Troubleshooting Low Wattage Charger Warning on Lenovo Legion Y540-15irh-Pg0: Steps to Resolve

If your Lenovo Legion Y540 is indicating that the charger is lower wattage than normal, despite using a 170W charger, there are several steps you can take to troubleshoot and potentially resolve the issue. This guide will provide you with a comprehensive solution and help ensure your laptop is running optimally.

Steps to Troubleshoot the Issue

1. Check Connections

Make sure that the charger is securely plugged into both the laptop and the wall outlet. Loose connections can cause power delivery issues, leading to the low wattage warning.

2. Inspect the Charger and Cable

Examine the charger and its cable for any visible damage such as fraying or bent connectors. If the charger is damaged, it may not provide the necessary wattage to your laptop.

3. Use a Different Outlet

Try plugging the charger into a different wall outlet. Sometimes the outlet itself may not provide sufficient power, causing the warning to appear.

4. Update BIOS and Drivers

Ensure that your laptop's BIOS and power management drivers are up to date. You can check Lenovo’s support website for the latest updates. Keeping your system updated can resolve compatibility issues and improve performance.

5. Check Battery Health

An old or damaged battery may affect the charging process. Use Lenovo Vantage or a similar tool to check the battery health. A healthy battery will ensure stable power delivery to your laptop.

6. Try Another Charger

If possible, try using a different 170W charger to see if the issue persists. This can help determine whether the original charger is faulty and needs to be replaced.

7. Reset Power Management Settings

You can reset the power management settings in the BIOS. Restart your laptop and enter the BIOS setup using F2 or Del during boot to reset any settings related to power and charging. This can help resolve any configuration issues that may be causing the warning.

8. Contact Lenovo Support

If none of the above steps resolve the issue, it may be best to contact Lenovo Support for further assistance. There could be a hardware issue with the laptop's charging circuitry that requires professional attention.

Additional Considerations

Lenovo’s web page lists this series of laptops with either a 170W or 230W AC adapter. If your laptop consumes 170W all by itself, it would normally have a larger AC adapter to provide power for both running and charging the battery. However, since the specs apply to the whole series and not to each model, you may need to find more detailed specs or contact the manufacturer to determine the correct charger for your laptop.

If you have the correct charger but the laptop still shows a lower wattage than standard, there may be a problem in communication between the laptop and the power supply. Alternatively, the power supply itself may not be working correctly, with the output voltage sagging while the current remains within limits. The exact trigger for the message is unknown. You should be able to get this solved by the manufacturer if the unit is still under warranty.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you should be able to identify and potentially resolve the issue with your charger. However, if the problem persists, don't hesitate to seek assistance from Lenovo Support or a qualified technician to ensure your laptop is functioning optimally.