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Generic AC adapters, and the problems they cause
Generic AC adapters, and the problems they cause
Recently, I've been working on a TP 770x that I just purchased. The backlight in this particular laptop is nice and bright, and doesn't show signs of failing. So imagine my confusion when the backlight would go out at random.
It took me a while to piece it together, but I discovered that it would only happen when I plugged in a cheap Chinese generic AC adapter, that I happen to have, into the laptop. When I used the OEM AC adapter for my T43p, the backlight works just fine.
I would like to see if anyone has experienced the same problems with these generic AC adapters, so I have an excuse to throw this thing out.
It took me a while to piece it together, but I discovered that it would only happen when I plugged in a cheap Chinese generic AC adapter, that I happen to have, into the laptop. When I used the OEM AC adapter for my T43p, the backlight works just fine.
I would like to see if anyone has experienced the same problems with these generic AC adapters, so I have an excuse to throw this thing out.
My "daily drivers":
T520 (4240-48u) - Core i7 2620m (2.7GHz), 8GB RAM, 80GB mSATA SSD, 1TB HDD, nVidia NVS 4200m (Optimus)
T43p (2668-VQ7) - 2.26GHz Pentium M, 2 GB RAM, 80 GB HDD, Radeon Mobility FireGL V3200
T520 (4240-48u) - Core i7 2620m (2.7GHz), 8GB RAM, 80GB mSATA SSD, 1TB HDD, nVidia NVS 4200m (Optimus)
T43p (2668-VQ7) - 2.26GHz Pentium M, 2 GB RAM, 80 GB HDD, Radeon Mobility FireGL V3200
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Re: Generic AC adapters, and the problems they cause
Yes, throw it away. OEM only.that1nerd wrote: I would like to see if anyone has experienced the same problems with these generic AC adapters, so I have an excuse to throw this thing out.
Current: 2 x W520 ET, 2 x X220 i7, T420, X230 i5, T420s, MacbookPro, Dell Venue 11 Pro, Dell XPS 8930, X1 Yoga 3GEN
Past: IBM5150-8088 500 600E 600X T20 T21 5xT23 X30 3xX31 X32 T40 T42 3xT43 T43p SL510 T60p X60T X60s T61 2xT400 T410si T400s T500-3.06GHz X200 X201 X220i5 X220i7 2xT420s
Past: IBM5150-8088 500 600E 600X T20 T21 5xT23 X30 3xX31 X32 T40 T42 3xT43 T43p SL510 T60p X60T X60s T61 2xT400 T410si T400s T500-3.06GHz X200 X201 X220i5 X220i7 2xT420s
Re: Generic AC adapters, and the problems they cause
Oh, trust me, it's being deep-six'd.mpcook wrote:Yes, throw it away. OEM only.
It's just that I'm a very inquisitive person, so while most would just throw it away and be done with it, I'll take a predicament like this and turn it into a learning experience.
So my question is what would cause the inverter to stop running like that. Do these generic AC adapters put out excessive noise or something?
My "daily drivers":
T520 (4240-48u) - Core i7 2620m (2.7GHz), 8GB RAM, 80GB mSATA SSD, 1TB HDD, nVidia NVS 4200m (Optimus)
T43p (2668-VQ7) - 2.26GHz Pentium M, 2 GB RAM, 80 GB HDD, Radeon Mobility FireGL V3200
T520 (4240-48u) - Core i7 2620m (2.7GHz), 8GB RAM, 80GB mSATA SSD, 1TB HDD, nVidia NVS 4200m (Optimus)
T43p (2668-VQ7) - 2.26GHz Pentium M, 2 GB RAM, 80 GB HDD, Radeon Mobility FireGL V3200
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Re: Generic AC adapters, and the problems they cause
That makes TOTAL sense ! I was really worried about the backlight thing, because I never had issues with it. Fluctuations in power can cause issues like that. I've had a few non-oem chargers cause power related issues, albeit not with the backlight.
Re: Generic AC adapters, and the problems they cause
Even when the backlight came up on battery power, as soon as I plugged the AC adapter in, the backlight would immediately go out. Only a reboot with the AC adapter disconnected would allow it to start back up. That's how I ended up piecing together what was causing this problem. I'm just glad it wasn't a backlight or inverter issue.tfflivemb2 wrote:That makes TOTAL sense ! I was really worried about the backlight thing, because I never had issues with it. Fluctuations in power can cause issues like that. I've had a few non-oem chargers cause power related issues, albeit not with the backlight.
My theory is that the generic AC adapter would hit a certain harmonic frequency that matches the inverter, and would disrupt it in the process. I don't have a way to prove this unless I can get my oscilloscope back (and pull up some spec sheets on the inverter).
After this "revelation", I've been using my T43p's AC adapter exclusively to run it until I can get my hands on an original AC adapter.
My "daily drivers":
T520 (4240-48u) - Core i7 2620m (2.7GHz), 8GB RAM, 80GB mSATA SSD, 1TB HDD, nVidia NVS 4200m (Optimus)
T43p (2668-VQ7) - 2.26GHz Pentium M, 2 GB RAM, 80 GB HDD, Radeon Mobility FireGL V3200
T520 (4240-48u) - Core i7 2620m (2.7GHz), 8GB RAM, 80GB mSATA SSD, 1TB HDD, nVidia NVS 4200m (Optimus)
T43p (2668-VQ7) - 2.26GHz Pentium M, 2 GB RAM, 80 GB HDD, Radeon Mobility FireGL V3200
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- Moderator Emeritus
- Posts: 5605
- Joined: Thu Sep 01, 2005 1:17 pm
- Location: Wisconsin
- Contact:
Re: Generic AC adapters, and the problems they cause
Power can certainly cause the oddest problems. I was looking at my 750P that I just sold, thinking it was bricked, because it wouldn't boot....removed the battery, and bammmm it booted!
Re: Generic AC adapters, and the problems they cause
It's amazing how a dirty power signal, or a flaky battery, is all it takes to bring a PC to it's knees.tfflivemb2 wrote:Power can certainly cause the oddest problems. I was looking at my 750P that I just sold, thinking it was bricked, because it wouldn't boot....removed the battery, and bammmm it booted!
My "daily drivers":
T520 (4240-48u) - Core i7 2620m (2.7GHz), 8GB RAM, 80GB mSATA SSD, 1TB HDD, nVidia NVS 4200m (Optimus)
T43p (2668-VQ7) - 2.26GHz Pentium M, 2 GB RAM, 80 GB HDD, Radeon Mobility FireGL V3200
T520 (4240-48u) - Core i7 2620m (2.7GHz), 8GB RAM, 80GB mSATA SSD, 1TB HDD, nVidia NVS 4200m (Optimus)
T43p (2668-VQ7) - 2.26GHz Pentium M, 2 GB RAM, 80 GB HDD, Radeon Mobility FireGL V3200
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