Articles in Category: Power Supplies

A random laptop power supply.

Can Using the Wrong Charger Damage My Device?

Will a specific power supply or charger damage a device? I'll look at what's safe and what's not.

A simple and clean thumbnail about understanding charger specifications. The image features a variety of chargers and power supplies with different connector styles in the background, subtly blurred to focus on the main subject: a magnifying glass in the foreground, highlighting the tiny, hard-to-read text on a charger label. The text on the charger is just visible enough to show numbers and symbols representing input and output power specs. The title 'Decoding Charger Specs' is prominently displayed in bold, easy-to-read font at the top of the image.

How to Read Phone Charger Voltage Specs

Power supply labels can be difficult to read and interpret. I'll review what matters.

Battery indicator on a laptop screen.

Boost Your Battery! Top Tips for Maximum Life

How to get the most out of your laptop battery.

Power Supply

Can I Use a Higher Wattage Power Supply With My Laptop?

The voltage and polarity of the power supply must match. Amps and watts have some flexibility.

Power Supply

Is It Safe to Use a Higher Wattage Power Supply in My Computer?

Replacing a power supply is a common solution to some problems. Make sure you have the right wattage power supply. Bigger doesn't hurt.

Laptop

Why Is My Laptop Running Slower When It’s on Battery?

Laptop settings control power use when running on battery. Your choices affect performance and how quickly you'll need to plug in again.

Uninterruptible Power Supply

If Shutting Down Windows Cleanly Is So Important, What Happens When the Power Just Goes Out?

We're all told to shut down Windows before turning power off, but what if the power just goes out? If you're not protected, bad things can happen.

Laptop Battery

How Should I Store My Backup Laptop?

Four basic approaches to storing a laptop that isn't being used.