Thinkpad 500 Charger question.

[pball52998]

Recently recived a 500, only came with the laptop and the very nice carrying case that originally came with it. I was able to get a FDD for it. That'll be coming in the mail soon. But my question is, what kind of charger will this thing take? I know it's a 6.3 mm outer, 3.0 mm inner jack. But what would I use with it? Would the 84g0505 from the 730t/730te work? Or would I have to use something else. I initially just said screw it and tried my 380ED's charger, just to see if it would work. Of course it didn't, wrong connector etc. So as I said, would the 84g0505 work for the 500? Or would it cause issues? Also say the charger doesn't work, and it's the correct one. What would be the next source of action? Would it be replacing the power card? The mother board? How would I test everything?

Any help would be appriciated as I've been trying to find information for a bit on it. I've only found that there is like 3 threads on it. Trying to find information on the laptop besides websites from the 90's just listing what it is, is really a pain!

Thanks!

[Thinkpad4by3]

The Thinkpad 730TE charger is compatible, just note that the 84G0505 is rated at 1.3A, and the 500 charger is rated for 1.7A. You should be able to get it to go for a little while but I wouldn't recommend using it for too long.

[pball52998]

The Thinkpad 730TE charger is compatible, just note that the 84G0505 is rated at 1.3A, and the 500 charger is rated for 1.7A. You should be able to get it to go for a little while but I wouldn't recommend using it for too long.

Where would I find a charger that works? Because every time I try to actually find one, I can never find it. When I say can't find it, I mean one that doesn't seem very unreliable.

[BillMorrow]

just asking..
what is the manufacture date..? 1993,4,5..?
what is the machine model/type number..?
the voltage should be indicated on the bottom, what is it..?
it MIGHT be a contemporary of the 701 series if it has a barrel type power connector..
i have several ac adapters from that time period..

[pball52998]

just asking..
what is the manufacture date..? 1993,4,5..?
what is the machine model/type number..?
the voltage should be indicated on the bottom, what is it..?
it MIGHT be a contemporary of the 701 series if it has a barrel type power connector..
i have several ac adapters from that time period..

1993 I'm pretty sure is it's manufacturer date. It's a 2603-17n, it says it's voltage is rated 16.3V ⎓ 1.84 A. Any help is appreciated!

[axur-delmeria]

Another thread on a Thinkpad 500 might hold some answers:https://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.p ... 3&p=744623

[pball52998]

Another thread on a Thinkpad 500 might hold some answers:https://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.p ... 3&p=744623

I've read through that thread a lot. I've found a floppy drive for the machine for around $12. Got that, I was mainly just asking here if the 730t connector/charger would work if I had to come to that, or if anyone had a lead on a ccharger. Ithink I stated that in OP because trying to find a charger that isn't wonky is difficult it seems. As it was only produced similarly to the first 5 or so thinkpads with the wide barrel connector.

Thanks for the link though!

[BillMorrow]

just asking..
what is the manufacture date..? 1993,4,5..?
what is the machine model/type number..?
the voltage should be indicated on the bottom, what is it..?
it MIGHT be a contemporary of the 701 series if it has a barrel type power connector..
i have several ac adapters from that time period..

1993 I'm pretty sure is it's manufacturer date. It's a 2603-17n, it says it's voltage is rated 16.3V ⎓ 1.84 A. Any help is appreciated!

i'll email (to your email on the forum) you a photo of an ac adapter i use with my 701C's..
it shows 16 volts which was pretty common in those days..
i would post it here but its too much trouble to upload it someplace and then link to it..

[Thinkpad4by3]

701C power connector is 5.5mm outer, 2.5mm inner. Wont fit.

[pball52998]

i'll email (to your email on the forum) you a photo of an ac adapter i use with my 701C's..
it shows 16 volts which was pretty common in those days..
i would post it here but its too much trouble to upload it someplace and then link to it..

As thinkpad4by3 said, I don't think it'll fit. As it's a different size than the one found on the originals with the 6.3 mm outer, 3.0 mm inner jack. That's a smaller one sadly.

[Thinkpad4by3]

Umm...also, the 500 uses 10.8V, not 16. The 730TE was 15V. You probably would have fried it.

[pball52998]

Umm...also, the 500 uses 10.8V, not 16. The 730TE was 15V. You probably would have fried it.

If you found it on the thinkwiki website, that's for the 2603-08n. Which is the 80MB HDD version. The 2603-17n uses a 16.8V. Notice in these pics here:

2603-17n: https://imgur.com/30KjOrp 16.8v

2603-08n https://imgur.com/a5KOEkK 10.8v

Only difference is HDD size. As far from what I know and what I've read. I have the 2603-17n as stated in post 5. Very confusing it seems, as it would use 10.8v vs 16.8 just for a different HDD when they both had the same parts. Don't think a hard drive would create need for that much of a difference.

[Thinkpad4by3]

That makes sense. Early revision 500's used SLA batteries while late model units used NiCD batteries. All my SLA powered laptops run at around 9-10V(Sharp MZ-100,Macintosh Portable) while the rest of my machines that are NiCD run well north of 15V.

Its all in the HMM.

[pball52998]

That makes sense. Early revision 500's used SLA batteries while late model units used NiCD batteries. All my SLA powered laptops run at around 9-10V(Sharp MZ-100,Macintosh Portable) while the rest of my machines that are NiCD run well north of 15V.

Its all in the HMM.

That's understandable. So which one would actually run it well? Would either one run it? As I don't have a battery. So could I run either one just fine? Or would the higher voltage one fry it? (I wouldn't think it would, but I never know with older tech)