My Dell Precision 7510 originally used a 130W charger, but it stopped working. I bought a replacement rated at 90W and want to know whether it can safely charge the laptop. Will it charge normally while the computer is shut down, and what should I expect if I use the laptop while it's plugged in?
3 Answers
It may work for light use, but under heavier workloads the laptop can draw more power than the charger supplies. In that situation, the battery may slowly drain even though the charger is connected, and the system could reduce performance or show a low-power-adapter warning.
A 90W charger should be able to charge the battery while the laptop is turned off or sleeping, though it may take longer. The Precision 7510 is designed for a higher-wattage adapter, so 90W probably won’t provide enough power for charging and running the system at full performance at the same time.
The Precision 7510 commonly uses a 130W or 180W Dell barrel-plug adapter, depending on the configuration and accessories. Check that the replacement provides the correct voltage, connector, and Dell adapter identification. A properly rated 130W or 180W replacement would be the better choice for normal use.

So it should be okay for charging overnight while the laptop is shut down, as long as the charger has the correct plug and voltage?