MP3Car.com - View Single Post - Dell Docking Station / Monitor Stand Power

kirk78h · 05-20-2007, 06:46 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by moahdib

Newer laptops that use the D-Port docking station are a pain in the ***...
All new Dell adapters have a center pin which is a com line between the adapter and the laptop that tells what "kind" of adapter you're using. Its proprietary and you can't just feed 19.5V to power and expect it to work. I got a generic auto dc power adapter rated at 19.5V 4.62A (90w) to power my dockign station and i get a unknown ac adapter message in bios. Laptop boots BUT battery doesn't charge. This happens even when I'm not docked.
LIND is the only company that makes a 90W auto adapter which will power a dock and charge the battery since they have probably figured out the com line protocol for dell laptops. Cheapest I can find these PSU's are $100. Not cheap if you go the docking route!! The Duracell auto dc adapters won't charge the battery either although its listed on Dell website, along with most generic chargers... I might just use an inverter for now before I decide to cough up another $100 for a lind psu.

Hooking up a carnetix P1900 PSU won't work either. Someone gotta figure out what that center pin does in order to tell the laptop its a DELL 90W rated PSU.

I dismantled my docking station and its no easy hack... stupid dell and their proprietary PSU's.... I had no issues with my old inspiron 4100 + dock. Its been running fine in my trunk for last 2 years.

The Duracell powers and charges the laptop fine. However, when I plugged it into the docking station, the laptop would not boot. I went back to the users guide for the docking station, and it said that it had to use the AC power supply that came with the PC (90W; not the 65W). At that point, I said screw it, I'll just use an inverter. I don't know if other laptops are this difficult, but my Dell D600 is an absolute pain. There has to be a better way...

05-20-2007, 06:46 AM	#6
kirk78h Low Bitrate Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Bel Air, MD Vehicle: 2001 Corvette Posts: 57 My Photos: ()	Quote: Originally Posted by moahdib Newer laptops that use the D-Port docking station are a pain in the ***... All new Dell adapters have a center pin which is a com line between the adapter and the laptop that tells what "kind" of adapter you're using. Its proprietary and you can't just feed 19.5V to power and expect it to work. I got a generic auto dc power adapter rated at 19.5V 4.62A (90w) to power my dockign station and i get a unknown ac adapter message in bios. Laptop boots BUT battery doesn't charge. This happens even when I'm not docked. LIND is the only company that makes a 90W auto adapter which will power a dock and charge the battery since they have probably figured out the com line protocol for dell laptops. Cheapest I can find these PSU's are $100. Not cheap if you go the docking route!! The Duracell auto dc adapters won't charge the battery either although its listed on Dell website, along with most generic chargers... I might just use an inverter for now before I decide to cough up another $100 for a lind psu. Hooking up a carnetix P1900 PSU won't work either. Someone gotta figure out what that center pin does in order to tell the laptop its a DELL 90W rated PSU. I dismantled my docking station and its no easy hack... stupid dell and their proprietary PSU's.... I had no issues with my old inspiron 4100 + dock. Its been running fine in my trunk for last 2 years. The Duracell powers and charges the laptop fine. However, when I plugged it into the docking station, the laptop would not boot. I went back to the users guide for the docking station, and it said that it had to use the AC power supply that came with the PC (90W; not the 65W). At that point, I said screw it, I'll just use an inverter. I don't know if other laptops are this difficult, but my Dell D600 is an absolute pain. There has to be a better way...