HP Zbook 15 G5 studio x360 with HP usb-c mini dock

[Keesie2]

Hi,

I own an HP Zbook 15 G5 studio x360 and recently purchased a HP usb-c mini dock.

(English) - contrary to the dutch site not specifying correct compatibility or power outputs.

The dock is working fine. There is also an option to pass-through power your laptop with this dock, and I am wondering if this will be possible with my laptop as well.

My laptop comes with a 150W power adapter.

Technical specifications current Power Adapter:

Output 19.5V 7.7A.

Technical specifications docking station:

20V, 4.5A (at the back of the dock, Input/output not specified). On the dutch site it says 15V maximal (?)

Now, I already figured that I need to buy a seperate usb-c adapter. Which one will I need to buy and will it work for my laptop? The voltages of docking station and laptop (19.5 vs 20) seem incompatible.

Many thanks in advance,

[Huffer]

The specs for your laptop do not indicate it is capable of usb-C charging. Generally if it is, HP provides a USB-C charger and yours is a barrel type. Your laptop also uses a lot of power, requiring a 150w adapter. The Zbook G5 Studio x360 is not listed as a compatible model for the dock. I believe you will be able to use the port replicator function of the dock but it will not charge your laptop. 

[Keesie2]

Thanks a lot for your response! It is actually listed as compatible on the dutch HP site (see the link). But you are right the specs to not indicate my laptop support charging on the thunderbolt ports. I will not try it I think.

[nezbrun]

I realise that this is necroposting, but I will share my findings on charging the Zbook Studio G5 X360 via USB-C.

First of all, it does work, but your USB-C charger needs to be able to support the right power profile. As well as being 20V capable, it also needs to have sufficient current. The three third party adapters that I have that work are all 4.3A or 4.5A at 20V, or about 86W.

I have some other lower power 35W, 45W and 60W USB C chargers that simply don't work: I can see that they negotiate 20V, but the computer doesn't draw any significant current, it's still running on its batteries and the battery icon doesn't show the AC power annunciator.

Note that although these will power the laptop and charge it, I don't recommend them for intensive tasks: the machine will work, but I found that it throttles a little when running synthetic benchmarks.

If the charger uses a non-captive cable, make sure that any cable you do use is up to the job! Skinny USB-C cables that aren't Power Delivery (PD) specified to 100W will probably not work.

Now to USB C charging through a USB C dongle (non Thunderbolt). This proved much harder. Must USB C dongles sinply do not support sufficient PD current, it's as simple as that. MAke sure that you choose one that specifically supports sufficient PD charging. I tried about a dozen non-TB USB C dongles, only two worked.

For reference here are the USB C chargers that I found to work:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07JNN74PK

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07M8BJNYW

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07KXRNPSY

These are the dongles that I found provided enough through-power to charge: 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07HRFFPTQ

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07DJ6TN5Y

Furthermore if you are looking for a compact and lightweight occasional AC charger with the standard barrel connector, I found that this works nicely at a pinch (but don't expect full performance under load): Logik LLPAUSL17, which handily also includes a 10W USB type A charge point.

[Alex3150]

Thanks a lot for information shared. I have Studio G5 (non-x360) and I wondered if it is able charge from USB C when running.

(it's charging when off even with 40 or 60W chargers I have).

Do I understand correctly that it's charging from mentioned 85W+ chargers while working? And battery is being charged, even if slowly and not under significant load?

[nezbrun]

Yes it does charge from USB C when running with the 80W+ adapters I have.

There is a further consideration in that my experience with USB type C receptacles is that they are fragile, and that you can find equivalent standard barrel chargers that are smaller and weigh less. The fragility aspect is my biggest concern, if they are mounted on the motherboard typically it's a complete board replacement rather than a component level repair.