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When dealing with voltages and amperage, which one can destroy your equipment when not properly matched to the proper device? Am I correct in thinking that attempting to charge a device with an adapter of the correct voltage but too low an amperage won't damage the device but will just take longer to charge?

webworm
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    This is probably a variation on the classic misunderstanding of how power supply current ratings work, (we need a catchy name for that, btw) so don't be surprised if someone comes up with a duplicate question. Anyway, I'll take a shot.. – JustJeff Apr 04 '12 at 02:03
  • @JustJeff PSCR is lame, whatabout PoSuCuRa? – Alois Mahdal Apr 23 '16 at 01:23

3 Answers3

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Note: Main OK point from below is that a power supply with the correct voltage rating and a higher than specified current rating will be OK to use in the vast majority of cases. The situations where this does not work are so rare as to be worth risking unless major safety or $ value concerns exist. Even then you can probably check with over current supply at correct voltage and see if problems occur. If the equipment is worth over 2 weeks income get the correct supply :-).

Power = Volts x Amps = V x I

Too high Voltage will do damage.
Equipment may be damaged Equipment MAY shut down Slightly too high may be OK. YMMV.

Too low voltage may do damage. Slightly too low may work AOK or at reduced current. Too low may damage equipment but not usually.
Too low may damage charger but not usually.

Correct voltage rating and too high current rating is USUALLY OK - equipment will take what it needs.
A very few items of equipment will object in some way.

Correct voltage rating and too low current rating may cause damage.
Slightly too low may be OK with computers an similar.
Older equipment using power supply as charger will quite often work with current rating far too low and just charge slower. Too low current rating - equipment MAY load power supply down - MAY damage supply - MAY work - MAY just refuse to work. eg Most notebooks / laptops / tablets - typically with 15 to 20 Volt supplies - will not even try to charge if power supply voltage is more than a Volt or two too low

Russell McMahon
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  • There is an exception to all of this: ASUS computers will not work from a generic power supply, even if the voltage and power ratings are correct. – richard1941 Jun 20 '17 at 09:22
  • @richard1941 That's a different aspect than what is being asked about here **BUT** you may well be right in many cases. I *think* I've seen an ASUS machine that did not need an original adaptor, but maybe not. That would be a good reason to try not to buy one all else being equal. Dell do similar on at least some of their models. – Russell McMahon Jun 20 '17 at 09:40
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Using an adapter with under-rated current could result in a couple of different outcomes, depending on the particular adapter. (Assuming that since you said 'device' and not just 'battery', that we're talking about devices that have managed batteries in them, which is pretty common now)

A very cheap one might overload and burn out. Device will take very much longer to charge.

A better one, with protection will reduce its output voltage to keep the current constant, in which case, due to the reduced voltage, your device won't charge much faster than in the first case.

You actually want an adapter that has as much, or more, current capacity than the device you're trying to power. The current marked on the adapter isn't the current you necessarily get, you see, it's the upper limit of what the adapter wants to provide. The amount of current you actually get depends on the device, and if it demands too much, your adapter will suffer.

JustJeff
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My laptop had a charger (standard) of voltage 19.5 V and 3.67 A current. Similarly, my mobile had charger of 2A and 5V. Now, curiosity was with my laptop as well as mobile charger, both blew out. Now, I had a charger of 6.7 A at home, I put it in my laptop, there was no change but laptop now charged frequently. (Note that voltages were same). Likewise, I put a 1 A charger into my smartphone, it was very slow and eating my battery. I researched and found out : If voltage ratings are same and current provided by charger is small, the device will get affected and if high, it will draw a standard current of its operation and work fine. Thanks Asad

Asad Sultan
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