Help! Need smaller replacement AC adapter for T43.

[anthony]

I need to buy a second AC adapter/charger. Was wondering if there was a smaller, easier to transport, option than the one that came with my T43?

[anthony]

bump

[jdhurst]

If it is the ubiquitous 16 Volt, 4.5 Amp, (=) 72 Watt power brick that came with your machine, then the answer is No. Additionally, my brick (same as described) goes easily in my bag alongside my T41 and takes up very little space. I recommend just using what came with the machine as IBM *does* know how to engineer these things on a machine-by-machine basis. ... JD Hurst

[davidspalding]

You might find third party ac adapters, from APC or Belkin for example, but I dunno if they'd be smaller. (You were hoping for, say, one of the Powerbook hockey pucks?) And of course, YMMV as to performance or utility of a non-IBM power brick.

Your second alternative is ... bigger battery ... more batteries ... or a second charger at your destination, if applicable. (E.g., I usually have 2-3 adapters for a laptop, one for home one for office and one for bag.) There are a couple of venders who sell Ultrabay Slim batteries (used, refurbished, or NOS [new old stock]) from time to time, keep an eye peeled.

[jdhurst]

To the OP: If you go down the route of a non-standard brick, please remember (or research) Ohm's Law. It applies here, it is a law of Physics, and no human can subvert it. Know what it says.
... JD Hurst

[underclocker]

FYI-

I've used an older X-series 56 watt AC adapter to power/charge a T40 without any problems (some say this can be an issue and it certainly takes longer to charge the battery).

The 56 watt adapter is smaller and lighter - maybe 10 ounces with cord. However. the 72 watt adapters seem to get smaller and lighter every year. They are nearly half the size they were initially. You may need to have a few together to notice, but the most recent T43 and R52 adapters are nearly as small and light as the 56 watt adapters.

Alternately, you could pick up a Chinese clone IBM adapter from eBay. They are the size of the newer 72 watt adapters and much lighter than any adapter I've seen from IBM - maybe 7 or 8 ounces. HOWEVER, I wouldn't EVER use one with my machines. They are definitely not UL Listed (as they say on their labels) and I'm certain they are dangerous. But many do sell on eBay.

[rkawakami]

Geez... I've gone in the opposite direction. I've been using one of the first-generation AC/DC adapters around the house. Almost twice the weight of the AC-only 72 watt adapter, but it seems to run slightly cooler, plus it has a power LED !

Seriously, I'd stick with the genuine IBM adapters. The 72 watt ones really don't take up all that much space (or weight). Using an aftermarket supply, if you don't take the time to measure the voltage and verify the polarity of the plug or check the current ratings, can be dangerous.

[Temetka]

I agree. The cost difference is minimal between the adapters. I would go with something made by IBM. They made your laptop, they know how to power it.

[davidspalding]

Power adapters ain't rocket science ... basically a transformer circuit converting AC to DC. My p/y 02K6746 outputs 16V at 4.5A -- you wouldn't want a third party adapter that deviates from that, or even an "older IBM" adapter that does, just because it says IBM on it.

What you pay for is the quality and any included warranty for your adapter, or your TP should something go wrong. Saving $20 on an adapter doesn't make sense when what you're getting is lower quality. But that's just my shopping rationale, I spend more for quality that I can rest on.

[jdhurst]

Power adapters ain't rocket science ... basically a transformer circuit converting AC to DC. <snip>

I think you might not mean "transformer". If you did, transformers have never been used in power bricks that I know of. So there is quite a bit of technology in those things to bring in grounded (two wire) high voltage AC, lower the voltage, convert it to DC, and isolate it so as not to endanger anyone. It is that overall technology that keeps me saying "use what IBM specifies" .
... JD Hurst

[bfgun]

I agree. Just get another one like it. The mac mini power supply is almost as big as the machine itself. (wonder why they don't include it in their pictures?)

[davidspalding]

I was thinking in the most simplistic terms of this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_supply

In my avionics days, we referred units which changed AC to DC or transferred DC as "transformers." True, it's one of several components in a modern AC adapter.

[jdhurst]

<snip>In my avionics days, we referred units which changed AC to DC or transferred DC as "transformers." True, it's one of several components in a modern AC adapter.

Things have changed (I think). The power supply modules in my 7704 or 7104 scopes are relatively huge. Yet the main transformer is very small (smaller than a TP power brick). So any transformer in a power brick will be real small.
... JD Hurst

[underclocker]

I think this horse is beaten! Stick to IBM.

[mabbas]

I think I have a spare 72W AC adapter. I think that it is pretty small. The only smaller ones are the 56W for the older X. I advise against using the 56W for the X as you will "ruin" your battery. Undecharging it therby limiting the battery life and capacity. I think ver the years there were various 72W adapters so newer ones should be pretty small.

[dino]

I bought one of those non-IBM transformers and it was badddd. So the lesson here is beware of those E-Bay transformers, there's more than meets the eye.

[dsigma6]

transformers <snip> there's more than meets the eye.

Dahhh!!