This dell vostro 1520 notebook came in after it had been dropped. The laptop ran on battery power until that was gone. The dc jack itself was physically broken and needs replacement.
The vostro 1520 uses the standard nine pin, circular barrel dc jack that dell has been using for years.
The dc jack is located on the motherboard and needs to be desoldered properly then a new power jack soldered on.
After a new dc jack is installed the laptop powers up and charges the battery.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
hp G71 Power Jack Replacement
The G71 hp laptops are a 17" inch notebooks with Windows 7 installed.
This G71 came in with the no life whatsoever to the laptop. A small white light should illuminate when plugged in and that was out too.
The g71 uses a cable style that plugs into the motherboard dc jack vs. the traditional soldered onto the motherboard style power jack.
After the cable dc plug is installed the laptop powers on and charges the battery.
This G71 came in with the no life whatsoever to the laptop. A small white light should illuminate when plugged in and that was out too.
The g71 uses a cable style that plugs into the motherboard dc jack vs. the traditional soldered onto the motherboard style power jack.
After the cable dc plug is installed the laptop powers on and charges the battery.
Gateway MA8 MT6723 DC Jack Replacement
This gateway notebook came in with the classic symptom of once being able to hold the back of the power cord when plugged in in just the right position to power on. Usually this is a progressive problem that gets worse over time and the dc jack will need to be replaced.
The MA8 laptops are almost identical to the MA2, MA3, and MA7 series gateway laptops. The difference is the MA8 has upgraded hardware and newer technologies.
Once inside the power jack voltage pin looks oxidized and loose. This dc jack will need to be desoldered and a new jack soldered back on.
After the dc plug is replaced the laptop works like new again.
The MA8 laptops are almost identical to the MA2, MA3, and MA7 series gateway laptops. The difference is the MA8 has upgraded hardware and newer technologies.
Once inside the power jack voltage pin looks oxidized and loose. This dc jack will need to be desoldered and a new jack soldered back on.
After the dc plug is replaced the laptop works like new again.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Acer One D150 DC Jack Repair
This Acer One D150 laptop came in with the symptom of being able to hold the power cord tip in just the right way to power on/charge.
The Acer D150 differs from the D250 with a smaller length cable and different tip that plugs into the motherboard.
The acer d150 does use a cable style dc jack that plugs into the motherboard vs. a plug thats soldered directly on the motherboard.
After the new power cable is installed the laptop powers up and charges the battery.
The Acer D150 differs from the D250 with a smaller length cable and different tip that plugs into the motherboard.
The acer d150 does use a cable style dc jack that plugs into the motherboard vs. a plug thats soldered directly on the motherboard.
After the new power cable is installed the laptop powers up and charges the battery.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
5 Myths About Laptop DC Jack Repair/Replacement
- “If you have a dc jack problem the motherboard needs to be replaced”.
This is the number one quote I hear from users looking for dc jack repair. Many computer repair centers and large companies (dell, gateway, acer, Toshiba, etc.) will tell you the only way to fix a dc jack is to replace the entire motherboard. This is very costly and simply untrue. The dc jack can be safely and successfully removed and new power plug installed.
- “Can I repair the dc jack myself?”
This is a pretty common question I get asked. It’s not impossible to do this yourself but you need the equipment such as quality soldering iron (and tips), desoldering braid or pump, and a steady hand. I’ve heard people say, “soldering is easy”. Soldering can be easy but desoldering is usually the tricky part for most people. Also knowing where to pry and how to properly remove cables without breaking retention devices is a must. Lots of laptops that people have attempted the repair themselves can’t get the old solder out and or broke the connections on the motherboards for things like touchpads and keyboards.
- If the dc jack gets repaired once it will fail again.
This is true and false. A quality dc jack repair can last for the life of the laptop. At the same time it can go bad again. Some laptops have poor design or design flaws that can’t be changed and are likely to reoccur.
- Epoxy and epoxy like substances should be used to reinforce the dc jack.
The problem with epoxy is it suffocates surrounding circuitry causing motherboard failures. Components on a motherboard (voltage regulators, capacitors, power filters) heat up due to voltage running through them and should not be covered by epoxy products. Sometimes dc jacks fail due to cold solder joints and epoxy will do nothing to combat that problem except make it harder or impossible to get the dc jack off safely.
- All laptops with dc jack problems are repairable.
If your laptop is displaying the dc jack symptoms it might not be the power jack or a symptom could be another different problem. For example, I get inquiries stating the laptop won’t charge the battery. I also find out the laptop does work when plugged in. This means the dc jack is working but something else on the motherboard has failed. Another example would be sometimes when the laptop is disassembled I find out the motherboard is burnt near the voltage pin. This is a pretty common occurrence on gateway laptops and replacing the dc jack won’t help. The entire motherboard would need to be replaced in this case.
Gateway M-6339u DC Input Repair
This gateway M-6339u (M Series) laptop came in completely lifeless. Holding the power cord tip in any direction wouldn't get the laptop to charge or power on. I see this frequently on gateway models using the standard six pin, 2.5mm tip dc jack.
Once taken apart the dc jack looks and feels solid but due to the cold solder joint problem on these models gets replaced anyway.
After the old dc connector is de-soldered off the motherboard a new power jack is soldered on.
When the laptop is put back together it powers on and charges the battery. Assuming no one has attempted a jack replacement this type of repair comes with a one year warranty.
Once taken apart the dc jack looks and feels solid but due to the cold solder joint problem on these models gets replaced anyway.
After the old dc connector is de-soldered off the motherboard a new power jack is soldered on.
When the laptop is put back together it powers on and charges the battery. Assuming no one has attempted a jack replacement this type of repair comes with a one year warranty.
This gateway MD7820u laptop came in with a very loose power port and slight burn around the actual dc jack. It's a pretty common model I'm starting to see come in for plug repair.
Now that Acer bought gateway they are using the acer style dc jack. In my opinion it's the same poor quality used by gateway but a different style. It uses a five pin, 1.65mm tip jack that I've been working on for years.
Once disassembled the old dc jack needs to be de-soldered directly off the motherboard and a new power receptacle soldered back on.
After the dc jack is replaced the laptop powers up great and charges the battery.
Now that Acer bought gateway they are using the acer style dc jack. In my opinion it's the same poor quality used by gateway but a different style. It uses a five pin, 1.65mm tip jack that I've been working on for years.
Once disassembled the old dc jack needs to be de-soldered directly off the motherboard and a new power receptacle soldered back on.
After the dc jack is replaced the laptop powers up great and charges the battery.
Toshiba A355D Power Input Repair
The A355D Toshiba laptops aren't common ones I work on but are the same as newer toshiba laptops due to the cable style dc jacks (L455, L355, L505, A305).
This A355D laptop had a cable style dc jack that was pushed back inside the laptop. This is the classic symptom for these newer toshibas.
Once torn down the dc jack is fine but the bottom plastic of the laptop that holds the jack into place is broken. This usually happens due to excessive force to the dc socket or lots of plugging and unplugging of the power cord.
Fortunately in this case the plastic is still there and can be glued back into place with a special glue. It takes atleast 24 hours to dry but when done the dc plug is rock solid and can be used like new again.
This A355D laptop had a cable style dc jack that was pushed back inside the laptop. This is the classic symptom for these newer toshibas.
Once torn down the dc jack is fine but the bottom plastic of the laptop that holds the jack into place is broken. This usually happens due to excessive force to the dc socket or lots of plugging and unplugging of the power cord.
Fortunately in this case the plastic is still there and can be glued back into place with a special glue. It takes atleast 24 hours to dry but when done the dc plug is rock solid and can be used like new again.
Dell Inspiron 1545 Notebook DC Connection Replacement
The dell 1545 laptops are common ones we work on and as the one year dell warranties are up I'm seeing more and more for ac dc connector repair/replacement.
This 1545 came in with the power plug pushed back slightly inside the laptop. Once inside the circuit board wasn't damaged and the dc jack was de-soldered and a new dc jack installed. Sometimes the damage is severe enough the entire circuit board where the receptacle is located needs to be replaced.
Once put back together the laptop powers on and charges the battery.
This 1545 came in with the power plug pushed back slightly inside the laptop. Once inside the circuit board wasn't damaged and the dc jack was de-soldered and a new dc jack installed. Sometimes the damage is severe enough the entire circuit board where the receptacle is located needs to be replaced.
Once put back together the laptop powers on and charges the battery.
Compaq CQ60 DC Jack Repair
This Compaq CQ 60 laptop (CQ50, CQ60, CQ70) came in with the dc jack pushed back inside the laptop. It uses a cable style dc jack that plugs into the motherboard vs. a soldered onto the motherboard power plug.
Once inside I discovered the cable jack was fine but the plastic on the base of the laptop that holds the jack into place was broken. This can be remedied by using a special glue to hold the jack safely into place.
Once dried the jack is rock solid and holds into place nicely.
Once inside I discovered the cable jack was fine but the plastic on the base of the laptop that holds the jack into place was broken. This can be remedied by using a special glue to hold the jack safely into place.
Once dried the jack is rock solid and holds into place nicely.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Acer One D250 DC Jack Repair
The Acer One series laptops are common ones we work on and now I'm seeing this D250 model. This D250 Acer is different because instead of the traditional soldered onto the motherboard dc jack it uses a cable style dc jack that plugs into the motherboard.
I received two around in the same week and both felt pretty solid and I couldn't wiggle the power cord tip in just the right way to get them to power on. I decided to go for it and install the jack anyway and to my surprise both laptops powered on. The voltage wire had come undone causing a break in the connection.
After the new cable jacks were installed the laptops powered right up!
I received two around in the same week and both felt pretty solid and I couldn't wiggle the power cord tip in just the right way to get them to power on. I decided to go for it and install the jack anyway and to my surprise both laptops powered on. The voltage wire had come undone causing a break in the connection.
After the new cable jacks were installed the laptops powered right up!
Averatec 6240 Power Jack Repair/Replacement
The Averatec 6240/6200 series laptops are pretty common ones we work on and I see them about once a month or so. It uses the same common dc plug that many averatec laptops use such as 3200, 3250, 2200, 7000, and many more.
This particular 6240 had the dc jack pushed back inside the laptop. It uses the standard five pin, 2.5mm averatec dc jack.
The dc jack is located on a small circuit board that can be access when the laptop is completed taken apart. The first step is de-soldering the old broken jack off this separate circuit board. When the jack is off and the contacts clean and properly de-soldered it's ready for a new dc jack.
Once the jack is installed the laptop is put back together and it powers on/charges the battery.
This particular 6240 had the dc jack pushed back inside the laptop. It uses the standard five pin, 2.5mm averatec dc jack.
The dc jack is located on a small circuit board that can be access when the laptop is completed taken apart. The first step is de-soldering the old broken jack off this separate circuit board. When the jack is off and the contacts clean and properly de-soldered it's ready for a new dc jack.
Once the jack is installed the laptop is put back together and it powers on/charges the battery.
Emachines M6809 DC Jack Repair
This Emachines M6809 came in with the classic symptom of being able to hold the power cord tip in just the right angle/location to get it to power on. Assuming you have a known working power cord this is a great way to tell if you have the power plug problem.
The emachines M6809 is a six pin, 1.65mm dc jack that similar gateway mx7000 and W series laptops use.
When the emachines laptop was torn down to the motherboard the voltage pin had oxidized and almost looks slightly burnt. Like all repairs the dc jack is de-soldered and removed, then a new dc jack is soldered on.
After the input jack is replaced the laptop powers up!
The emachines M6809 is a six pin, 1.65mm dc jack that similar gateway mx7000 and W series laptops use.
When the emachines laptop was torn down to the motherboard the voltage pin had oxidized and almost looks slightly burnt. Like all repairs the dc jack is de-soldered and removed, then a new dc jack is soldered on.
After the input jack is replaced the laptop powers up!
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