[ltp] Thinkpad power adapters and less than 100V mains

Sun, 16 Oct 2011 20:54:19 -0500

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Hi everyone,

Does it damage a Thinkpad power adapter to use the laptop plugged in when
the electricity supply is potentially less than 100V?

This past summer I used my T400s in such a situation. The laptop was
sometimes doing computationally intensive work. The power supply became
quite a bit hotter than it normally does. In fact sometimes it was very hot
indeed. I don't know if this damaged it or not. All I do know is that when I
now use my T400s for computationally intensive work for extended periods, if
I use that same power supply, the laptop can shut down without warning. If I
use another power adapter (which I did not use in that kind of low voltage
situation), it never shuts down.

Perhaps the answer is "Why yes of course, you have damaged the power supply.
Never run on less than 100V." However I believe the power adapter simply
might be a bit dodgy, as the laptop would occasionally shut down without
warning even before I used it when the mains was less than 100V. It didn't
do it a lot, but it did sometimes. The only difference is that it does it
far more regularly now.

A related question: if I am in a situation where the mains supply is less
than 100V and I'm running the laptop off it with the battery present (which
might be charging), does it make any difference if I am using lower power
Thinkpad like a T400s as compared to say a W520? Furthermore, if using the
laptop when the laptop is powered on actually is bad, is it still perfectly
ok to charge the laptop battery from a low-voltage mains when the laptop is
off?

As you might guess, I'm far from expert in these matters so if the answers
to my questions are blindingly obvious then I apologize :)

Thanks,
Damon
-- 
http://www.damonlynch.net

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Hi everyone, Does it damage a Thinkpad power adapter to use the lapt=
op plugged in when the electricity supply is potentially less than 100V? <b=
r> This past summer I used my T400s in such a situation. The laptop was =
sometimes doing computationally intensive work. The power supply became qui=
te a bit hotter than it normally does. In fact sometimes it was very hot in=
deed. I don&#39;t know if this damaged it or not. All I do know is that whe=
n I now use my T400s for computationally intensive work for extended period=
s, if I use that same power supply, the laptop can shut down without warnin=
g. If I use another power adapter (which I did not use in that kind of low =
voltage situation), it never shuts down. 
 Perhaps the answer is &quot;Why yes of course, you have damaged the pow=
er supply. Never run on less than 100V.&quot; However I believe the power a=
dapter simply might be a bit dodgy, as the laptop would occasionally shut d=
own without warning even before I used it when the mains was less than 100V=
. It didn&#39;t do it a lot, but it did sometimes. The only difference is t=
hat it does it far more regularly now. 
 A related question: if I am in a situation where the mains supply is le=
ss than 100V and I&#39;m running the laptop off it with the battery present=
 (which might be charging), does it make any difference if I am using lower=
 power Thinkpad like a T400s as compared to say a W520? Furthermore, if usi=
ng the laptop when the laptop is powered on actually is bad, is it still pe=
rfectly ok to charge the laptop battery from a low-voltage mains when the l=
aptop is off? 
 As you might guess, I&#39;m far from expert in these matters so if the =
answers to my questions are blindingly obvious then I apologize :) T=
hanks, Damon -- <a href=3D"http://www.damonlynch.net">http://www.=
damonlynch.net</a>

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