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IBM Recalls 553,000 Laptop Power Units
qewl writes "The 56-watt adapters can overheat, cause damage to the circuit board and melt through the case, the company and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said. About 225,000 of the adapters are being recalled in the United states. The power adapters were shipped mostly with IBM ThinkPad i Series, ThinkPad 390 and 240 Series and a limited number of ThinkPad s Series laptop computers and have the part number 02K6549, the agency said."
They have that reputation because when something could go wrong, like the case in point, they are not afraid to do a recall, even if it's years after the product was released.
The computers were sold between January 1999 and August 2000
Note that IBM shipped a revised product under the SAME part number after August 2000... if you think you qualify, make sure to look at the details - it has to have HOLLOW pins look here to be part of the recall.
Laptops need more than 800ma, and also dual rail. While the single chip solutions would be great for a new kind of lower power computer, conventional laptops are just too power hungry.
Not that it won't stop people trying. Anything to minimise cost. IBM probably underspec'ed their switch mode here to save $ and look where it got them. Excess heat is the first sign you have skimped on current capacity!
Judging by your pictures...
I'd hit it.
Understanding is a three-edged sword. -- Kosh Naranek
Actually 800ma at 120v = 96W. 800ma at 240v = 192W. (assuming 100% efficiency) This should be enough for some laptops I would guess. No idea what chips this guy was talking about tho.
It isn't just boy geeks who have the tendency to go "EEP!" and retreat to the warm glow of their computer when a member of the opposite sex talks to them!
The biggest problem with the devices like Tinyswitch is the lack of isolation from the power line. This means when you go plug your USB connector into your computer (while touching the metal shield) and are leaning on your metal desk, you complete a circuit between the mains and ground. Not a good thing. I'll let the others calculate the typical body resistance (and power rating) to 50/60 Hz @ 110/220 volts.
... good example is a NiCd or NiMH charger with recessed contacts and/or an interlocked door, or a rechargable razor.
These devices are useful in applications where there is no possibility of touching any conductor connected in any way to these power supply ICs
This is the one I have! Im so happy cause mine crapped out on me like the year I got it and I just got a new one. This is so great, because I didnt throw that one away, now I can get another new one for free!! (the new one I got after was model 02k6543)... Interesting story, first hand acount of this fire problem happening. This is the ps that all the teachers use(d) at my high school like 5 years ago and one caught fire and the building had to be evacuated. That was like 3 years ago though.
Got an ice cold Aluminum powerbook on my chest that begs to differ with you.
Want a cool lappy? You have to buy one that breathes (good ventilation, metal case, good board layout), shuts off the hard drive often as it can and one that has a real mobile processor such as a Pentium M or G4. You can't buy a machine with a desktop chip like the Athlon XP or P4 laptops and expect it not to be a fusion reactor...the price you pay for a little extra speed is third degree burns, not to mention heavier batteries with decreased life. The Powerbook battery is something like half a pound and you can keep an extra one in your pocket (they're smaller than palm pilots).
Hey freaks: now you're ju