Some advice on a Sony Vaio PSU

[Attila the Bun]

A friend of mine has had his Sony Vaio psu die on him...it's not the original psu it and it looks like the laptop equivalent of an Ezcool. It also sounds like his battery is on the way out. If it was a tower I would have no problems in suggesting a reputable brand but I don't know if it's the same for laptops.
Could anyone suggest a good unit? Are units from Antec and FSP with universal fittings sound investments?

[Pob255]

Yes, I'd also look at the one from Targus they are good (well their older ones where good, not sure about the current low cost one)

Actually the one scan has listed http://www.scan.co.uk/products/150w-...-tips-included seems to be EOL now I think that's why it might be so cheap.
however contact scan or targus first to make sure it will fit with the laptop.

In fact do that first for any adaptor you get, laptop manufactures seem to love changing the charge socket regularly for no other reason I can find except making the old psu's unusable.

[scaryjim]

Vaios have remained fairly consistent up to a couple of years ago (we had a ton of them at work ranging from about 8 years old to 3 years odl, all using the same spec power supplies).

In fact, if you want I can probably dig out an unused one (we've lost a couple of Vaio's to old age & theft recently) and let you have it for postage...?

[Attila the Bun]

Thanks for the advice both of you.

I shall check with scan about the Targus Pob.

I will speak to my friend about your offer Jim and get back to you later today.
Do you know how much the postage will be?

One other thing would a dying battery put more strain on a psu? Should I tell him to get a new one?

[Attila the Bun]

In fact, if you want I can probably dig out an unused one (we've lost a couple of Vaio's to old age & theft recently) and let you have it for postage...?

That would be excellent Jim. How shall I pay you for the postage.

[scaryjim]

That would be excellent Jim. How shall I pay you for the postage.

three things:

a) I will have to check at work to make sure we have a spare one I can send (although I'm pretty sure we do, and don't worry, I control all the hardware in work and am allowed to make decisions about how we dispose of it!)

b) I'll have to weigh the PSU to check the postage costs, but a rough guess suggests about £4 will cover packaging and RM 2nd Recorded

c) check the voltage and connector type first. From memory it's something like 19.2v for a standard Vaio PSU, and the connector is a barrel with an internal pin on the PSU side. I'll PM you further details and a photo on Monday to confirm. I'd hate to send you a PSU only for it to turn out to be the wrong specs or connector

EDIT: in regards to the dying battery thing, I don't think it would affect the PSU unless there was a serious defect with the battery. I've had a number of laptops where the battery had pretty much died and was only providing minutes of charge, but the PSU was not affected at all...

[Attila the Bun]

Excellent stuff Jim.

If the targus pob suggested is compatable I will be getting that from SCAN on Monday.

The guy would still like the sony psu but as there is no rush for it I could post you the necessary stamps if you want or I have a paypal account if that is better. PM me with the details.