X-280 Intermittent Charging

[NickSteel]

I've installed the Lenovo driver update, but no change.

Everytime the laptop is moved slightly while plugged in, the screen flashes black and the charging icon switches off and on. When on, charges normally, etc.

I've cleaned the USB-C port and the same thing happens with another identical charger.

[RealBlackStuff]

The USB-C is probably loose or damaged.
Try the Thunderbolt port next to it.

[NickSteel]

Thanks. After trying the other jack, even with another power adaptor, the problem persisted.
I then tried a third power adaptor. No problem with that one.
So, 2 out of 3 were intermittent. Both were Lenovo, but came with adaptors that changed round plug ends to USB-C ends.
3rd one from my T480 was non-OEM, but without adaptors. That one works.

Happy with that, as I do like the size and ips screen on the X280.

[axur-delmeria]

So, 2 out of 3 were intermittent. Both were Lenovo, but came with adaptors that changed round plug ends to USB-C ends.
3rd one from my T480 was non-OEM, but without adaptors. That one works.

That round plug to USB-C adapter is my suspect.

[RealBlackStuff]

/Rant
The USB-C idea as such is not bad, but it is extremely poorly executed on (so far) all Lenovo laptops.
Reason: they solder those darn USB-C ports directly onto the motherboard, instead of on a small extender which you can plug in (and easily replace when needed), like the old DC-In sockets.
Those creepy penny-pinchers in Lenovo's bookkeeping department should all be sent to the gulags!
Including the ones that decided not to have RJ45 ports any longer!
And especially those idiots that thought it was a great idea to copy everything from The Fruit!
EndRant/

[axur-delmeria]

The USB-C idea as such is not bad, but it is extremely poorly executed on (so far) all Lenovo laptops.
Reason: they solder those darn USB-C ports directly onto the motherboard, instead of on a small extender which you can plug in (and easily replace when needed), like the old DC-In sockets.

I agree wholeheartedly. Even an old Samsung tablet (Note 10.1 2014 Edition) had its USB charging port in a small daughterboard, so why wouldn't a more expensive Thinkpad do the same?

[dr_st]

I wonder if there is anything in the USB-C/Thunderbolt port requirements (maybe the very high data rates?) that make daughterboard solutions technically challenging?

[axur-delmeria]

I wonder if there is anything in the USB-C/Thunderbolt port requirements (maybe the very high data rates?) that make daughterboard solutions technically challenging?

For one thing, Thunderbolt 3 has ~40Gbps max bandwidth, equivalent to PCIe 3.0 x4 (though I suspect that the X280 only has PCIe 3.0 x2 connected just like the T480; the X1 Carbon Gen 6 seems to have the full PCIe 3.0 x4 link). I'm sure cabling solutions exist, but as RBS said: creepy penny-pinchers, or as I call them, bean counters forbade them.