Laptop Power Adapter

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A laptop power adapter is the thing you plug into the wall to run your laptop from a wall socket (instead of from the battery). They usually resemble a black plastic brick with a wire coming out of each end (see below).

Your particular model may look slightly different, depending upon the manufacturer of your laptop.

Important: If you want to have ITS work on your laptop, you need to bring its power adapter with you. Frequently we have to work on these machines longer than their battery life allows, and some installations (such as Service Pack 2 for Windows XP) require that a power adapter be connected.

Is it okay for my power adapter to get hot?

Power adapters convert the AC (alternating current) power from the average wall socket into computer-usable DC (direct current) power. This process is not terribly efficient, so a lot of excess heat is generated. It is normal for your power adapter to get warm. If it ever becomes too hot to touch, however, you should contant ITS or call the laptop manufacturer's tech support line.