Thinkpad W541 Power adapter not supported

[dcfbf]

I recently acquired a W541 with a K1100 and a 4710mq and I've been using it just fine with no issues with just a 230w power adapter that was supplied from a Lenovo Legion.

Today a 9 cell battery came in for this machine, however after inserting the battery, a popup came up saying that an incorrect AC adapter is attached so it won't charge. Lenovo Vantage says that the power adapter is not supported. There were no popups, warnings, or anything with only the power adapter.

I thought that I only needed to turn off airplane power mode and the setting for it to autodetect when to turn on the setting but doing so yielded no improvement.

What would be the best course of action to take in this case? Should I buy a power adapter that was meant for the w541 like a 170 or a 135w or is the new battery at fault and I should try for a replacement?

I can't update the bios because I need both a power adapter and battery installed except the power adapter won't work with the battery installed. I've tried installing and reinstalling all the drivers related to power to no avail.

[dcfbf]

If I were to clarify my question, instead of asking if I should get a new power adapter or a new battery, what is going on with this machine?

230w should be plenty to power and charge it so why is it saying the power adapter does not supply enough power?

What should I do to make the charging work? is there a software solution or do I need to get a different part?

[RealBlackStuff]

Maybe you have a fake/knock-off power supply?

[astral]

I don't know how ThinkPads detect whether or not a charger is genuine, but I know from dealing with it way more often then I should have to, that on Dell laptops, this is usually caused by a bad power jack.

[dcfbf]

Maybe you have a fake/knock-off power supply?

The power supply that I'm using came with the Legion that I got new from Lenovo so I doubt it.

I don't know how ThinkPads detect whether or not a charger is genuine, but I know from dealing with it way more often then I should have to, that on Dell laptops, this is usually caused by a bad power jack.

I will try a new power jack.

It does charge, but only when it is put to sleep which is why I originally thought it was a bad power supply or maybe the battery was screwing with it. But I do see how a bad power jack could cause impedance and lead to less amps powering the system.

[TPFanatic]

i've heard of thinkpads refusing to function with the 300W brick OE for Legion. while i'm unsure what wattage you're using, maybe it doesn't even matter the wattage just whether it's for a ThinkPad or not, there's a chance that an original ThinkPad charger will work properly. that would be my first step, to find a ThinkPad charger.

[axur-delmeria]

These chargers have resistors embedded in the plug , which is used by the laptop to determine its rated output.

https://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Power_Po ... signal_pin

I reckon the 300W adapter didn't exist yet when the W541 came out, and is probably misidentified as a result.

[dcfbf]

I reckon the 300W adapter didn't exist yet when the W541 came out, and is probably misidentified as a result.

Ah I see so that's why the laptop won't charge. The W541 came out in Early 2015 while the 230w adapter released in late 2015. I will need to get a 170w brick instead of the 230w that I currently have.

Though once I do get the 170w, could a bios update possibly make the higher wattage adapter compatible?

I will try a new power jack.

I have been meaning to do this, it's just that taking a power jack from another one of my systems and swapping it into the w541 takes a lot of willpower to fight against procrastination.

Especially since I need to basically strip the entire laptop to get to replacing the dc-in. (BIG PAIN) Here is a list of everything I need to remove before getting to the jack quoted from the HMM:

1180 dc-in cable assembly
For access, remove these FRUs:
• “1010 Battery pack” on page 60
• “1030 Large bottom door” on page 62
• “1110 Keyboard” on page 70
• “1120 Keyboard bezel assembly” on page 75
• “1150 LCD unit” on page 84
• “1160 Magnesium structure frame” on page 87


So I will first order a 170w, try to see if it works, then test the dc-in replacement.

[RealBlackStuff]

From what I can see here, if you replace the resistor inside the power-supply DC-plug with a 1,900 Ω one (for 170W), it should work.
Those resistors sit between the middle pin of that plug and Ground (the plug's outside metal).
You can see here how to do it.

[dcfbf]

The laptop charges now from the 170w power adapter. The 230w adapter was indeed too new for the W541.