Hardwiring Laptop AC/DC adaptors?

Achán hiNidráne · 11th October 2006, 08:50 PM

About this time last year the AC/DC adaptor socket on on my laptop started feeling loose and I had to apply pressure to the plug in order to power my computer. It finally got to the point where all the pressure would not allow me to power up my machine and after throwing a fit to Dell, they agreed to fix it (which requires a whole new motherboard for some reason).

It's happening again! I'm sick of this crap. I am at the point where I'm seriously considering finding some electronics guru to see if it's feasible to hardwire the AC/DC adaptor directly into laptop. Yes, this means I'll probably be dependent on an electric socket, but at least I be getting power.

Is such a thing possible? Also, why can't computer manufacturers design ac/dc plugs that DON'T wear out in a few months?

MortFurd · 11th October 2006, 11:52 PM

Electrically, what you want is no problem. Mechanically, you will be hard pressed to provide a good strain relief so that the cable doesn't break after a while.

There are power connectors that don't break as easily. They cost a few cents more, so low price equipment doesn't use them. Yes, your laptop was maybe a major investment, but it was still relatively inexpensive. Compare prices to a good Toshiba or Sony laptop, and you'll see what I mean. You got a Dell, dude.

Dell replaces motherboards because it takes less time for technician to do. Pop in a new one, send the old one back to be refurbished in the factory where they can test everything on the board to be certain nothing else is bad or got damaged during the repair. Some one who is good with a screwdriver and soldering iron could probably replace the jack for you. I'd do it if it were mine and the only alternative was a high dollar repair from the manufacturer.

bjb · 12th October 2006, 10:21 AM

Often, pressure on the jack causes it to break away from the board. The fix is to simply resolder the jack to the board. Once it has been fixed, make sure the adapter wire is not pulling on the computer power jack. Always leave some slack in the wire and don't yank the wire sideways by mistake.

jimlintott · 12th October 2006, 10:34 AM

Originally Posted by bjb

Often, pressure on the jack causes it to break away from the board. The fix is to simply resolder the jack to the board. Once it has been fixed, make sure the adapter wire is not pulling on the computer power jack. Always leave some slack in the wire and don't yank the wire sideways by mistake.

This might very well work except that motherboards are usually multi-layer affairs so where the connection is broken may not be repairable. (This is why Dell would just change the MOBO.) Worth a try though if you see the solder lifting from the board. A quick touch with a soldering iron and you're good to go. I've fixed quite a few things like this but usually they were single layer boards.

I would still attempt what you are doing. The jack itself might be broken and you can just find the leads and solder directly to them, insulate safely and be on your way.

What's the worst that could happen?

MortFurd · 12th October 2006, 11:55 AM

It's usually the jack that breaks. I've replaced jacks on numerous other pieces of equipment with similar jacks. It isn't really much of a problem that the boards are multi-layer. The power connections are pretty hefty traces on all layers, so you don't run much risk of ripping one out.

You usually can't just solder the broken jack back down. More often than not, the one that breaks in underneath the jack body.

moopet · 12th October 2006, 03:25 PM

At work we usually remove the socket from the board and replace it with a decent threaded steel one bolted through the chassis, insulated with heat-shrink or good old tape and soldered to the board by way of an inch or two of wire. This means when you treat your laptop like crap in the future and ram it against the wall, you're only bending the chassis and not ripping components off the motherboard.

Ducky · 16th October 2006, 05:09 AM

THis is not a post tryng to start a "apple" vs "pc" thing, but one of the coolest things I have seen is the magnetic power cable coupling on the macbooks. Seriously, that is one neat innovation, and I wish more laptops would come up with that type of system to avoid the problems with the power cable plugs. On my old powerbook, and on the three dells I had before that I had the same problem of having to bend things back into place to get the thing working right.

I wish more manufacturers would look at some kind of system like the apple one. I hate having to do solder repairs on a machine over areas of the machine that are most likely to see stress and wear.

bruto · 16th October 2006, 08:03 AM

Originally Posted by moopet

At work we usually remove the socket from the board and replace it with a decent threaded steel one bolted through the chassis, insulated with heat-shrink or good old tape and soldered to the board by way of an inch or two of wire. This means when you treat your laptop like crap in the future and ram it against the wall, you're only bending the chassis and not ripping components off the motherboard.

I've done this in the past, but you can't always find a good chassis point for it. An alternative is to hard-wire a pigtail with a female jack on it. With a corresponding plug on the power supply, the hope is that the flexible pigtail will put less stress on the circuit board and the jack will pull out before tearing the wire out.

Beerina · 20th October 2006, 01:52 PM

We have a Toshiba that's the same POS for that problem. Toshiba fixed the jack once, now it's at the "wiggle" stage again. If I pull the cord to the right gently, then tuck it under the laptop (we have a homework lap board we use it on) it'll stay powered as long as you don't move it around too much.

We've also spend $100 buying a whole new power cord (they include a rediculously expensive transformer) because the actual jack portion got bent up. Of course that piece cannot be replaced.

As this is out of warranty now (mercifully it wasn't the first time -- I hope all their warranty returns were way more expensive than the stupid cheapass jack savings) I may have to try to solder it back on myself someday.

Any Toshiba reps out there? This is for you:

11th October 2006, 08:50 PM	#1
Achán hiNidráne Illuminator Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Muskego, WI. Posts: 3,979	Hardwiring Laptop AC/DC adaptors? About this time last year the AC/DC adaptor socket on on my laptop started feeling loose and I had to apply pressure to the plug in order to power my computer. It finally got to the point where all the pressure would not allow me to power up my machine and after throwing a fit to Dell, they agreed to fix it (which requires a whole new motherboard for some reason). It's happening again! I'm sick of this crap. I am at the point where I'm seriously considering finding some electronics guru to see if it's feasible to hardwire the AC/DC adaptor directly into laptop. Yes, this means I'll probably be dependent on an electric socket, but at least I be getting power. Is such a thing possible? Also, why can't computer manufacturers design ac/dc plugs that DON'T wear out in a few months?
	__________________ "As the Corpse Lord knows, men today are ill-trained--ignoble: naught but wet anuses dribbling childish terrors and superstitions! Thus is knowledge--history, science, the world of the ancients--lost, never to be regained!" --M.A.R. Barker, "The Man of Gold"

12th October 2006, 10:21 AM	#3
bjb Graduate Poster Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 1,079	Often, pressure on the jack causes it to break away from the board. The fix is to simply resolder the jack to the board. Once it has been fixed, make sure the adapter wire is not pulling on the computer power jack. Always leave some slack in the wire and don't yank the wire sideways by mistake.
bjb Graduate Poster Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 1,079

12th October 2006, 10:34 AM	#4
jimlintott Master Poster Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Saskatchewan Posts: 2,894	Originally Posted by bjb Often, pressure on the jack causes it to break away from the board. The fix is to simply resolder the jack to the board. Once it has been fixed, make sure the adapter wire is not pulling on the computer power jack. Always leave some slack in the wire and don't yank the wire sideways by mistake. This might very well work except that motherboards are usually multi-layer affairs so where the connection is broken may not be repairable. (This is why Dell would just change the MOBO.) Worth a try though if you see the solder lifting from the board. A quick touch with a soldering iron and you're good to go. I've fixed quite a few things like this but usually they were single layer boards. I would still attempt what you are doing. The jack itself might be broken and you can just find the leads and solder directly to them, insulate safely and be on your way. What's the worst that could happen?
	__________________ If you are going to throw caution to the wind, make sure you are standing upwind.

16th October 2006, 08:03 AM	#8
bruto Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: way way north of Diddy Wah Diddy Posts: 11,191	Originally Posted by moopet At work we usually remove the socket from the board and replace it with a decent threaded steel one bolted through the chassis, insulated with heat-shrink or good old tape and soldered to the board by way of an inch or two of wire. This means when you treat your laptop like crap in the future and ram it against the wall, you're only bending the chassis and not ripping components off the motherboard. I've done this in the past, but you can't always find a good chassis point for it. An alternative is to hard-wire a pigtail with a female jack on it. With a corresponding plug on the power supply, the hope is that the flexible pigtail will put less stress on the circuit board and the jack will pull out before tearing the wire out.
	__________________ "Sir, I have found you an argument; but I am not obliged to find you an understanding.(Samuel Johnson) The gods are less for their love of praise....(Wendell Berry)

20th October 2006, 01:52 PM	#9
Beerina Sarcastic Conqueror of Notions Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: A floating island above the clouds Posts: 23,835	We have a Toshiba that's the same POS for that problem. Toshiba fixed the jack once, now it's at the "wiggle" stage again. If I pull the cord to the right gently, then tuck it under the laptop (we have a homework lap board we use it on) it'll stay powered as long as you don't move it around too much. We've also spend $100 buying a whole new power cord (they include a rediculously expensive transformer) because the actual jack portion got bent up. Of course that piece cannot be replaced. As this is out of warranty now (mercifully it wasn't the first time -- I hope all their warranty returns were way more expensive than the stupid cheapass jack savings) I may have to try to solder it back on myself someday. Any Toshiba reps out there? This is for you:
	__________________ "Great innovations should not be forced [by way of] slender majorities." - Thomas Jefferson The government should nationalize it! Socialized, single-payer video game development and sales *now!* More, cheaper, better games, right? Right?

11th October 2006, 11:52 PM	#2
MortFurd Graduate Poster Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: An American in Germany Posts: 1,975	Electrically, what you want is no problem. Mechanically, you will be hard pressed to provide a good strain relief so that the cable doesn't break after a while. There are power connectors that don't break as easily. They cost a few cents more, so low price equipment doesn't use them. Yes, your laptop was maybe a major investment, but it was still relatively inexpensive. Compare prices to a good Toshiba or Sony laptop, and you'll see what I mean. You got a Dell, dude. Dell replaces motherboards because it takes less time for technician to do. Pop in a new one, send the old one back to be refurbished in the factory where they can test everything on the board to be certain nothing else is bad or got damaged during the repair. Some one who is good with a screwdriver and soldering iron could probably replace the jack for you. I'd do it if it were mine and the only alternative was a high dollar repair from the manufacturer.

12th October 2006, 11:55 AM	#5
MortFurd Graduate Poster Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: An American in Germany Posts: 1,975	It's usually the jack that breaks. I've replaced jacks on numerous other pieces of equipment with similar jacks. It isn't really much of a problem that the boards are multi-layer. The power connections are pretty hefty traces on all layers, so you don't run much risk of ripping one out. You usually can't just solder the broken jack back down. More often than not, the one that breaks in underneath the jack body.

12th October 2006, 03:25 PM	#6
moopet binary decision maker Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Scotland Posts: 705	At work we usually remove the socket from the board and replace it with a decent threaded steel one bolted through the chassis, insulated with heat-shrink or good old tape and soldered to the board by way of an inch or two of wire. This means when you treat your laptop like crap in the future and ram it against the wall, you're only bending the chassis and not ripping components off the motherboard.

16th October 2006, 05:09 AM	#7
Ducky Titanium Puprhero Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Mayor of your front lawn. Posts: 12,296	THis is not a post tryng to start a "apple" vs "pc" thing, but one of the coolest things I have seen is the magnetic power cable coupling on the macbooks. Seriously, that is one neat innovation, and I wish more laptops would come up with that type of system to avoid the problems with the power cable plugs. On my old powerbook, and on the three dells I had before that I had the same problem of having to bend things back into place to get the thing working right. I wish more manufacturers would look at some kind of system like the apple one. I hate having to do solder repairs on a machine over areas of the machine that are most likely to see stress and wear.