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ThinkPad W530 Power Adapters and Docks
ThinkPad W530 Power Adapters and Docks
So I bought a W530 for college. Working great, but I'd love a dock for at home. They are very expensive, and after talking with my friend, he told me he has an older Thinkpad dock (Type 4337) he doesn't use. So he brought it in with the 90w power adapter.
I know the power adapter wouldn't charge it, but for testing I wanted to see if the dock worked. So we plugged in the 90w adapter, and connected my W530, and lo and behold, it seemed to work (or at least the USB ports do), but it doesn't charge, or even be seen as connected to power.
So here's my question. Where can I find a cheap 135/170 power supply for this dock that will power and/or charge my W530? Additionally, the barrel power connector on my W530's power adapter is a keyed connector. How could I connect that keyed connector to the non-keyed dock?
I'm thinking that if I could use my 170w adapter with the dock, I could maybe use a 135w adapter in my bag, if that works. But I'd like to be as cheap as possible (and buying in Canada). Any ideas?
Suppose I purchase a non-keyed 170w adapter. Will it work with the dock and charge my laptop properly?
I know the power adapter wouldn't charge it, but for testing I wanted to see if the dock worked. So we plugged in the 90w adapter, and connected my W530, and lo and behold, it seemed to work (or at least the USB ports do), but it doesn't charge, or even be seen as connected to power.
So here's my question. Where can I find a cheap 135/170 power supply for this dock that will power and/or charge my W530? Additionally, the barrel power connector on my W530's power adapter is a keyed connector. How could I connect that keyed connector to the non-keyed dock?
I'm thinking that if I could use my 170w adapter with the dock, I could maybe use a 135w adapter in my bag, if that works. But I'd like to be as cheap as possible (and buying in Canada). Any ideas?
Suppose I purchase a non-keyed 170w adapter. Will it work with the dock and charge my laptop properly?
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Re: ThinkPad W530 Power Adapters and Docks
Welcome to the forum.
That dock is not suited for your machine.
If you modify the connector or socket, so it can accommodate a 135/170W adapter, you run the risk of it burning up!
The electronics are just not geared for that much power!
What you need is this: ThinkPad Mini Dock Plus Series 3 with USB 3.0 – 170W (433835U)
That dock is not suited for your machine.
If you modify the connector or socket, so it can accommodate a 135/170W adapter, you run the risk of it burning up!
The electronics are just not geared for that much power!
What you need is this: ThinkPad Mini Dock Plus Series 3 with USB 3.0 – 170W (433835U)
Lovely day for a Guinness! (The Real Black Stuff)
Lenovo: X240, X250, T440p, T480, M900 Tiny.
PS: the old Boardroom website is still available on the Wayback Machine.
Lenovo: X240, X250, T440p, T480, M900 Tiny.
PS: the old Boardroom website is still available on the Wayback Machine.
Re: ThinkPad W530 Power Adapters and Docks
What if I just bought a 135w power adapter that has a standard barrel? I tried my friends dock with his 90w adapter and my W530, and it works properly (USB and DVI work, at least), it just doesn't charge it while powered on. A 135w should charge it and work fine, right? Where would be the best/cheapest place to buy a 135w adapter?RealBlackStuff wrote:Welcome to the forum.
That dock is not suited for your machine.
If you modify the connector or socket, so it can accommodate a 135/170W adapter, you run the risk of it burning up!
The electronics are just not geared for that much power!
What you need is this: ThinkPad Mini Dock Plus Series 3 with USB 3.0 – 170W (433835U)
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Re: ThinkPad W530 Power Adapters and Docks
I repeat:
RealBlackStuff wrote:That dock is not suited for your machine.
If you modify the connector or socket, so it can accommodate a 135/170W adapter, you run the risk of it (the dock) burning up!
The electronics are just not geared for that much power!
Lovely day for a Guinness! (The Real Black Stuff)
Lenovo: X240, X250, T440p, T480, M900 Tiny.
PS: the old Boardroom website is still available on the Wayback Machine.
Lenovo: X240, X250, T440p, T480, M900 Tiny.
PS: the old Boardroom website is still available on the Wayback Machine.
Re: ThinkPad W530 Power Adapters and Docks
Sorry, I just didn't know. You said if I modify the connector. But I wouldn't be modifying the connector. Additionally, I've seen people say they have no issues with it with a 135w, but didn't know if there was any official word. I would guess this would be it, then?RealBlackStuff wrote:I repeat:RealBlackStuff wrote:That dock is not suited for your machine.
If you modify the connector or socket, so it can accommodate a 135/170W adapter, you run the risk of it (the dock) burning up!
The electronics are just not geared for that much power!
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Re: ThinkPad W530 Power Adapters and Docks
I did NOT suggest to modify anything, just warning IF.
Bit expensive to run a trial...
Bit expensive to run a trial...
Lovely day for a Guinness! (The Real Black Stuff)
Lenovo: X240, X250, T440p, T480, M900 Tiny.
PS: the old Boardroom website is still available on the Wayback Machine.
Lenovo: X240, X250, T440p, T480, M900 Tiny.
PS: the old Boardroom website is still available on the Wayback Machine.
Re: ThinkPad W530 Power Adapters and Docks
Sorry, that's what I meant. You said "If you modify the connector or socket...you run the risk of it (the dock) burning up!" I just meant I won't be modifying it if I got the 135w. I'm just trying to do as much research as possible so I'm not wasting money on something that won't work. From what I've seen online, I should be fine using a standard 135w with this dock, but I just wanted to get a more solid explanation of why it would/n't work.
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Re: ThinkPad W530 Power Adapters and Docks
Check this out (lots of stuff to read...): https://forums.lenovo.com/t5/W-Series-T ... d-p/841161
Lovely day for a Guinness! (The Real Black Stuff)
Lenovo: X240, X250, T440p, T480, M900 Tiny.
PS: the old Boardroom website is still available on the Wayback Machine.
Lenovo: X240, X250, T440p, T480, M900 Tiny.
PS: the old Boardroom website is still available on the Wayback Machine.
Re: ThinkPad W530 Power Adapters and Docks
Thanks for the link. After reading through that, it seems to confirm my thinking, but I'm rereading it all 10 times overRealBlackStuff wrote:Check this out (lots of stuff to read...): https://forums.lenovo.com/t5/W-Series-T ... d-p/841161
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Re: ThinkPad W530 Power Adapters and Docks
Nah, I doubt they are different on the inside. Also: the 135W adapter has the same plug as the 90W adapter. Design safety factor should also be big enough to accommodate a modest increase from 135W to 170W. Not to mention that in reality one (next to) never achieves such a power draw.RealBlackStuff wrote:Welcome to the forum.
That dock is not suited for your machine.
If you modify the connector or socket, so it can accommodate a 135/170W adapter, you run the risk of it burning up!
The electronics are just not geared for that much power!
What you need is this: ThinkPad Mini Dock Plus Series 3 with USB 3.0 – 170W (433835U)
That's probably also why we've never heard from Lenovo why the 170W adapter had a keyed connector. The only reason is probably to sell more adapters.
W520
T61
T61
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Re: ThinkPad W530 Power Adapters and Docks
Or Lenovo might of made the 170 watt keyed to prevent people from doing what this guy was saying and or using outdated 90 watt adapters, but money probably had more to do with it.
W530 i7-3920XM, Sandisk Extreme SSD 240GB, K2000M, 32GB RAM (1866GHz), FP, Win7.
T520 i7-2860, nVidia 4200, SSD 160GB, 8GB RAM, FP, Win 7
T520 i5-2520, nVidia 4200, SSD 16GB/ 7200 1TB, 8GB RAM, FP, Win 7
Retired PCs. T22, T30, T40, T41, T42, T43P, T60 Flex, T61P, T500, T510 x2
T520 i7-2860, nVidia 4200, SSD 160GB, 8GB RAM, FP, Win 7
T520 i5-2520, nVidia 4200, SSD 16GB/ 7200 1TB, 8GB RAM, FP, Win 7
Retired PCs. T22, T30, T40, T41, T42, T43P, T60 Flex, T61P, T500, T510 x2
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