Lost your laptop's charger? Here’s what to do

Without your laptop charger, you may feel like your laptop is next to worthless. You might be lucky enough to get one of those super laptops that can keep charge for up to 17 hours, but eventually, the charge will run low, putting you back to the same spot. So, what exactly should you do in the event you lose or forget to carry your laptop charger? The answer depends on how creative you are.

While innovation in computer technology keeps on improving every day, there aren’t many alternatives to charging a laptop without its charger. However, there are some tricks you can try that will keep your laptop humming. In this roundup, we will show you how you can easily charge your laptop without a charger.

How to charge a laptop without a laptop charger

Solution 1: Use a universal adapter

A universal adapter is perhaps the most common solution to your battery woes. These universal chargers come with multiple tips so it’s likely you’ll find one that will fit in your laptop’s charging port. You can even buy individual tips separately. Some universal adapters even have the ability to charge your laptop from a car or from other 12V DC power points. When plugged in, the adapter will not only power the laptop but charge it as well. However, if put in the wrong way, tips can cause improper voltage and damage to your laptop.

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Solution2: Car Battery

If you are the kind of travelers who spend most of the time on the road than in the office, then you can use the car battery to charge your laptop. Wiring the laptop directly to the battery can be tricky since most modern laptops have battery voltages ranging from 8V and above, while most car batteries are rated at 12V. Even so, there are ways that you can ‘hotwire’ a laptop to a car battery even if the voltage is less than 12V. However, it’s important to be cautious as you could wind up with a dead car battery or damage the laptop in the process.

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The most efficient way to adapt the power from a car battery to power or charge a laptop is by use of an inverter. Various inverters exist and are capable of generating AC current from a DC source with output power ranging from 12-24V. When you have the inverter, you can certainly use your car’s cigarette lighter to charge your laptop. To do so, follow these 3 simple steps:

Step 1: Plug the inverter right into your car’s cigarette lighter socket

Step 2: Now plug the laptop’s AC adapter into the inverter

Step 3: Connect the AC adapter to the laptop.

Solution 3: Use an external laptop battery charger

An external laptop battery charger is a standalone device that doesn’t plug into your laptop. Instead, you remove the battery of your laptop, mount it on the charger, and then plug in the charger into an electrical outlet. Most external laptop chargers have indicator lights that flash when the battery is charging, then remain steady when the battery is fully charged. Note that external laptop chargers are usually brand specific, so choose one that matches your laptop’s specs.

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Conclusion

While the methods described above might provide a solution to charging your laptop when you don’t have a charger, keep in mind that they cost money, and require an advance purchase. In all cases, it is economical and safer to buy a laptop charger.