Laptop Loose Adapter Connection

I have a Dell Inspiron 6000 laptop that works just fine except that
the power adapter connection on the rear seems faulty - it won't hold
the connection on so as to charge the battery as well as run the
laptop off 110. The blue indicator light should stay on but blinks
and often simply goes off.

I have read somewhere that these connections often fail mainly though
careless and abusive adapter connecting. I also remember reading that
the connection is repairable through re-soldering. But that of course
would require dismantling of the laptop to get at the internal
connection. That may be asking for problems.

Has anyone done this? Is it simple? Or should I just toss the
laptop?

Thanks

Apeman

On 2/9/2013 3:29 PM, Ape wrote:
I have a Dell Inspiron 6000 laptop that works just fine except that
the power adapter connection on the rear seems faulty - it won't hold
the connection on so as to charge the battery as well as run the
laptop off 110. The blue indicator light should stay on but blinks
and often simply goes off.

I have read somewhere that these connections often fail mainly though
careless and abusive adapter connecting. I also remember reading that
the connection is repairable through re-soldering. But that of course
would require dismantling of the laptop to get at the internal
connection. That may be asking for problems.

Has anyone done this? Is it simple? Or should I just toss the
laptop?

Thanks

Apeman

Are you sure it's the computer. Is the Blue Light in the
cord? If so in my experience it should be on whether it's
connected to the computer or not. I've had to replace the
power supply in such a case.

On 02/09/2013 02:29 PM, Ape wrote:
I have a Dell Inspiron 6000 laptop that works just fine except that
the power adapter connection on the rear seems faulty - it won't hold
the connection on so as to charge the battery as well as run the
laptop off 110. The blue indicator light should stay on but blinks
and often simply goes off.

I have read somewhere that these connections often fail mainly though
careless and abusive adapter connecting. I also remember reading that
the connection is repairable through re-soldering. But that of course
would require dismantling of the laptop to get at the internal
connection. That may be asking for problems.

Has anyone done this? Is it simple? Or should I just toss the
laptop?

Thanks

Apeman




Disassembly is typically difficult but if you do a Google search for
your model of laptop, there are usually tutorials as to how to get it apart.

On one newsgroup a guy simply used a Dremel tool to cut open an
inaccessible portion of his laptop to perform a repair, the just taped
the section back.

If you are going to throw your laptop away, you don;t have much to lose
by trying to repair it yourself.

--
https://www.createspace.com/3707686

On 2/9/2013 2:29 PM, Ape wrote:
I have a Dell Inspiron 6000 laptop that works just fine except that
the power adapter connection on the rear seems faulty - it won't hold
the connection on so as to charge the battery as well as run the
laptop off 110. The blue indicator light should stay on but blinks
and often simply goes off.

I have read somewhere that these connections often fail mainly though
careless and abusive adapter connecting. I also remember reading that
the connection is repairable through re-soldering. But that of course
would require dismantling of the laptop to get at the internal
connection. That may be asking for problems.

Has anyone done this? Is it simple? Or should I just toss the
laptop?

Disassembly is the largest part. Find a guide, take pictures as you go,
and keep the parts your remove organized by stage of disassembly.

Once inside, you may find the jack is actually destroyed, and reflowing
solder is not going to be a good solution. Maybe you'll be lucky enough
to have a model where the jack is modular, and easily replaceable.
Something like this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/LENOVO-T60-D...-/321068923666

If it's something more like this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/DC-POWER-JAC...-/110615320212

.... you're in for more of a challenge.

I typically order my parts while I have a good view of the broken part,
so I can be reasonably sure I'm going to get the correct one. If the
parts are cheap enough, order an extra.

Then, I cut the busted jack up with a Dremel for easier extraction. Be
careful not to nick the motherboard or other components. The idea is to
get the jack broken up enough that you only have to desolder one pin at
a time to remove a chunk.

Once you have the jack gone, take a little time to desolder the through
holes where the jack mounts. If you're careful, you can use your
soldering iron and a straight pin, but don't splatter. A desoldering
pump or braid might be a safer technique.

Reassemble the laptop while the dissembly is still fresh in your mind,
and wait for your replacement jack to arrive. This may seem tedious to
do the disassembly twice, but its easy to underestimate what you can
forget about how the laptop fits together in that week while you wait.

On Sat, 09 Feb 2013 15:48:37 -0500, Pen wrote:


Are you sure it's the computer. Is the Blue Light in the
cord? If so in my experience it should be on whether it's
connected to the computer or not. I've had to replace the
power supply in such a case.


It is on.

Apeman

On Sat, 09 Feb 2013 18:10:03 -0600, philo* wrote:


Disassembly is typically difficult but if you do a Google search for
your model of laptop, there are usually tutorials as to how to get it apart.

On one newsgroup a guy simply used a Dremel tool to cut open an
inaccessible portion of his laptop to perform a repair, the just taped
the section back.

If you are going to throw your laptop away, you don;t have much to lose
by trying to repair it yourself.

That is true enough, and I have nothing to lose - just time.

Apeman

On Sun, 10 Feb 2013 00:34:28 -0600, Grinder
wrote:


Reassemble the laptop while the dissembly is still fresh in your mind,
and wait for your replacement jack to arrive. This may seem tedious to
do the disassembly twice, but its easy to underestimate what you can
forget about how the laptop fits together in that week while you wait.


I can certainly believe this! Especially due to my senile status.
Maybe I'll just forget it.

Apeman

On 2/10/2013 6:12 AM, Ape wrote:
On Sat, 09 Feb 2013 15:48:37 -0500, Pen wrote:


Are you sure it's the computer. Is the Blue Light in the
cord? If so in my experience it should be on whether it's
connected to the computer or not. I've had to replace the
power supply in such a case.


It is on.

Apeman

That is not what your 1st message says.

On Sun, 10 Feb 2013 00:34:28 -0600, Grinder
wrote:

On 2/9/2013 2:29 PM, Ape wrote:
I have a Dell Inspiron 6000 laptop that works just fine except that
the power adapter connection on the rear seems faulty - it won't hold
the connection on so as to charge the battery as well as run the
laptop off 110. The blue indicator light should stay on but blinks
and often simply goes off.

I have read somewhere that these connections often fail mainly though
careless and abusive adapter connecting. I also remember reading that

I doubt if my friend was careless or abusive, and I know I wasn't, and
his Acer Aspire Netbook that I use when I go out of town has the same
problem

By positioning the cord right, we use the limit of the cord's
flexibilty to put a little pressure on the plug/jack. Or with a
small table sometimes I just let the cord hand down, and the weight of
the cord.

the connection is repairable through re-soldering. But that of course
would require dismantling of the laptop to get at the internal
connection. That may be asking for problems.

Has anyone done this? Is it simple? Or should I just toss the
laptop?

Don't toss it. Send it to me. Seriously. I'll pay 10 dollars plus
shipping charge. Or give it to the Freecycle group in your area.

Disassembly is the largest part. Find a guide, take pictures as you go,
and keep the parts your remove organized by stage of disassembly.

Now that I'm old enough to take pills, I find that those 7 sectionj
Sun-Sat pill dispensers work well for keeping the screws separated by
stage, and in order by sequence.

I bought at the dollar store a 42 section pill container that I
thought came apart differently. I'll be 95 before I take that many
pills, but it should work wel for a really complicated camera or
laptop.

Once inside, you may find the jack is actually destroyed, and reflowing
solder is not going to be a good solution. Maybe you'll be lucky enough
to have a model where the jack is modular, and easily replaceable.
Something like this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/LENOVO-T60-D...-/321068923666

Is it common for it to use 6 wire jacks even though the power plug,
iiuc, only has two wires? Add one for the jack casing, that still
makes only three.

Because what I would suggest is an inline female connector and a wire
an inch or two long coming out the hole where the jack used to be.

If it's something more like this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/DC-POWER-JAC...-/110615320212

... you're in for more of a challenge.

I typically order my parts while I have a good view of the broken part,
so I can be reasonably sure I'm going to get the correct one. If the
parts are cheap enough, order an extra.

Then, I cut the busted jack up with a Dremel for easier extraction. Be
careful not to nick the motherboard or other components. The idea is to
get the jack broken up enough that you only have to desolder one pin at
a time to remove a chunk.

Once you have the jack gone, take a little time to desolder the through
holes where the jack mounts. If you're careful, you can use your
soldering iron and a straight pin, but don't splatter. A desoldering
pump or braid might be a safer technique.

Reassemble the laptop while the dissembly is still fresh in your mind,
and wait for your replacement jack to arrive. This may seem tedious to
do the disassembly twice, but its easy to underestimate what you can
forget about how the laptop fits together in that week while you wait.

I took apart a digital camera with zoom about 6 months ago, then spent
4 months failing to find the right battery before I bought a battery
that may be too long. It's going to be months before I have time to
put the camera back together again, and I will probably have forgotten
how it gooes by then. I have the factory repair manual, downloaded
from the web, but I'm also 66 now and forgetting new things left and
right. (I still know all the old t hings.)

On Sun, 10 Feb 2013 06:51:58 -0500, Pen wrote:

On 2/10/2013 6:12 AM, Ape wrote:
On Sat, 09 Feb 2013 15:48:37 -0500, Pen wrote:


Are you sure it's the computer. Is the Blue Light in the
cord? If so in my experience it should be on whether it's
connected to the computer or not. I've had to replace the
power supply in such a case.


It is on.

Apeman

That is not what your 1st message says.


I was talking about the blue indicator light on the back hinge of the
laptop. It blinks or goes out. the blue light on the adapter itself
stays on.
\
Sorry

Apeman