully recharge a laptop computer. Furthermore, it is tiny enough to be easily portable, making it a great item to take on the road.
Use Your Cell Phone
Most contemporary smartphone models can be used as a backup power supply in an emergency situation as a last resort charging option. Obviously, the battery in your smartphone does not carry nearly as much charge as the battery in your laptop. Because of this, there are a handful of important disadvantages to the cell phone charging technique.
First and foremost, even if you entirely drain your smartphone’s battery, you will not be able to recharge it for more than 30 minutes or so. There’s no doubt that this is insufficient time to complete a significant amount of work. Second, if you entirely empty your smartphone’s battery, you’ve simply exchanged one dead battery for another, which is a bad thing. Having said that, if you’re driving, you can easily plug your smartphone into a power outlet to recharge it later.
As a result, how would one go about implementing this method? You’ll need a USB Type-C to USB Type-C cable to get started. After that, connect your phone to your laptop and look for the USB settings on your phone. If you’re using Android or iOS, the process will be slightly different in certain ways. In any case, you must select the option for power supply. As soon as you’ve completed this, your smartphone’s battery will fast drop, and your laptop’s battery will quickly re-energize.
As you can see, this is a last-ditch effort, and it is not a viable strategy for everyday use. If you expect to run out of power on a regular basis, it is far wiser to invest in a dedicated battery pack that has been designed just for the job. Nonetheless, using a cell phone to get yourself out of a jam is a reliable approach of rescuing yourself.
Invest in a Universal Adapter
Consider the following scenario: you have an outdated laptop whose charger is no longer in manufacture. What do you do if your charger stops working? Is your laptop no longer functional?
When faced with this predicament, a universal adapter may be the most practical solution to your concerns. These are AC/DC adapters that come with a number of replaceable tips and may be used with a wide range of different brands of electronics. Furthermore, if you have a bad tendency of losing things, you can usually purchase individual tips to replace those that have vanished from sight. Some models even allow you to connect to the 12-volt cigarette lighter in your car, allowing you to be completely mobile while on the go.
Universal adapters function in the same way as the original power supply for your laptop. Not only will they charge your laptop, but you will also be able to utilize it during the charging process. Having said that, you’ll need to use caution.
Overheating and even battery failure can occur if the amperage or voltage are set to a higher value than necessary. We recently published a review of the top universal adapters available on the market. All of our options come with numerous tips as well as a variety of power settings, allowing you to supply the exact amperage and voltage you need.
Take Advantage of Your Car Battery
In addition, if you spend a lot of time on the road, particularly if your job necessitates a lot of driving and extensive use of your computer, you may find it necessary to charge your laptop without using a regular charger. Several vehicle options have already been mentioned, but here are a couple more for you to take into consideration:
The most obvious method of accomplishing this is to purchase a power inverter. Using these devices, which plug into the cigarette lighter outlet in your car, you may power equipment that requires up to 300 watts of continuous electricity.
That isn’t enough power to run a power tool, but it is more than sufficient for running a laptop or other electronic device. However, the disadvantage of this strategy is that you’ll have a large, cumbersome power inverter sitting someplace in the trunk of your car. The advantage is that it is user-friendly for beginners, and you can quickly transport your laptop in and out of the vehicle when you are not in use of it.
Another option is to hardwire your laptop directly into the car’s electrical system. While this won’t allow you to simply remove it – at least not without purchasing a second charger to use at home – it’s an excellent option if you’re planning on placing your laptop inside the vehicle.
This is when things become a little complicated. The majority of gadgets developed for automotive use include a built-in voltage regulator, which reduces the battery voltage as needed. Laptops are intended to be used with their original AC adapters and do not provide this capability.
You must first determine what voltage of direct current (DC) your laptop is capable of accepting before you can properly hardwire it in this manner. Then, rather of connecting it directly to your fuse box, you’ll need to connect it to a voltage regulator, which will then connect to your fuse box through a separate cable. Don’t forget to set the voltage on the regulator to the appropriate level, or otherwise it won’t do much good.