Although actually a power supply it is popularly known as an AC Power Adapter or laptop AC Adapter, such as pa3396u 1aca ac adapter. Laptops along with most other portable devices use Direct Current (DC), this also applies to rechargeable batteries which power laptops. Direct Current has a constant flow of electric charge in one direction and flows from low to high potential. Connecting a laptop to AC is unsuitable and dangerous due to the varying magnitude and direction of the current, which can cause an internal component to fail and even result in fire.

Chances are you will run into this problem if your computer is more than 3 years old. When you do, the most likely culprit is a bad PA3396U-1ACA ac adapter. It has happened on every one of my last 5 computers. Manufactures are notorious for using cheap power supplies to reduce production costs, but the good news is it is amazingly easy to fix yourself. Once you find the right unit, the repair takes minutes and you’ll spend a fraction of the price a technician might charge.

Disconnect all power and external peripherals (printer, external drives, etc) from your computer and remove the cover or side panels. Don’t be afraid, it only looks intimidating in there. The PA3396U-1ACA ac adapter is located in a corner. It is probably the largest component inside the computer and looks like a metal box, usually with a fan built in. The ASUS ac adapter power cord plugs into it and there are various cables from the other components plugged into the opposite end. It is very easy to locate.

Also, if your computer has a high end graphics card or other high end components, it may have a PA3396U-1ACA ac adapter with a higher rating than stated above. If you’ve upgraded these components in the past and neglected to upgrade the ASUS ac adapter, this could have caused the failure and you should look at your upgrade documentation to determine how much additional capacity you should buy to properly power those components.

Once you get it home, attempt to remove the old devise by removing the screws and sliding it out. It’s heavier than most parts inside the computer so be careful not to drop it on any of the more delicate parts. If you can get it out with all the PA3396U-1ACA ac adapter connections still intact, do so. Install the new one and then remove the cable connections from the old unit and transfer to the newly installed replacement one at a time.