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Kymmy · 24-01-2009, 16:51

It also depends greatly on whether the PSU is a standard regulated model (i.e. transformer, rectifier, smoothing and then a regulator IC) or a switch mode PSU...

Switch mode regulates the AC input (so 230VAC becomes more like 400VDC which is then sent through another oscilation circuit that chops the waveform to give you the lower voltage... (yes I know it's not quite right but trying to keep it simple)...What it does mean though is that on a switch mode PSU if anything overheats or shorts out there's a great chance of the output voltage spiking to a lot higher than on a standard regulated PSU... I believe that 95% of laptop PSU's are of this type as they are smaller formfactor for the range of current they can handle

Oh and on the arguement of AC/DC shocks the DC is more dangerous than the same AC voltage as DC will cause more extensive burning..

24-01-2009, 16:51	#11
Kymmy Inactive Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 18,385	Re: How dangerous is a laptop charger? It also depends greatly on whether the PSU is a standard regulated model (i.e. transformer, rectifier, smoothing and then a regulator IC) or a switch mode PSU... Switch mode regulates the AC input (so 230VAC becomes more like 400VDC which is then sent through another oscilation circuit that chops the waveform to give you the lower voltage... (yes I know it's not quite right but trying to keep it simple)...What it does mean though is that on a switch mode PSU if anything overheats or shorts out there's a great chance of the output voltage spiking to a lot higher than on a standard regulated PSU... I believe that 95% of laptop PSU's are of this type as they are smaller formfactor for the range of current they can handle Oh and on the arguement of AC/DC shocks the DC is more dangerous than the same AC voltage as DC will cause more extensive burning..