A laptop charger is a vital accessory that keeps your computer operational by supplying power to it. It’s the device that keeps your laptop going.
But how long can a laptop charger last? This is a question a lot of people are interested in.
The answer is that a good-quality laptop charger can last a long time, like 4 to 8 years, but it depends on how you use and handle it. If you are careless with the cord and don’t wrap it properly, it will likely be damaged within a year or two.
In this blog post, we will discuss how to care for your charger and certain things that you can avoid doing to keep your charger healthy for a long time.
How do you keep your charger good?
Just like any other electronic device, laptop chargers don’t last forever. But with proper care, your laptop charger can last a lot longer than the average lifespan.
Here are some of the things you should avoid to keep your charger in good condition.
Avoid tightly wrapping your laptop power cord.
One way to make sure your laptop charger lasts as long as possible is to avoid tightly wrapping the cord.
If you take care when wrapping the cord, power adapters might last you a lifetime. The majority of the time, it’s the power cable that is damaged rather than the power unit itself.
When you wrap the cord tightly, it puts unnecessary stress on the wires and can cause them to break.
Instead, try to loosely coil the cord or it is even better to wrap it in a different way to avoid repetitive stress on the same part. This will help keep the cord in good condition and prevent it from being damaged.
Avoid keeping your charger plugged in all the time.
You can keep your charger plugged in all the time if you want to. It won’t consume a lot of electricity. But it is still a good idea to unplug it when you’re not using it and give it some rest.
Because even if the power consumption of the charger is small when not connected to the laptop, it is still using a little bit of energy. This energy can be used elsewhere.
Also, the transformer can get hot during charging. It is a good idea to place it somewhere with plenty of airflows to avoid overheating.
Keep your charger away from the water.
This should be pretty obvious, but it is still worth mentioning. Water and electronic devices don’t mix.
Even if your charger is unplugged, keep it away from water. If the power cord or the adapter gets wet, it can cause a short circuit that can damage your laptop, the charger, or both.
If your laptop charger comes into touch with water, remove it from the socket as soon as possible and move it away. Before using your charger again, make sure it’s completely dry.
Prevent direct heat
Heat is not good for the cables. You should also avoid exposing your laptop charger to direct heat. This can damage the internal wires of the charger and cause it to malfunction.
It is best to keep your laptop charger in a cool and dry place and also try to keep it away from direct sunlight.
Avoid turning the wire at a 90 degree angle.
Exposed wires can be dangerous, and bending the wire at 90 degrees or bending it at sharp edges like a table can tear the insulation and expose the wires.
The laptop charger wire is not meant to be bent at 90-degree angles. This can damage the internal wires and cause the laptop charger to malfunction or stop working altogether.
This also increases the risk of electrical shocks. Try to avoid bending the wire if possible, or you can also use wire protectors.
How long should your laptop charger last?
Well it depends on you and it also depends on the quality of a charger with proper care, a good quality laptop charger should last you a long time. If you avoid the things mentioned above, your laptop charger can last you a lifetime.
Another thing to avoid is using a charger that supplies low wattage on a laptop that requires higher wattage. This can damage your power supply and might even fry it.
How do you know if you need a new charger for a laptop?
If your laptop is not charging or if it’s taking a long time to charge, it might be time for a new charger. Also, if you notice that your laptop charger is getting abnormally hot, it’s a good idea to get a new one.
If your laptop is not charging first make sure that the charger is at fault not the laptop before buying a new one.
You can check this by using a different charger on your laptop. Or you can remove the battery and plug the charger in and see if the laptop works.
If the laptop works fine this means there is something wrong with the battery, not the charger.
Also read Here is how a laptop charger can break and how to check it.
Conclusion
I hope you found this article helpful. Laptop chargers can last you a lifetime if you use them with care.
In almost all cases, the power cord is damaged and not the power unit. If your laptop charger isn’t working as well as it used to, it might be time for a new one.