Is it safe to charge my MSI laptop with a 19V charger instead of the expected 20V?
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PixelPenguin307
I recently charged my MSI Thin 15 B13VE laptop with a 19V charger instead of the recommended 20V for a short while (less than an hour). I've heard that using a lower voltage charger can cause issues, especially since my old Acer Nitro 5 laptop died after I used a 20V charger on it. The flickering screen made me worry that I might have damaged something. Both of my laptops use barrel jacks, and I found out that barrel jacks don't negotiate power, which I didn't realize before. I used an MSI charger for my old laptop and an ASUS charger for the new one. Am I in trouble, or should I just wait and see how my new laptop performs?
Answers
The voltage difference is less concerning than you might think. A lot depends on the polarity of the barrel jack connections—if it was reversed, that could cause issues. However, if the laptop is still charging and operating normally, you’re likely fine. Just remember that wattage plays a big role too, since a lower wattage charger might not provide enough power under load. If you can, post photos of the charger labels for more help.
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Yeah, it sounds like the wattage might be a bigger issue for you. If your laptop needs more power than the charger can provide, it might struggle, especially when doing demanding tasks. Keep an eye on it—if it starts showing odd behavior like flickering or shutting down unexpectedly, that could signal a problem. Just give it some time and see how it handles things.
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