Is this a bad practice (probably OT)

[MZB]

I have a Dell Inspiron 2200 (laptop) with XP Home.

I usually keep the charger plugged in. When I want to recharge the battery,
I just plug the chord into the back of the laptop.

I have assumed that the charging unit (is this also called the power supply)
is okay always plugged in (with the green charging (power) light on the
unit always on). Am I causing problems always keeping that unit plugged in?

Mel

 

[C A Upsdell]

I have a Dell Inspiron 2200 (laptop) with XP Home.

I usually keep the charger plugged in. When I want to recharge the battery,
I just plug the chord into the back of the laptop.

I have assumed that the charging unit (is this also called the power supply)
is okay always plugged in (with the green charging (power) light on the
unit always on). Am I causing problems always keeping that unit plugged in?

Check your manual.

 

[Guest]

Unlikely it will do any harm. These chargers are "switchmode" regulators,
they produce the same voltage over a very wide range of currents, and take
virtually no current when offload.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switched-mode_power_supply

The majority of laptop in-lead boxes are Flyback Converters, whereas the
standard desktop PSU is a Push-Pull converter.

(Safety note: these devices contain very high voltages, sometimes twice the
mains voltage. Don't poke around if you value your digits!)