How to repair a laptop's power connector.

[Seth]

The AC to DC power adapter on a laptop plugs into a connector which is soldered directly to the motherboard. This is a poor design, as through general usage the solder points eventually break off, or the pins inside the connector snap.

A common "fix" by techs is to simply re-solder the connections at the motherboard. This is insufficient as within a couple of months the solder points often break again.

The solution is to create a "flexible" bridge between the motherboard and the power connector. That is, solder in positive and negative wires on the motherboard and have the other ends soldered to a connector that is mounted inside or outside the case.

Mounting the connector inside the case will require enough space to do so, as well as drilling a mounting hole at the back of the laptop. Be carefull here, as you don't want the connector to make contact with the motherboard.

If there is not enough room inside the lappy, I drill a tiny hole at the back of the case to allow the wires to poke through by about two inches. I then mount the connector on the outside of the case. If you do this, be sure to smooth the inside and outside edge of the drill hole and knot the wires right at the hole inside the case.

It may not look too pretty when mounting the connector outside of the laptop, but it's a permanent fix. Provided that everything is explained to the customer before proceeding, they will always say, "That's a great idea, go for it". Well, at least that's been my experience...and I've used this permanent fix on laptops where the connection was just re-soldered but failed again.

[photolady]

Seth when you solder to motherboard, at any time, do you use a cold solder tool? I heard these are best for soldering near or around or to a motherboard.

[Seth]

Seth when you solder to motherboard, at any time, do you use a cold solder tool? I heard these are best for soldering near or around or to a motherboard.

PL,

I think you're referring to the type of soldering iron that instantly produces heat at the tip, then cools down quickly. If so, these type of irons should never be used on sensitive components such as a motherboard. Instead of going through an explanation of this type of iron, as well as the problems associated with such, I found a review that explains the problems very well. It's only two pages, but the just of it is on the second page. Here (http://www.epemag.wimborne.co.uk/cold-soldering.htm) ya' go:).

[photolady]

Nope, that is not what I was asking about. I don't even now if what I asked about was/is still sold, but there used to be a standard solder gun that was called Cold Solder Gun and it's not the new fancy one in your link. I'll research and see what I can find.

[fleamailman]

This was a really good read, the link too. A new area for me, and a very smart idea too.

[fleamailman]

Admin, any chance of a subforum in 'tips hack mods' for site approved threads like this one, stickys become bulky after about ten threads and because they are stuck to the top of the forum, new threads get kind of pushed out if there are too many stickys that way. Just an idea, what do other people think. Oh, and I think that nobody will mind if the clutter of replies like mine here could be removed in doing so, any questions could be started by the poster about the tut in a new thread.