For the purposes of simplicity, we’re going to use 3 analogy to explain the impact of Voltage and Wattage in the charging of a laptop.
1. Imagine you’re blowing up a balloon. If you don’t blew enough air, it stays small. But If you blow it too much more than its size, it might pop.
2. Think of a cooking stove. If the flame is too low, your food takes too long to cook. If it’s too high, your food will get done quickly and if left, it might burn.
3. Let’s say you bought microphone that runs on a batteries. If you put the wrong batteries inside, the mic might not work, or worse, it could break. The same thing happens with laptops when they don’t get the right amount of power.
To understand this, we need to learn about voltage and wattage, because they’re important in the charging of a laptop.
Understanding Voltage?
For example let’s say you have a tank filled with water and a pipe that water can flow through.
when you open the pipe, the water pressure in a pipe is like the flow of voltage. If the pressure is too low, the water flows slowly. If it’s too high, the water comes out too fast.
For laptops, voltage (V) is the power pressure that pushes electricity into the battery. Every laptop is designed to handle a certain voltage.
If the voltage is too low, the laptop won’t charge. If it’s too high, it could damage the battery.
That’s why laptop chargers always have a voltage number written on them, like 19V or 20V. The laptop and the charger must match!
Understanding Wattage?
Wattage (W) is how much power the overall charger gives to the laptop, this includes the Voltage and the Amps (Current) of the charger.
Think of it like the size of a water hose, a bigger hose delivers more water, just like a higher wattage charger gives more power.
For example:
– A 45W charger is like a small hose, giving just enough power for basic laptops.
– A 65W charger is bigger and charges faster.
– A 100W charger is even stronger and is used for powerful laptops.
More Explanation on Voltage and Wattage to Laptop Charging :
One thing you should note is that Voltage and Wattage are not the same.
If a charger of a laptop voltage is rated at 19V 2.36A, that’s the total wattage of the charger.
So, Voltage is focused on pushing the electrical current to do the work by powering the laptop, while wattage is the overall energy of both the voltage and current of the laptop needs to work efficiently
If your laptop needs 65W, but you use a 45W charger, it might charge very slowly or not charge at all! But if you use a 100W charger, don’t worry—most laptops only take the power they need.
Why Are Voltage and Wattage Important?
1. Using the right charger – Always check your laptop’s voltage and wattage before using a charger. If they don’t match, your laptop might not work properly.
2. Faster charging – A charger with higher wattage (but the correct voltage) can charge your laptop faster.
3. Keeping your laptop safe – The wrong voltage can damage your laptop, just like the wrong batteries can ruin a microphone.
Final Thoughts
Voltage is like the pressure of power, and wattage is like the total amount of power your laptop gets, this includes the Voltage (V) and the Current (A).
When choosing a charger, always make sure the voltage is exactly right, and the wattage is equal to or higher than what your laptop needs. Now, you know how laptop charging works—just like picking the right batteries for your microphone!
