Power Adapter Compatability Question

OK, unless I'm "miss-remembering", I seem to recall a series of posts here early on in my toughbook addiction, referencing the use of off-brand or non OEM Panasonic AC adapters. I believe the prevaling opinion was to avoid them, that the few dollars saved wasnt worth the headache.

Now 100+ toughbooks later, Im getting killed buying oem adapters, especialy for the CF-29, and I'm forced to revisit the issue. As its summer, our busy season of sorts, I'm blowing out our cf-29's with mission teams all over the place; but my ability to keep OEM adapters in stock is outstripping my ability to work overtime, to earn the money to buy the damm things.

A carefull ebayer, I've been able to get the last thirty or forty OEM ones from between $9.99 and $19.99, in singles, doubles and groups of five or more in the past. However lately the listings have only been $24.99. $29.99, $49.00, and more per unit. OUCH.

SO, excluding the generic or unknown Hong Kong offerings, what is the prevailing opinion on using the OEM IBM adapters, said to be compatable with the CF-29, as listed: Output: 16V (4.5A) 72W,Compatible to IBM/Lenovo ThinkPad X30, X40, X40 Tablet.

If you dont like these but have used another type with sucess, please do tell.

If you only use OEM, but have a secret source your willing to share, please do tell.

Keep in mind these AC adapters are going with units that often have no battery or one that works, AND, are going to places were if the ac adapter fails, there is no running to the store, or jumping on the net and ordering another. If it fails, and if Im lucky, I might get an email through a third party. But more than likely, it will become a door stop, so the adapter must be as close to bulletproof as the computer itself.

Thanks in advance

Sam

 

I have used one of the IBM type in my CF-T5, CF-W5, CF-29, CF-51, CF-73 with no problems at all. IBM also has a AC/DC version where you use the same brick and swap to a cigarlighter end for car use. Be careful looking for these though as most on ebay don't have the cigar adapter part, BUT you usually can get the basic working charger for cheap. Also make sure it has the older end, the newer end like on the t61 won't work for the toughbooks.

example of the ac/dc version

New IBM R30/R31/R32 AC/DC Combo Car/Home Power Adapter | eBay

 

+1 on what ADOR said ^^^

 

Sam, I've got a bunch, 25+, IBM adapters which I own for very short money. I usually don't try to sell them as the shipping usually runs more than they're worth. PM me if you are interested in a box full of them for $4.00@ plus shipping which will probably run around $10 or so. They are definitely compatible with CF-29s and I've got some which have been heavily used for years without any failures. Complete with power cord and teated. <(left this typo in as the robot Pron Nazi let it by!)
CAP

 

If you want the "toughbook" version of adapters, you will need to check out Lind power adapters. They have the AC version, the DC version, and the Combo units, but they ARE pricey. But, they will last the life of the toughbook also.

 

I ONLY supply OEM Panny ones! I attempted to sell CF-29's and 30's with IBM adapters and that bit me in the BIG TIME!!! SCREW THAT!!! Good luck with that business strategy man!

I sold about 40 CF-29's with IBM adapters and had problems with charging and or power with about 30 of them!

I'm back to the OEM adapters! If you keep an eye out, you can nail them for $15/20 each if you buy 100 of them (Which I need AT LEAST 100 at a time anyways). On top of that, 99.9% of the time I wrap the adapters into the original deal and say "If you don't give me 50 OEM adapters with the 50 CF-30's that I'm gonna buy then we don't have a deal". If you can't provide that then I want a $1500 discount ($30/adapter)!

This is only a tip coming from a guy that does MAJOR Toughbook business now!

Good luck! Thanks

 

Rob, I'd like some details on that statement. I only have experience with about 30 that I have sold and the half dozen or so I have been using daily for over 3 years. Never a hiccup, ever. I think Doobi bought my 2 OEM adapters that came with my first CF-30. Suit yourself, Sam is trying to outfit needy people for the least possible money and I am very confident offering a money back guarantee with the IBM adapters.
CAP

 

I have to concur with the Captain here, the IBM adapters work just great. Frankly, they are a high quality power supply and there is just not that much mystery in supplying 16 VDC @ 4.55 amps.

Rob, perhaps your problem was with "excessive amperage." Sorry, inside joke...

 

Back in october I bought 30 of them for me and Alex , we never had one problem with any of them. They work great and the price was right.

 

I knew I’d find an answer here 

Capt. I’ll be getting them on Thursday, when the payroll hits, Thanks.

Rob, “business strategy” are you kidding, my business strategy sucks, remember, we’re a charity.

BUT, to give you an idea for humor sake, roughly translated, I work, I earn money, I spend it on stuff I need for the charity, like Toughbooks and Toughbook parts to fix into working systems.

Sometimes I buy/spend too much and have to sell some of the purchases to cover the bill, you know, buy ten, sell seven, get to keep three, macroeconomics it’s not. That’s how your shop got the cf-30 from me.

THEN, I work more; I earn money, cash used to buy the Microsoft software licenses, to install XP in various languages.

THEN, I work overtime, I earn better money, to pay for shipping or airline tickets to deliver said Toughbooks along with our mission teams.

In the end, NO ONE who receives the computers pays for anything, it’s all money out and no one ever complains, except maybe my wife.

Ultimately the moral imperative trumps the Donald, and business strategy be dammed, we have a winning product much in demand. If you look at the etymology of business, especially in the context of our organizational core values, we’re wildly successful.

But seriously Rob, when you fly home from the honeymoon in Jamaica, and you find yourself approaching the customs counter, only to be asked if you have anything to declare; look the agent straight in the eye, point to your new bride and say, “she got weed.” If she still rides home with you, you’ve got a keeper. Congratulations.

 

Perhaps consider Unbuntu Linux and Star Office which is FREE and had been throughly tested on the Toughbook by NBR Toughbook Member Jeff and others. This will save you some money and some wear and tear on yourself.

This would make more sense then investing in an aniquated operating system like XP.

 

Thats an idea, do they have Unbutu in Spanish and other languages?

That could work. Though I'm only paying six dollars per XP license, it does add up. We could upgrade, as they're now offering the same deal for win7, but not sure our older toughbooks would run it well.

sam

 

Yes, Unbuntu is available in many languages. Check out the thread here on NBR Toughbook forum as to running it on a CF-29 and go to the OS webside for much more info and to download a free copy. You can even run it from a "live" DVD to try it out!

Homepage | Ubuntu

 

Will this run with Unbuntu?
http://www.autoenginuity.com/

 

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From their FAQ:

What laptops and/or requirements do you recommend?

We currently use Toshiba laptops because of previous success and limited issues. They also consistently rank in the "Top 3 Shoot-out" for laptops (as does IBM). We don't recommend older Dells as they have reported USB issues which most USB devices will have issues with (Dell C500 and C600 series for example, have issues powering the USB port correctly).
As for features, any laptop that can run Windows 2K, XP, Vista, or Windows 7 will run any of our products.

 

I'm a'haveta agree widd Cap'n & Azrail here; sorry Rob. The IBM powerpacks are industrial quality; no 2 ways about it. Plus, (at least it's a plus to me) they use a polarized cord rather than a grounded cord... makes the whole bundle weigh a lot less, and less bulky. I have about a dozen of 'em in use, not only on ToughBooks, but also powering LiPo battery chargers for RC cars & stuph. These things will often draw 6-7 amps for the first 10-14 minutes of a charge cycle; those little IBM powerpacks just get warm to the touch. The rest of the time, they get warmer from exposure to the Tejas sun than while operating.

Rob, I must suggest that your issues with the IBM powerpacks are much more likely to be "PEBKAC" error and "For the price I'm paying, I should get the OEM powerpack" related issues than any actual failure in the powerpack.

mnem
ZZZZT.

 

I wonder if one of these will work on a General Dynamics Itronix GoBook VR-2 laptop.

 

No you can't because the GoBook VR-2 is a 19 volt machine and we are talking about 16 volt chargers,

 

Parento,

Was it you who asked about the battery, I mistakenly deleated all my PM in the box, before I got a day to start shipping.

If it was you, and you still want it, PM me the address, Im shipping a bunch of stuff on tuesday.

Sam

 

Yes, it was me.