The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Genuine AC adapter?

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by graycolor, Mar 2, 2011.

  1. graycolor

    graycolor Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    30
    Messages:
    459
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    How do I know if an Adapter is genuine? I bought something that had ibm labels and everything I thought it was genuine, but it broke way too easy. Did last a good 6 months though. Now my brother bought another adapter the seller say's it's genuine IBM, but I'm not sure how to check. I could look up the parts number, but that could be faked too.
     
  2. Flyright

    Flyright Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    67
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Whether it's "fake" or not is overshadowed by the concern that you have the tip polarity and voltage correct. You don't want to blow out something on the insides. These computers may or may not be protected by a fuse but even if they are if some incorrect voltage sneaks past before the fuse breaks the circuit you could burn out something sensitive and probably pricey.
     
  3. lead_org

    lead_org Purveyor of Truth

    Reputations:
    1,571
    Messages:
    8,107
    Likes Received:
    126
    Trophy Points:
    231
    It is not always easy to check it is best you get the adapters from lenovo or marketplace forum.thinkpads.com.
     
  4. Flyright

    Flyright Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    67
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Unless I'm missing something it _is_ easy to check. A $5 multi-meter from Harbor Freight ought to work fine for this.

    I just checked a 20% off ad for a lenovo 90W ac/dc adapter on NBR. $90!!

    I bought a DC adapter car adapter on eBay from Hong Kong which was advertised as for a T400. Turned out it wasn't - it's a universal adapter with various tips and voltage settings. Dangerous if one isn't careful. But it appears to be very well made, stable and was only about $12 with shipping. Requires care though.

    If the company is paying for it, who cares. Go Lenovo.