When Do You Need a New Power Adapter?

If you are like me, you have a number of electronic devices that require a power adapter. I have found that eventually, most power adapters need replacing due to damage or defect. Here are a few ways to know if it is time to replace one of your power adapters.

The most common reason why I have needed to replace a power adapter is because of my pets. My new puppy chewed up two of my laptop power adapters and a foster cat gnawed on my daughter's Nintendo DS power adapter. If you have pets, check your power adapters regularly for damage. While a power adapter chewed through by a dog is obvious, damage caused by a young kitten can go unnoticed for awhile.

Another cause of damage to power adapters is defect in manufacturing, especially if the adapter is a generic replacement. Young children, like pets, can chew on power cords or otherwise damage them -- think scissors. Sometimes power adapters are damaged by positioning -- constant bending in one way can cause the casing over the wires to crack and peel.

There are many ways a power adapter can potentially get damaged. For safety reasons, and to avoid losing access to your electronic devices, check power cords regularly and replace when necessary.