Good deals on new AC adapters for Lenovo ThinkPad?

[the_servicer]

Where do you shop for new ThinkPad AC adapters? I just ordered one on eBay for less than 10 USD. The condition is listed as "genuine new". Should I be concerned that it may be counterfeit? More importantly, how does one prove that a given AC adapter is or is not genuine Lenovo?

(My computer is a ThinkPad T430s.)

[RealBlackStuff]

Depends partially WHERE it comes from and how the text is WORDED.
What's the eBay link, if I may ask?
On eBay a lot is faked and text copied from a real item. In other words: many times it is potluck what you get.
Once you have it, you can compare its weight to a proper/real one (if you have it).
The fakes are lighter than the real ones.
Alternatively, buy things like that from trusted forum members (in our Marketforum).

[the_servicer]

Thanks for your reply. Here is the eBay item.

[Thinkpad4by3]

If you buy from the forums, it is guaranteed genuine and who cares about a used ,scuffed power brick, no body looks and judges power bricks. People do judge when your power brick explodes and catches a Starbucks on fire or interrupts their Wi-Fi for faulty RF Shielding.

Sent from my SM-G550T using Tapatalk

[RealBlackStuff]

Looks like you got the real deal!

[the_servicer]

How does one separate reputable from less reputable sellers on this forum?

many times it is potluck what you get

I am realizing I have an even bigger problem: I cannot navigate the Lenovo web site well enough to determine the proper FRU for the T430s adapter. It seems I bought a version that is not directly intended for the T430s.

[RealBlackStuff]

Any IBM/Lenovo 20V 65W/90W with 7.9mm round barrel DC connector will fit on any T/R/X ThinkPad from T60/R60/X60 till incl. T430/T530/X230.
Those all have a pin inside that barrel opening.
Before that they have 16V 56W/72W with smaller 5.5mm round barrel DC connector (without pin).
After that they have the flat DC connector.

The lower wattage is usually for integrated graphics, the higher for discrete graphics.

[the_servicer]

Is it safe to use a 65 W adapter with a computer that requires a 90 W adapter only for the purpose of battery charging when the computer is not powered on?

Thanks very much for the responses.

I looked for new instead of used because I want a unit that is undamaged by unfavorable electrical conditions. If the asking price for new is less than 10 USD then why bother with used anyway? That's why I wondered if those prices are too good to be true.

It looks like the sale forum is not exactly full of people advertising AC adapters.