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.

    How reliable is your power brick?

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by nomad9, May 30, 2011.

  1. nomad9

    nomad9 Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    70
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    The first one that came with my X200 lasted about 8 months and died during the last part of my epic road trip. Fortunately, it happened just a few days away from the next major city that has Kensington brick available.

    The second one (replacement under warranty) came and just went bad recently, 8-9 months after I got it.

    Is this typical with Lenovo power brick? I'm pretty careful with my electronics and even had surge protector connected to it all the time. Maybe I just ran into the same bad production batch, or lenovo QC is pretty bad.

    Since it's out of warranty now, should I get a replacement brick from Lenovo or just go with after market?
     
    nomad9, May 30, 2011
    #1
  2. ferganer80

    ferganer80 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    185
    Messages:
    199
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30

    The adapter on my T43 lasted for about 5 years before I sold the laptop about 2 years ago. May be still functional.
     
    ferganer80, May 30, 2011
    #2
  3. MidnightSun

    MidnightSun Emodicon

    Reputations:
    6,668
    Messages:
    8,224
    Likes Received:
    231
    Trophy Points:
    231
    What happened to the power bricks? I've never had a problem at all with any power brick (Lenovo or otherwise), and I have some 7 or so Lenovo power bricks total at home (all but one are the 90W variety). The oldest one is still in use with my dad's T60 since he got it more than 4 years ago.

    It may be more inexpensive to get a third-party AC adapter, so that is an option. Occasionally, 65W and 90W Lenovo AC adapters can be found on non-Lenovo sites for as low as $10-15, though.
     
    MidnightSun, May 30, 2011
    #3
  4. nomad9

    nomad9 Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    70
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Thanks for your feedback!

    My power bricks just stopped working.

    Looks like I'm a minority here. Probably I'm just unlucky with the power brick or there's something wrong with the way I use it.

    Maybe I should get a 90W as a replacement so that I can use my X220 with battery removed. :)
     
    nomad9, May 31, 2011
    #4
  5. talin

    talin Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    4,694
    Messages:
    5,343
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    205
    Going on 13 months now, and my T410's power brick has been fine. It sounds like yours is just bad luck.
     
    talin, May 31, 2011
    #5
  6. ktang

    ktang Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    47
    Messages:
    237
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    my power brick developed a high-pitched whine after about a year of use and it would no longer charge my laptop. i was able to replace it through warranty, and have been using the replacement power brick for about 2.5 years without incident since.
     
    ktang, May 31, 2011
    #6
  7. talin

    talin Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    4,694
    Messages:
    5,343
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    205
    High pitched whine ha? You're not the first person I've heard mention that issue with a power brick. Something I'll keep in mind, thanks.
     
    talin, May 31, 2011
    #7
  8. princealyy

    princealyy Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    47
    Messages:
    511
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Maybe it was the power in the house or places you are using the bricks that is causing the problem.

    I dont think any of my power plugs have gone bad, but I have 4 totals (3 are mine, 1 is the wifes) .... so if one does, I am pretty safe.... Lenovo after market plugs are cheap....
     
    princealyy, May 31, 2011
    #8
  9. Tsunade_Hime

    Tsunade_Hime such bacon. wow

    Reputations:
    5,413
    Messages:
    10,711
    Likes Received:
    1,204
    Trophy Points:
    581
    Maybe just bad luck? I've only had 1 Dell one fail on me in 4 years. 2 of my 65 watt Lenovo adapters are still good after 4-5 months.
     
    Tsunade_Hime, May 31, 2011
    #9
  10. nomad9

    nomad9 Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    70
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Yea, random high pitch noise from laptop power brick is pretty normal, I think. I recall hearing from all sorts of power bricks except ones for MacBook Pro and PowerBook.

    I was thinking that it could come from power source as well. The first one went bad at a cheap motel in a middle of nowhere. But I only use tne 2nd one in my apartment. -- The only incident I had with power brick in my apartment was NetGear power adaptor for my switch a couple years ago. My bricks for PowerBook(5+years) / Macbook Pro(3-4 years) and Kensington Universal Charger(~1 year)are ok.
     
    nomad9, May 31, 2011
    #10
  11. Jesper Juul

    Jesper Juul Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    17
    Messages:
    174
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I've never had a normal Lenovo powerbrick fail on me, but within a year I've had 4 90watt slim travel adapters from Lenovo fail on.
     
    Jesper Juul, May 31, 2011
    #11
  12. PatchySan

    PatchySan Om Noms Kit Kat

    Reputations:
    3,971
    Messages:
    2,248
    Likes Received:
    221
    Trophy Points:
    81
    I'm still using my 65w power brick that is dated back in 2007, I think people are just unlucky should theirs fail over time.
     
    PatchySan, May 31, 2011
    #12
  13. Shamoke

    Shamoke Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    4
    Messages:
    182
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I was thinking about getting a slim 90W one. Any more experience with them?
     
    Shamoke, May 31, 2011
    #13
  14. ThinkRob

    ThinkRob Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    1,006
    Messages:
    1,343
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    56
    I've got an adapter for my 600X which still works fine.

    I've never had a ThinkPad power brick fail on me. In fact, the only notebook power brick that I've ever had fail was an iBook adapter which started producing some lovely sparks and smoke.
     
    ThinkRob, May 31, 2011
    #14
  15. Renee

    Renee Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    610
    Messages:
    2,645
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    I also have never had an AC power brick fail on me.

    Renee
     
    Renee, May 31, 2011
    #15
  16. nomad9

    nomad9 Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    70
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    looks like it's just me then :)
     
    nomad9, May 31, 2011
    #16
  17. ThiPaX40

    ThiPaX40 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    44
    Messages:
    195
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Can't speak for Lenovo yet but at the moment I'm still using the original 7/8 years old IBM adapter with my X40. Never had any problems.
     
    ThiPaX40, May 31, 2011
    #17
  18. LenovoGringo

    LenovoGringo Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    15
    Messages:
    155
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Never had any problems with laptop power bricks. No one amongst the family (that includes about 7 laptops, with oldest being 6 years old) have problems. In, fact I never heard of this problem until now...
     
    LenovoGringo, May 31, 2011
    #18
  19. ThinkRob

    ThinkRob Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    1,006
    Messages:
    1,343
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    56
    The X40? In that case you are indeed speaking for Lenovo, as the X40 was produced with them (albeit under contract from IBM.) :D
     
    ThinkRob, May 31, 2011
    #19
  20. KnightZero

    KnightZero Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    93
    Messages:
    152
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I've never had an IBM/Lenovo power brick fail on me. In fact, the bricks for every older model I own, from my 560x all the way up to my X41 all functioned with any of the above units (the 560x's original power brick didn't have the juice to sustain my T22, but it ran my X41 fine). Until the X201 came along, I lived in a blissful world with way too many power cables. To rebuild my collection to the same degree with the X201 compatible style would cost me an arm and a leg, so I just carry the power cable that shipped with it around with me.
     
    KnightZero, May 31, 2011
    #20
  21. MikesDell

    MikesDell Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    244
    Messages:
    690
    Likes Received:
    16
    Trophy Points:
    31
    X2.

    My power brick is doing just dandy.

    Also, my original battery still has just over an hour on a full charge. Not bad for a 3 year old laptop that get's used everyday since new.
     
    MikesDell, May 31, 2011
    #21
  22. bogatyr

    bogatyr Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    85
    Messages:
    693
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Well over 200 Lenovo laptops, since the T40 that I've purchased (for our company). The only AC adapter failures we've had were from people running over the cord with their chair too many times and cutting through it. None have failed for any other reason *knock on wood* yet.
     
    bogatyr, May 31, 2011
    #22
  23. afhstingray

    afhstingray Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    351
    Messages:
    4,662
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    105
    afhstingray, May 31, 2011
    #23
  24. LegendaryKA8

    LegendaryKA8 Nutty ThinkPad Guy

    Reputations:
    871
    Messages:
    969
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    31
    I've never had any problems with any of the Lenovo or even third-party adapters I've had, and I've got at least 6-8 of them around the house. The third-party Feebay special ones I have are nearing two years of use and work just as fine as the original ones. Even the Ultraslim I use when I cart around my T500 or X200 works flawlessly.
     
    LegendaryKA8, May 31, 2011
    #24
  25. nomad9

    nomad9 Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    70
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    nomad9, May 31, 2011
    #25
  26. afhstingray

    afhstingray Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    351
    Messages:
    4,662
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    105
    well if you use that, it beats me why you're having such poor luck with adaptors...
     
    afhstingray, May 31, 2011
    #26
  27. blackomegax

    blackomegax Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    22
    Messages:
    84
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    16
    It is statistically likely that the APC thing itself is causing the failures. (100%, from your point of view)

    anecdotal but i've never had a genuine lenovo adapter EVER fail on me. Gone thru 5 20v's. currently use a lenovo 90w at home (where its on 24/7 unless i lug it off) and a targus 90w slim on the road.
     
    blackomegax, Jun 2, 2011
    #27