Recent purchase possibly lacking power adapter

Mugenmidget

I've made a few other topics about my purchase of the Compaq LTE 5380, but a recent wave of paranoia has kicked in when looking at the auction page for the item:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220089900871&sspagename=ADME:B:AAQ:US:1

In this seller's other auctions, he lists the power adapter as something he includes in the package. There is no mention of that anywhere on this page, even though I had assumed before (perhaps wrongly) that the auction included the adapter, especially since he acts like he tested it which means it would be in his possession.

I've e-mailed them for clarification, but considering that this thing may have shipped without an adapter I'm starting to wonder about my options. Of course my first thought was to look at other auctions that may provide the proper power source.

The type of adapter needed to power the LTE 5380 is known as the Compaq 2882 series AC adapter. Here are results for the 2882 series Compaq adapter on eBay:

http://search.ebay.com/compaq-2882_W0QQfromZR40

Those aren't necessarily pricey, but it's definitely frustrating to take on a second transaction.

I guess my questions are as follows. What are the alternative ways to powering a laptop when one doesn't own the original adapter? Should I pester the seller into providing me the AC adapter if he doesn't ship it with the original auction? Should I jump the gun and order an adapter now so I won't have to wait as long, or should I bide my time and see if the seller has provided it or is willing to provide it?

RoundBoy

I can't tell from those pictures.. but it looks as though it *might* use the normal 'hollow circle' type ac adaptor.

i would imagine any multi-voltage one from radio shack will do. You just need to look at the power sticker to see exactly what input amps & wattage it needs.

If its propriatary, then you need to buy/get one specific to the laptop.

Clicking the auction for the adaptor, its only going for a few bucks? Its cheaper then a generic radio shack one anyway.. why not just get it... but wait for an answer from the seller.

Mugenmidget

RoundBoy wrote: »

I can't tell from those pictures.. but it looks as though it *might* use the normal 'hollow circle' type ac adaptor.

i would imagine any multi-voltage one from radio shack will do. You just need to look at the power sticker to see exactly what input amps & wattage it needs.

If its propriatary, then you need to buy/get one specific to the laptop.

Clicking the auction for the adaptor, its only going for a few bucks? Its cheaper then a generic radio shack one anyway.. why not just get it... but wait for an answer from the seller.

How much would those Radio Shack ones go for? It might be worth it if I have to end up getting one, since by the time I put in the order it'd probably arrive after the laptop and I could get it up and running sooner with a multi-purpose adapter.

But are you sure it's safe to use those? As far as I can tell with one of my old broken Compaq laptops, the normal "hollow circle" plug from a random AC adapter I had lying around my house seemed to fit. But are you sure it doesn't need that special "power brick" in the middle or something else? It seems kinda weird that a multi-purpose AC adapter would work like that.

RoundBoy

There is no difference in any ac adapter for any laptop except for the voltage and amps it converts the wall current from.. Then various companies put a special connector on the end so you HAVE to buy it from them.

Did you get in contact with the seller .. are they sending an adapter ?

The multi purpose one will cost more then $4 i'll tell you that...

MichaelLC

Check out the unniversal adaptors from iGo or Kensington. You buy the brick, then buy whatever tips you need. So you'd just get the tip for Compaq latops, and whatever else you want to plug in.

The tips are like $10, but the adaptors are up to $100.

tony_important

I say you contact the seller and ask about the adapter.
If he says he's not including it, as it wasn't listed in the auction, you're probably going to have to buy a new one.

I know it sucks, but sellers love burning people who don't read the whole description. It's kinda like people selling the xbox360 boxes (and that's it) for like $300, and loling about it when people ask "Where's my system".

That said, I also say that you should go generic if you've got to purchase an adapter.

Mugenmidget

Thankfully I got a seller who likes positive feedback, but really they just neglected to mention it on the auction page. So if anyone wants to lock this thread they can, because the AC adapter is being packaged with my laptop.