Mini Dock 3 Plus query

[mrg]

Does anyone know whether the different Mini Dock 3 Plus' (P/N 433810U and 433830U) differ only in thesupplied  PSU wattage or is there a difference in the dock hardware itself?  Tech specs listed on the website look the same, apart from the PSU.

The reason for asking is that  I've been offered a Mini Dock 3 Plus second hand but without power supply.  I have a W510.  The dock on offer was originally used with a T420 and 90W PSU.  If I buy a 135W or 170W PSU will it work correctly with the dock and provide the necessary power for a W510?

Cheers

[lead_org Microsoft MVP Contributor]

as far as i know the power adapter and the power plug is different.

The 170 watt adapter can only go into specially designed plug, while you can use the 90 w and 135 watt adapter in the 170 w equipped dock and machine.

So what you are saying is that essentially they differ only in PSU wattage is correct.

[ThorsHammer]

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mrg wrote:

Does anyone know whether the different Mini Dock 3 Plus' (P/N 433810U and 433830U) differ only in thesupplied  PSU wattage or is there a difference in the dock hardware itself?  Tech specs listed on the website look the same, apart from the PSU.

The reason for asking is that  I've been offered a Mini Dock 3 Plus second hand but without power supply.  I have a W510.  The dock on offer was originally used with a T420 and 90W PSU.  If I buy a 135W or 170W PSU will it work correctly with the dock and provide the necessary power for a W510?

Cheers

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Which dock were you offered?

[mrg]

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lead_org wrote:
as far as i know the power adapter and the power plug is different.

The 170 watt adapter can only go into specially designed plug, while you can use the 90 w and 135 watt adapter in the 170 w equipped dock and machine.

So what you are saying is that essentially they differ only in PSU wattage is correct.

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Thanks for the reply; can you clarify this a bit more - is the power plug (i.e. that goes into the dock/laptop) different between 90W and 135W or is is it only the 170W that is unique?

The mini dock 3 plus  I've been offered was originally bought for use with a T420 and came with a 90W PSU.  I have a W510 and need at least 135W to get decent performance. My assumption is that the dock hardware itself is the same irrespective of which PSU it is (originally) supplied with? i.e. that there isn't some other difference in, for example, the internal dock power circuitry or dock connector.  On this basis I presume I could buy the dock on offer and pair it with my 135W PSU without issue? 

Cheers

[lead_org Microsoft MVP Contributor]

135 watt adapter can be used with all Lenovo ThinkPads other than the W70x.

The W520 and 170 watt version of the mini dock 3 uses a special plug that can accept the 170 watts adapter, and the 135 watts, 90 watts, 65 watts adapter.

But the 170 watts power adapter plug can not be fitted into machine other than the W520 (and maybe the W530).

[mrg]

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lead_org wrote:
135 watt adapter can be used with all Lenovo ThinkPads other than the W70x.

The W520 and 170 watt version of the mini dock 3 uses a special plug that can accept the 170 watts adapter, and the 135 watts, 90 watts, 65 watts adapter.

But the 170 watts power adapter plug can not be fitted into machine other than the W520 (and maybe the W530).

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Thanks again for the reply and sorry to labour the point but I'm still not completely certain whether the dock will be compatible...

I appreciate that the 170W PSU will not plug into my W510.  Presumably the docking connector on the W510 is also incompatible with a 170W mini dock?

My fundamental question is whether a dock originally sold with a 90W adaptor (for a T420) will work with a 135W PSU. The power connector will be compatible but will the dock function correctly with a higher powered PSU?  i.e. is there some technical difference between the 90W-dock and the 135W-dock, or, as I suspect, are the docks identical and the only difference is the PSU that is put in the box with it?

Cheers

[lead_org Microsoft MVP Contributor]

a dock originally sold with 90 watt adapter will work with the 135 w PSU. The dock will only draw as much power as needed, so there is no problem with plugging the 135 watt adapter.