Dock VB043AA (compatible with Elitebook 8470p) - which power supply ?

[GalaxHe]

Hello,

There are 2 docks compatible with the 8470p

a 90w dock (VB041AA)

a 230w dock (VB043AA)

I don't see real differences when checking the specs:

http://portal.tugraz.at/portal/page/portal/Files/zid/files/datenblatt/computing/HP-Docking.pdf

Is it possible to use the 90w power supply using the "230w" dock ?

Why is there a power difference between the 2 docks ?

Thanks a lot

[Ty1 · Accepted solution]

Hi,

The 230w power supply is to allow for the docking of a mobile Workstation, these notebooks are higher powered and therefore need a higher wattage powersupply.

The 230w docking station is required to handle this higher load, though it physically looks the same as the 90w, it has components that are rated for 230w.

It is briefly mentioned in th specs

"The HP 90W Docking Station gives you an energy-efficient 90W Smart AC adapter for your Notebook PC. The HP 230W Docking Station gives you an energy-efficient 230W Smart AC adapter for your Notebook PC or Mobile Workstation. These Smart adapters guard against power fluctuations with integrated surge protection"

You should not mix the powersupplies as it may lead to overloading.

[ChrisJ_GWHK]

"You should not mix the powersupplies as it may lead to overloading."

Please clarify.  If both the 90W and the 230W versions are compatible with an EliteBook 8470p, presumably there is no harm in using the 230W docking station consistently.  What of the fact that the power supply that came with the laptop itself is rated at 65W?  Are you saying that using this when it is off the docking station (or vice versa) will cause problems?

Thanks.

[Ty1]

If you use the 65W or 90W power supplies on the docking station and fully load the docking station with peripherals then it is quite likely that the power supplies will over load.

Unless they are faulty, powersupplies will only provide the load requested, the rating is the Max load.

So if you plug a 230W powwer supply into a laptop that needs only 65W you should have no issues.

If you use the 230W power supply on the 90W docking station, then you run the risk of damaging the docking station, as the power supply is capable of providing far more power than the docking station is designed to accomadate

[roymeboy]

We often chop and change these docks between workstations and not and just change the psu. Pretty sure its the exact same dock, just the one called 90w is bundled with a 90w psu and the 230 with a 230.
I'll have a proper look tomorrow if I remember but you'll be fine chopping and changing. I've never ever seen an overloaded hp dock, I work in an enterprise which has hundreds, possibly thousands of these docks. When they go into our stores, all the docks go in together and used interchangeably depending on what we need to deploy just with the relevant psu for the machine involved

[LipSer]

Thank you roymeboy, exactly what I thought.