Kensington 120W Adaptor FP reader problem

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sgmidf · #1 Post by **sgmidf** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 6:36 am

I use a Kensington 120W Adaptor for my X61s when I travel. It's small and has a second adaptor cord to charge my BB at the same time.
On this trip, I noticed that the FP reader doesn't work at all when it's connected to the adaptor. If I unplug it, it works fine. Is this going to damage the X61s? Why would this happen? Everything else seems fine. It doesn't make sense to me but it's a real phenomenon.
Thanks

#2 Post by **jdhurst** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 7:29 am

As important as the number of watts (almost certainly enough here) is the voltage. You didn't say. Is the voltage from your aftermarket adapter the same DC voltage as required by your laptop? ... JDH

sgmidf · #3 Post by **sgmidf** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 12:24 pm

It's an adjustable 12-24VDC so it should be OK. Everything else seems to work...the NB charges correctly and everything else (display etc) thinks it's on power. It's peculiar. Oh, well.

#4 Post by **jdhurst** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 12:29 pm

Adapters have changed in newer laptops to 20 Volts from 16 Volts. I wonder if the adapter is not adjusting to the correct voltage. Actually, I have not seen myself, devices which can determine what input voltage they need to supply beyond the basic 120/240 Volt automation. There must be some difference in power to get the symptoms you describe - I just cannot put my finger on it. ... JDH

#5 Post by **bill bolton** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 10:22 pm

jdhurst wrote:Actually, I have not seen myself, devices which can determine what input voltage they need to supply beyond the basic 120/240 Volt automation.

With variable output voltage power adapters, the output voltage is set by the 'tip' type attached to the adapter. If you look at the 'tips' they normally have a three or 4 wire connection from the adpater into the 'tip'... the extra wires are used to sense the value of a resistor inside the tip moulding, and this is used to set the output voltage.

So the output voltage setting is only "automated" in the sense that the type of 'tip' tells the adapter what output voltage is required.

Cheers,

Bill B.

CyberDude · #6 Post by **CyberDude** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 5:47 am

I was going to buy on of these adapters for when I travel but now am a little concerned that it may not work correctly. The Kinston site says the adapter is suitable for the X60 so I would assume that they know X60 requires 20V.

I assume if you use the original Lenovo adapter the FP reader works correctly and that you've checked this?

sgmidf · #7 Post by **sgmidf** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 6:04 am

I'm back home and it works fine with the Lenovo power supply. I've contacted Kensington and they're sending out a new tip. They have great CS.
We've used this adaptor on many notebooks over the years both here and abroad. It's nice because it's light, 120/240 and will charge 2 devices at once. One caveat is that mototorola phones will not reliably charge with these as it recognizes a non-motorola adaptor. My BB and prior PDAs are fine.
It seems to do everything BUT the FP reader without problems. That was a minor annoyance considering the other advantages (at least for my use).

Wentworth · #8 Post by **Wentworth** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 2:46 am

Lenovo has also released a similar charger albeit a 90 W version, but it can charge/power the laptop in addition to charging a second device through a splitter cable.

http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/cont ... 684D2848E9

sgmidf · #9 Post by **sgmidf** » Sat Sep 20, 2008 5:42 pm

Well they sent me a new tip and it still doesn't work. When I contacted them, their conclusion was that it was a problem in my X61s and that I should contact Lenovo! As it works fine with the Lenovo adaptor, that seems unlikely.
So much for Kensington I guess.

Kensington 120W Adaptor FP reader problem

Kensington 120W Adaptor FP reader problem

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