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Laptop makers back universal power supplies

By Barry Collins

Posted on 5 Jul 2010 at 13:41

Two of the world's leading laptop makers are backing a scheme to introduce standardised power supply units (PSUs).

Taiwanese manufacturers Acer and Asus have thrown their weight behind the IEEE's plans for universal PSUs, according to a DigiTimes report. The standards body recently set up a working group that is dedicated to the design of universal power bricks and connectors.

If successful, the initiative could end the practice of charging consumers extortionate prices for proprietary PSUs. Certain manufacturers charge in excess of £100 for selected power leads - which can often be as much as a third of the original laptop price.

Acer and Asus are placed second and fifth respectively in terms of worldwide laptop shipments, according to Gartner, accounting for around a fifth of the market between them.

Laptop owners would be well advised not to hold their breath for the universal chargers, however. Mobile phone manufacturers have been discussing standardised chargers based on the micro-USB standard for years, although most still retain proprietary chargers.

The IEEE isn't renowned for its efficiency, either. The organisation took seven years to complete the 802.11n Wi-Fi standard, much to the annoyance of equipment manufacturers.

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User comments

I'll believe it when I see it. Companies like HP cannot standardise their own power blocks. Different models come with different power blocks and connectors.

By james016 on 5 Jul 2010

Good Idea

Over-charge protection would have to be built in to the laptop. Some company would release a cheap charger with no thought to long term effects.

By john_coller on 5 Jul 2010

Better Idea

Having just repaired another laptop socket, why not use the Apple magnetic socket or something similar and make a universal psu with set voltage...say 18v @ 5a, that should be enough for all but the most power hungry laptops.

By S1yf0x on 5 Jul 2010

Bad Idea

I am not going to carry a universal 18v @ 5a power brick with my VAIO-P. It would be heavier than the laptop itself!

By stasi47 on 6 Jul 2010

Turkeys vote for Christmas

I'll believe it when I see it -oops @james016 has already said that.

@stasi47 and @S1yf0x -they could standardise on voltage and connector and have 2-3 different current ratings. At least then I could charge a PC in standby from any Power Supply and just take more or less time.

By milliganp on 6 Jul 2010

Move in the right direction

If they just standardised the voltage to 19v that would be an improvement. Then all you need is a standard connector and some sort of cut out if the device tries to draw too much current from the supply.

Manufacturers can make what ever size and weight of supply they like then, without fear of the thing bursting into flames when someone tries jump start their car with it..

By pinero50 on 6 Jul 2010

Laptop makers back universal power supplies

what about standardiseing batteries too?
How many laptops are just the same board in a different case

By invalidscreenname on 6 Jul 2010

And don't forget the environment

Would have thought that someone would have pointed out the saving on dumping of incompatible power supplies, even recycling through re-manufacture contributes to pollution. Surely this would be a reason that companies would want to get behind.

By TheFish1 on 8 Jul 2010

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