Power Connector

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Over time, different ThinkPads have used different power connectors. You can use a higher Amperage rated power supply then your ThinkPad needs, as long as the physical connector is correct. But you should not use a lower Amperage power supply on a ThinkPad needing more Amperage. Doing so will overheat the power supply, and might cause issues such as screen flicker.

Hint:
In case you cannot find your Model ThinkPad listed, or you wish to double check, you can find the required power information on a label on the bottom of your ThinkPad
NOTE!
The Amperage's listed below are the OUTPUT values for the AC adapter, which should be equal or greater then what your ThinkPad requires

All current Thinkpads require 20 Volt DC input. See also the official Lenovo page for power adapters.


6.3 mm outer, 3.0 mm inner diameter

Help needed
Will someone with an actual unit in-hand, please confirm the size?

15 V, 2.0 A Power.

4-Pin hexagon

NOTE!
The information found in this page is mostly correct. But the four-pin connector, in particular, is not thoroughly understood. This information is incomplete and not entirely correct.
4 pin power connector

Models using this connector

Unknown watts/amps

35W

AC Adapter PN 76H0119

40W

50W

20 V 2.5 A - FRU 49G2196

56W

AC Adapter PN 12J2456

A makeshift replacement connector

As these 4-pin PSUs are getting more rare and more expensive, a cheap solution if you don't have one is to adapt a universal 19-20V laptop PSU with a barrel connector. This isn't ideal if you're relying on the Thinkpad for some critical old business application, but it's fine if you're just a tinkerer playing with an old one off eBay for example.

Only the "+" and "-" connections (top-right and bottom-right looking into the connector on the back of the laptop from the back of the laptop) are required for basic operation, so that's all you need to adapt. Get an extension lead for your barrel connector - e.g. 2.1mm - and cut it in half. Discard the plug half. Get a "Mini JST" plug with flying leads, commonly used to power model helicopters etc. This is the plug that I've found will fit over the + and - pins. Wire the two together so that the red wire on the Mini JST is soldered to the centre contact wire on the barrel connector extension (socket half).

ALWAYS double check the polarity when plugging in your custom modded connector, since it's possible to get it the wrong way round.--Cloudane

4-Pin Kycon

This connector resembles, but is slightly larger, than Mini-Din.

120W power plug

120W 7.5 Amps

ThinkPad 120W AC Adapter (Support Website)
AC Adapter FRU PN 92P1035
AC Adapter Ouput: 7.5A, 16V

5.5 mm outer, 2.5 mm inner diameter

16V coax connector

This is a 2.5/5.5mm barrel coax connector, delivering 16 volts. Four AC adapters are commonly available: 35W (16V 2.2 Amps), 54W (16V 3.36 Amps), 56W (16V 3.5 Amps), 72W (16V 4.5 Amps). Some of the 3.36A adapters have been recalled: see the page Damage in 56W AC-Adapter, plastic housing melted.




  • ThinkPad 560 (rated 1.9A)
  • ThinkPad 560E, 560X, 560Z (rated 35W 2.2 Amps)
  • ThinkPad 570, 570E (rated 54W 3.36 Amps)


  • ThinkPad 600 (rated 2.6A), ThinkPad 600E (rated 2.6A)
  • ThinkPad 600X (rated 3.0A)








56W 3.5 Amps

Help needed
not entirely correct, needs confirmation

barrel connector, slim

19 Volt Coax connector
IBM called it "barrel connector, slim". 19 V, 45 W 2.4 A. 5.5 mm outer, 2.1 mm inner diameter. Option Marketing number 11J8702. See AC adapter matrix (Doc PD012162) as a source of information.

big barrel "advanced" connector

20V coax connector

20 Volt Coax. 7.5mm OD, 5.55mm ID, 0.8mm diameter central pin.

Signal Pin

Power controller subsystem senses when power is connected, and measures resistance between central signal pin and ground. Firmware policy might reduce performance (battery charges slowly, processors throttle to low speed) if an insufficient supply is detected. This issue is discussed at forum.thinkpads.com, "W520 requires 170W AC adapter".

power rating resistance
65 W 10 kΩ
90 W not connected
135 W 0 Ω
170 W 1.5 kΩ

Models using this connector

65W 3.25 Amps

AC Adapter Output 3.25A, 20V

90W 4.5 Amps

135W 6.75 Amps

AC Adapter PN 55Y9317

W520 W530 variant

170W 8.5 Amps

AC Adapter PN 0A36227 (US) and PN 0A36231 (EU)

The size of this connector is same as on usual 20V AC adapters, but inner detail is different. Inside this connector is not round any more: it has two symmetric plastic knobs. A user can only plug it in two particular orientations. The extra knobs prevent one from using the AC adapter with any other Thinkpads.

How to use 170W powersupplies with other Models

jcvjcvjcvjcv wrote on forum.thinkpads.com:
I stripped the unwanted plastic from the power connector of a 170W adapter using a security Torx #30 bit. That size fits perfectly and just takes out the plastic you don't need and leaves everything else (including the center pin) untouched.

Tip by jcvjcvjcvjcv on forum.thinkpads.com.

slim plug

This connector is used in power accessories, not in any Think system. It is found in 90W Slim AC/DC Combo Adapter (which won a Good Design Award ) and later 90W Ultraslim AC/DC Combo Adapter.

slim power tips

W700 Coax connector

6.0 mm outer, 3.0 mm inner diameter.

Help needed
Will someone with an actual unit in-hand, please confirm the size?

The W700/W700ds AC adapter plug has a different diameter than all other 20 Volt AC adapters. You cannot plug in a different AC adapter into a W700-series Thinkpad nor can you use the W700 AC adapter on a non-W700 Thinkpad.

170W 8.5 Amps for W700

AC Adapter PN 41R4421

230W 11.5 Amps

AC Adapter PN 55Y9333

slim tip

20V coax rectangle and barrel connectors
Lenovo wrote on store product description:
New rectangular fixed “slim tip” plug to support thin and light hardware designs

Lenovo introduced a new power connector in 2012. This connector is standard in all new models since late 2013 product line. It is rectangular, close in size to USB A connector, and it has a signal pin in centre.

Signal Pin

power rating resistance
36 W
Help needed
{{{1}}}
45 W 120 Ω
65 W 280 Ω
90 W 550 Ω
135 W 1 kΩ
170 W 1.9 kΩ

Models using this connector

A conversion cable for 20V barrel plugs exists: ThinkPad Slim Power Conversion Cable; Model L01DC001-NB-R; Option Marketing number 0B47046; ASM 0A36037; FRU 03X6261; UPC 887263167790; EAN 0887263167790; JAN 4560421046101.

  • OneLink connector
  • ThinkPad Ultra Dock

36W 12 V ⎓ 3 A

45W 2.25 Amps

65W 3.25 Amps

90W 4.5 Amps

135W 6.75 Amps

170W 8.5 Amps

unsorted

10.5 V, 1.0 A Power