How do you determine the correct plug on a power supply unit (power adapter, power supply unit, AC adapter, notebook adapter) or choose whether the power supply plug fits your device?
Table of Contents
Why is the power supply plug different?
There are many power supplies available on the market which, although they have identical data and in some cases also have the same model designation, still differ in some cases in terms of the power supply plug size.
How do you know the power supply plug fit into your device?
If you have found a suitable power supply and all values match the polarity, how do you know whether the suitable plug-in of the right size is mounted on this power supply and fits into your device?
Polarity: An important detail, incorrect polarity, can make the effects device unusable. Most effect devices need an internal negative pole, also known as a “negative tip.” The polarity is also often shown on the corresponding devices such as notebook, etc., directly at the input of the connector or on the device name, etc.
You have already landed a hit when the plug size of the power supply unit is specified in the item description. But all of this will only help you if you also know which connector size you need.
The easiest way, in this case, is you still have your old original power supply and can measure the shaft diameter (A) with a ruler or, even better, with a caliper.
How to confirm the power supply plug size if you miss the original power adapter?
If the original power adapter is no longer available, you still have a certain number of other power adapters or chargers. For example, the telephone, modem, router, printer, monitor, old cassette recorder, mp-3 player, toys, cordless screwdriver, etc.
Try out which of these power adapters the plug fits into your device. (Of course, without plugging it into the socket, this is only about the power adapter plug size) Once you have found a suitable connector, measure the shaft diameter.
Most standard power adapter plug size
The most common DC connector sizes are given here as a guide. Please note that you always measure a touch less than the standard size.
2.4×0.75mm
3.5×1.3mm
4×1.7mm
4.75×1.7mm
5.5×2.1mm
5.5×2.5mm
6.35×3.0mm
The first number indicates the size of the shaft (picture-red), and the second number the diameter of the hole in the middle of the power adapter plug (picture-blue).
There are 2 standard sizes of these power supply plugs with a shaft diameter of 5.5mm. One with a hole in the middle of 2.1mm and the other with a hole of 2.5mm.
This can only be measured with a caliper. If you don’t have this tool at hand, the ballpoint pen trick will help:
A conventional ballpoint pen refill has a diameter of 2.5mm. So take a ballpoint pen and insert its lead tip into the front of the power supply plug (only with 5.5mm plugs). If only a piece of the lead tip fits into the plughole at the front, its diameter is 2.1mm. If you can insert the mine deeper, its diameter is 2.5mm.
The barrel connector sizes listed above are most often found on plug-in power supplies, which is not to say that there are no power supplies with other plugs.
Several barrel connectors have an inner pin instead of a hole in the middle. These are used, among other things, for notebook power supplies, monitor, and printer power supplies.
This picture shows that the power supply connector with inner pin can also be recognized and differentiated with inner and outer diameter.
Conclusion: Measure the inner and outer diameter, check the polarity, amperes, and watts, and you already know which power supply you need …
Now It’s Your Turn
So that’s how I understand Notebook power supply plug check.
Now I want to turn it over to you: Do you understand how to check the Notebook power supply plug through my article?
Do you have a different point of view with the Notebook power supply plug check? Or any other questions?
Let me know by leaving a quick comment below right now.
