Thinkpads Forum

Hi,

I am getting a new X60 soon, and wonder if the Thinkpad AC adapters all use the cloverleaf power cord? It seems that way from any that I have seen. If true, it's a pity, since the cloverleaf mains lead is a lot bulkier that the standard figure8 lead. I am getting rid of my vaio, but had a nice short 6" figure 8 lead, which I made to minimize bulk.

There are 2 Pole adapters, you need to find FRU Nr. 92P1155

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-63272

ro-76 wrote:Hi,

I am getting a new X60 soon, and wonder if the Thinkpad AC adapters all use the cloverleaf power cord? It seems that way from any that I have seen. If true, it's a pity, since the cloverleaf mains lead is a lot bulkier that the standard figure8 lead. I am getting rid of my vaio, but had a nice short 6" figure 8 lead, which I made to minimize bulk.

Could you show us a picture of each type. Ido a lot of electrical work and never heard ot those expressions.

FYI to the other poster 2 pole refers to Both 2 wire and 3 wire.
Hot + Neutral or Hot + Hot

3 pole would be either
Hot + Hot + Nuetral or Hot + Hot + Hot

Either way Ground is not considered.
In my work we use 4 pole, 5 wire (L21-30) and break everything down in the racks to either Edison or L5-30.

Figure 8



Cloverleaf

OK got it!

ro-76 wrote:Hi,

I am getting a new X60 soon, and wonder if the Thinkpad AC adapters all use the cloverleaf power cord? It seems that way from any that I have seen. If true, it's a pity, since the cloverleaf mains lead is a lot bulkier that the standard figure8 lead. I am getting rid of my vaio, but had a nice short 6" figure 8 lead, which I made to minimize bulk.

3 of my thinkpads use figure 8. The 4rth has an older ac adapter, but is supposed to also use figure 8.

proaudioguy wrote:

ro-76 wrote:Hi,

I am getting a new X60 soon, and wonder if the Thinkpad AC adapters all use the cloverleaf power cord? It seems that way from any that I have seen. If true, it's a pity, since the cloverleaf mains lead is a lot bulkier that the standard figure8 lead. I am getting rid of my vaio, but had a nice short 6" figure 8 lead, which I made to minimize bulk.

3 of my thinkpads use figure 8. The 4rth has an older ac adapter, but is supposed to also use figure 8.

Wow, that sounds encouraging. Every picture of a thinkpad ac adapter I have seen is the 3 pin cloverleaf type.

Does your X60T have the figure of 8?

Is it the 90W or 65W? How can I tell which type (90 or 65W) that they will send me?

Thanks,

Ronan

ro-76 wrote:

proaudioguy wrote: 3 of my thinkpads use figure 8. The 4rth has an older ac adapter, but is supposed to also use figure 8.

Wow, that sounds encouraging. Every picture of a thinkpad ac adapter I have seen is the 3 pin cloverleaf type.

Does your X60T have the figure of 8?

Is it the 90W or 65W? How can I tell which type (90 or 65W) that they will send me?

Thanks,

Ronan

It's 65 Watt figure 8. 90 Watt is more money.

ro-76 wrote:<snip>
Wow, that sounds encouraging. Every picture of a thinkpad ac adapter I have seen is the 3 pin cloverleaf type.
<snip>
Ronan

I have always been thankful that over here (North America), and maybe other places as well, ship the two wire A/C cord. Works great and works anywhere I have been in North America, Britain and Europe. ... JDH

proaudioguy wrote:
It's 65 Watt figure 8. 90 Watt is more money.

That's great. I had thought that the 90W would be standard, and the small portable 65w would be the optional accessory. My old laptop is a Vaio, which is nice and small, but has a huge brick for an ac adapter, defeating the purpose of the ultraportable.

ro-76 wrote:

proaudioguy wrote:
It's 65 Watt figure 8. 90 Watt is more money.

That's great. I had thought that the 90W would be standard, and the small portable 65w would be the optional accessory. My old laptop is a Vaio, which is nice and small, but has a huge brick for an ac adapter, defeating the purpose of the ultraportable.

The 90W charges faster.

jdhurst wrote:

ro-76 wrote:<snip>
Wow, that sounds encouraging. Every picture of a thinkpad ac adapter I have seen is the 3 pin cloverleaf type.
<snip>
Ronan

I have always been thankful that over here (North America), and maybe other places as well, ship the two wire A/C cord. Works great and works anywhere I have been in North America, Britain and Europe. ... JDH

It doesnt really matter what type the cord is. If your A/C adapter doesnt support different voltages you wont be able to use it anywhere but you home country. The problem is that with figure 8 you dont get earthing, at least I havent seen it. BTW, My bought-in-US X60 had figure 8.

I should have been more clear. All my own Thinkpads and my one Libretto came with universal 90-240 Volt adapters with two-wire cords. So they work nearly everywhere with just a plug adapter. I carry the adapter kit when I travel overseas.

I just checked inside a disassembled universal adapter. There is no connection between either AC input point or either DC output point. The whole thing is wrapped in an insulator which is then wrapped with a shield which is then wrapped by the external case. So there probably is no real need to ground the universal adapter.

... JDH

zaimek wrote:It doesnt really matter what type the cord is. If your A/C adapter doesnt support different voltages you wont be able to use it anywhere but you home country. The problem is that with figure 8 you dont get earthing, at least I havent seen it. BTW, My bought-in-US X60 had figure 8.

Two-wire cords are lighter and don't require a grounded outlet (which are hard to find at times). And if ThinkPads don't need grounding (as they don't if Lenovo ships them with the two-prong plugs), why bother with the heavy cord and big plug?

In the USA if the device is double insulated it doesn't need to be earthed. Other countries may have other requirements.

proaudioguy wrote:it doesn't need to be earthed.

I'm curious, do you call the wire that "earths" the device the "earth wire?"

smvp6459 wrote:

proaudioguy wrote:it doesn't need to be earthed.

I'm curious, do you call the wire that "earths" the device the "earth wire?"

Usually called a "ground" wire. Other countries say earth so I figured it would be clearer.

The ground on your AC system is tied to Neutral and an 8' grounding rod (usually) at the service entrance. If there is ever a fault in the device where electricity can flow into the chasis, it will eventually pass through your body on it's way to earth so the path of least resistance is the ground wire. Essentially it prevents electrocution if a fault is there otherwise it does nothing in most cases. If an item is double insulated it is unlikely to shock you even in fault so you get 2 wire no ground. To prevent those items in the bathroom and kitchen from shocking you in the event they get wet, someone invented GFCI breakers.