I'm paranoid, but are *all* PC power converters the same?

Question

I have an IBM A31 laptop on my desk. I have an HP d5000 at my chair. Both use plugs with those lil' ol' boxes with cords leading to cylindrical plugins at the butt-ends of the computers. It surely would be handy, now and then, to cart the HP over to the desk and plug it in to the IBM's power cord (instead of unplugging the HP's cord, threading it out from under the chair, and carrying it over to the desk, and on, and on...)

Is it likely, these converters are the same? Or do I risk frying a computer? I MOST ASSUREDLY don't want to risk damaging a computer, of course.

...Should I go to the extent of bugging HP chat-line or some other tech rep?

Answer 1

The simple answer is that, no, they are not all the same.

However, there are only a few permutations, and you should be able to figure it out yourself without bugging tech support.

Just look on the converter box (the brick in the middle of the cable) and see what the output voltage and amperage is. If the converters for the two computers use the same voltage and amperage, and they have the same connectors, then you are perfectly safe to use them interchangeably.

Most laptops use the same V/A settings, but each company uses a different type of plug tip, so even if the electrical requirements are met, you might find that the plug won't fit in the hole on the other computer.