Is my power source correct?

[rkuhn]

When I plug in my AC adapter I receive the message “Low power source detected.  Your computer will run in reduced performance mode and might not charge.  Use of the original AC adapter is recommended”.  I have run a diagnostic test and confirmed that the AC adapter is not working properly.  This has occurred since my notebook was new about 30 days ago.  I'm wondering if HP sent me the wrong power supply.  This is a HP15.6 laptop IDS base  but has been upgraded to an Intel Core i7 along with numerous other things.  Do these upgrades require more power than what the base versions 45w smart adapter provides?

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

It's possible that your PC needs a higher wattage power supply.

The specs for the model series indicates that two power adapters are supported in the model series:

HP 15.6 inch Laptop PC 15-fd0000 series specifications | HP® Support

If your notebook is one of those that has the NVIDIA® GeForce® MX550 graphics adapter, that would definitely require the 65W power adapter.

Chapter 3 of the service manual has the 65W power adapter part number:

Maintenance and Service Guide

65 W    HP part # 710412-001

[rkuhn]

Thank you very much Paul.  If not for your post this issue still would not be resolved.  I've been going back and forth with HP support about the fact that I may need a 65w power supply but they were insistent that my notebook requires a 45w supply.  As I was on the last day that I could RMA my notebook (and not sure about the issue) I decided to do so and purchased another one exactly like the first.  It of course suffered the exact same issue as the first notebook.  Not surprising actually after reading the information you provided me. 

Since both notebooks had the same issue I again requested a 65w power supply from HP support.  Once again they refused to send me one and instead tried to set up sending me another 45w supply.  I of course refused this.  Because of this I decided to order the 65w supply that was shown in the maintenance manual via the internet.  It arrived today so I immediately ran the AC adapter test.  My notebook finally passed!  No problems at all.  Wow, that was painful!!!

It's really frustrating that after having shown them the information you provided they still couldn't figure out a solution to the problem.  Even more frustrating is that they either wouldn't (or couldn't) contact someone in engineering after conducting several failed attempts to solve this issue. 

Anyway,  I have one more question for you.  How do I get this information to someone at HP that matters?  I'm certain the information available to the HP support team (and shipping department) regarding this issue is incorrect.  I'm also sure they're shipping out multiple notebooks with the wrong power supply.  I'd really hate for someone else to have to deal with this issue.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome. 

Since this is a peer to peer forum and I don't work for or represent HP, unfortunately I wouldn't know who to contact at HP to address the issue.