PSA: I just wasted $150 on a 'universal' laptop charger

Bought one online for a quick repair job, but the voltage regulation was so poor it fried the charging circuit on a perfectly good Dell motherboard. Has anyone found a reliable supplier for these, or should we just stick to OEM parts?

3 comments

3 Comments

taylor_garcia1mo ago

Universal chargers can be fine if you check the voltage specs carefully. I've used a few from local electronics shops without any problems. It's worth trying a different brand before giving up on them entirely.

the_abby1mo ago

Oof, that's a rough way to lose a motherboard.

rodriguez.cora13d ago

Universal chargers are a gamble every time you plug one in. Got a cheap one that fried a phone once when I was younger. Not worth the risk of your whole motherboard going up.