Knackered Laptop Charger Socket

Muel · 1 Mar 2011 at 16:27

My lady's laptop is dead. It used to charge, then the connection between the charger and the laptop started to play up, and would only connect in certain positions, and now it won't charge at all. It's out of warranty too; Packard Bell only offer a year.

My guess is that the socket has broken free from the motherboard, and needs resoldering. Sound plausible? I'm guessing no shop will touch it, or if they do they'll want to change the motherboard for another one.

My plan is to get hold of it from her and have a crack at soldering it, but I just wanted to explore all the options, thought it's something you might have come across before.

Any ideas?

jaybee · 1 Mar 2011 at 16:30

Come accross before? Only the most common laptop fault!

If you feel confident taking it apart and getting it back together again then yeah it should be a simple fix once exposed. Give it a go...what have you got to lose?

blueacid · 1 Mar 2011 at 17:36

jaybee said:
Come accross before? Only the most common laptop fault! If you feel confident taking it apart and getting it back together again then yeah it should be a simple fix once exposed. Give it a go...what have you got to lose?

Before you do, have a check with a multimeter to make sure the fault doesn't lie with the plug on the AC adaptor. It's a 30 second check that might save you some time and anguish later on.

PhillyDee · 1 Mar 2011 at 19:57

blueacid said:
Before you do, have a check with a multimeter to make sure the fault doesn't lie with the plug on the AC adaptor. It's a 30 second check that might save you some time and anguish later on.

Can be difficult to check, as most adapters only send a miniscule voltage until the laptop asks for more.

Some laptop sockets are very difficult to find mind!

geuben · 1 Mar 2011 at 20:02

I fixed a friends laptop that had this problem, it was a sony vaio laptop, couldn't have been easier as to my surprise the socket was connected to the motherboard by a wire and connector, could just unscrew and unclip it and put in the replacement.

Nice and easy, more manufacturers should do that.

bloodhunter · 1 Mar 2011 at 23:34

My own experience of this happening is my daughter constantly tripping over the wire when connected and eventually damaging the charge socket on the laptop.
Then all i get is a load of moaning because i won't buy her a new one. Happy days!!!
I have not had this problem on my laptop due to being careful.

Muel · 2 Mar 2011 at 00:57

Cheers for the advice guys, I thought that pulling it apart and having a crack would be the best course of action next, but thought it best to check.

Are they often by any chance designed to be weak at that point? So they break through "hefty use"?

Rotty · 2 Mar 2011 at 01:00

there are online companies that will replace the socket of you send them the board

PhillyDee · 2 Mar 2011 at 01:59

Muel said:
Are they often by any chance designed to be weak at that point? So they break through "hefty use"?

I would say no, but they are an inherent weak point.

Bubba · 2 Mar 2011 at 08:30

PhillyDee said:
Can be difficult to check, as most adapters only send a miniscule voltage until the laptop asks for more.

Some laptop sockets are very difficult to find mind!

What are you talking about? I have never had any problems testing laptop chargers with a multi meter, I think you should learn how to use one properly.

Grab a multimeter and test the charger or even better try and borrow a friends to see if it works ensuring the voltage is the same, amperage isnt that important for a quick test. If your charger i sfaulty make sure you only buy a genuine adapter and not a cheap replacement.

Most shops will be able to replace the DC socket for between £50-£100 depending on where you go but beware there are a lot of cowboys out there who dont know how to solder properly or use the wrong tools.

I have only ever had a problem once soucring a DC socket but I was able to modify a slightly different one to work anyway.

Tealc · 2 Mar 2011 at 09:56

I thought the DC jack had broken on my Daughter's laptop but it turned out to be the socket on the lead that was faulty. I also thought I'd need to open up the laptop and solder the connection, or make my own. Maybe I was lucky. All I did was buy some soldereable DC sockets of the correct size off the bay and solder them on to the wire.

If the hole is too small for your multimeter probes then shove a paperclip in the hole and probe off that.

The charger should output the required voltage all the time, it's usually the internal circuitry controlling the battery in the laptop that will pull the current it needs in from the charger.