I have an Alienware R3 laptop, and I use a standard 240W adapter with it. Recently, my laptop has stopped charging completely when it is plugged in. When I boot it up, I get a message saying "unable to determine the power and type of adapter," but when I run the diagnostics tool it comes up with, it says that the adapter is using 255W. How can I troubleshoot this?
I've seen other brands give a similar message when the wrong AC adapter was used, including a couple of my Dells and HPs, seems to be a bigger problem with the larger plugs/sockets. Even if the plug on the adapter fits it may not be fully compatible, e.g. some have a center pin and some don't. I wouldn't think Dell made any major changes in that area after getting Alienware a few years ago.
240W seems quite high, probably for AC Input rating, usually the DC Output rating is around 19VDC and 45, 65 or 90 Watts. In the USA the normal AC power is 110V to 120V, anything higher such as 220V to 240V is for electric dryers, electric stove, maybe water heaters and shop tools such as a big air compressor, welder, etc.
I did poke around in the Alienware/Dell pages and learned there's more to the model number such as 15 R3 for a 15.6" and 17 R3 for the 17.3".
If a Notebook/Laptop stops charging it may be the AC adapter itself or the power socket on the motherboard.
Last edited by Berton; 02 Jan 2019 at 20:48.
The laptop is supposed to use a 240W adapter; that's what it comes with, and the diagnostics tool recommends that along with the error. Additionally, this adapter was working for close to a year before this started happening. However, I found an old 180W adapter that fits the laptop, and it charges it for now, so I ordered a replacement 240W adapter, and this can charge it in the meantime. So I guess the problem was the adapter just being old, the only reason I doubted that was the reading of 255 watts in diagnostics. But I don't have a multimeter, so I don't know if that reading is actually accurate or not. I will update this post when my new adapter arrives to confirm if it solves the issue.
Also, it's a 15 R3--sorry, my bad. Forgot to put that there.
Alienware 15 R3 Setup and Specifications
https://www.dell.com/support/manuals...6cc&lang=en-us
Your 240W power adapter input voltage is from 100 VAC – 240 VAC with a rated output voltage of 19.50 VDC.
It’s been quite a while since I’ve taken measurements on equipment and I don’t recall the exact terminology, but usually there is a maximum level a little higher than the rated output that can be reached but shouldn’t be in use.
If the computer is essentially new and your adapter has been in use for close to a year I’d be wondering why only that long.
The 180W you are using is probably easier on the performance and less demanding for maximum power?
HP has AC adapter diagnostic tests.
On the Dell website it was not seen.
The full Dell tests run for 40 minutes and there are component tests.
See if these pass or if any problems are found.
Support for Alienware 15 R3 | Diagnostics | Dell US
The link I had posted was the one for the page for the power adapter but it didn’t work for me this time either.
--- Why it doesn’t go to the direct page for the power adapter I don’t know.
I just verified this link works but it doesn’t connect directly to the power adapter directly.
--- It takes a couple of clicks to get there.
Alienware 15 R3 Setup and Specifications
https://www.dell.com/support/manuals...877&lang=en-us
Click on Specifications in the left pane
Click on Power adapter in the left pane on the following screen
If that link doesn’t work for whatever reason, I way I found it was by searching for
Alienware 15 R3 Setup and Specifications
Here is a screenshot of what you should find
Interesting: I couldn't find an Alienware 15 R3 240W power adapter on Dell's website
Here's one for an Alienware 15 R4...
Dell 240-Watt AC Adapter with 6 ft Power Cord | Dell United States
Like all Dell adapters, it will have a central pin. This is not a power pin, rather it is a serial data line that is interrogated to determine the power supply's specs. If the wire to this pin get's broken then the power supply can no longer identify itself to the laptop. The result is that it may still power the laptop, but will not charge it.
1-Wire - Wikipedia
Usually it is the jack on the board in the laptop that is the culprit. HP had an issue with the HP/Compaq laptops, that the power jack would fail from cold solder joints that would fail over time.
Post #8 by Bree "Like all Dell adapters, it will have a central pin. This is not a power pin, rather it is a serial data line that is interrogated to determine the power supply's specs. If the wire to this pin get's broken then the power supply can no longer identify itself to the laptop. The result is that it may still power the laptop, but will not charge it."
--- That is an excellent description.
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