I would like to purchase an AC /DC converter to be used for a laptop and would like words of wisdom from folks on this forum. I am going to loan it to someone in an area without power due to Rita. Although I don't currently have a laptop I plan to get one in the future and would hope the converter I purchase would be compatible. O.k. here are my questions. There may be questions I should ask that I am not asking if so, feel free to answer those also.
* In regards to laptops how universal or the ac/dc converters? When I had a toshiba, toshiba advised only their converter was recommended.
* Is it best for the laptop to avoid the converter's that do more than one device? i.e., cell phone, PDA
*what wattage should I go for? Any outstanding converters? Any to avoid?
Your assistance will be appreciated.

Judy

Ok, so are you talking about a converter that plugs into an AC wall outlet and outputs DC voltage?

If so, there's no need to "make it fit" to a laptop, because you get one of these with any new laptop. If you don't, I wouldn't buy it! Those things are expensive! From the manufacturer they cost anywhere from $40-90 for any given laptop, and those universal ones can be up to $150! :eek: Even then, the universal ones aren't guaranteed to work with any future laptop you buy. Laptops use all sorts of different wattages, voltages, and amps. They're all over the place. That's why you can't use a Toshiba power adapter with a Dell laptop. Heck, you can barely use a Toshiba power adapter with another Toshiba laptop of the same family! And trust me, you don't want to mess with those numbers! A VCR, yeah, you can mess with the voltages a bit, as long as the overall wattage is the same. But a computer? No way! If a laptop is rated at 62W, 5.6VDC, 11A, and I had an AC/DC converter that outputted 72W, 6.5VDC, 11A - I wouldn't trust it! That's well over 10% more voltage, and that's just too much extra power going into the laptop. Computers are finicky this way...

If you're talking about a 12VDC to AC converter (like you'd use in a car) then that's a different story.

These devices are designed to output the standard 120VAC, 60Hz that comes out of a wall outlet. All you have to worry about then is the sheer wattage that it can handle. You can find all sizes, from 30W to 600W. Laptops generally use 50-150W of power, so 150W or more is a good number to shoot for. Of course, if you're sucking 150W out of a car's battery, you'd better make sure it has a good one... ;)

If you're talking about a 12VDC to AC converter (like you'd use in a car) then that's a different story. These devices are designed to output the standard 120VAC, 60Hz that comes out of a wall outlet. All you have to worry about then is the sheer wattage that it can handle. You can find all sizes, from 30W to 600W. Laptops generally use 50-150W of power, so 150W or more is a good number to shoot for. Of course, if you're sucking 150W out of a car's battery, you'd better make sure it has a good one...
If this is what you are referring to then actually (not to be nit picky) it is a power inverter. When I use to travel a lot in my sales job days I used this one (http://www.thenerds.net/index.php?page=productpage&affid=8&pn=F5C400140W). At the time I picked it up at Wally World and it worked great, but that's been a few years now. You may not always find it in say the computer section but sometimes in the automotive section. Or you can order one online from somewhere. I still have it here somewhere amongst all of the other PC collectibles.

When I had a toshiba, toshiba advised only their converter was recommended.

Actually my tosh laptop uses a Lite-On converter.

Whatever you do, don't buy a universal one. If anything, go and get a new one from the manufactuer that is designed for the laptop (or recommended, whatever).

Actually my tosh laptop uses a Lite-On converter
True, Lite-On makes many of the AC adapters for Toshiba's North American-bound notebooks.
My advice is to stick with the recommended one from the OEM for fire safety reasons. Dell and Compaq have had issues with overheating AC power adapters in the past few years and ended up replacing many of them, if you go with universal ones you may have some real risk.

Thanks for all the replies. I'm glad I got to busy to purchase before waiting for all the replies....in all probability I would have purchased a universal inverter. I ended up going with an Acer TravelMate so will see what Acer suggest. Thanks.
Judy