The jack on the laptop that you plug the AC adapter (Charger) into, is called a DC Power Jack.
http://www.laptopjacks.com/view_part/Dell-Inspiron-9300-Laptop-DC-Power-Jack-DL111500.html
I would like you to click on the photos of the jack. (3 views shown. Has www.laptopjacks.com on it)
The middle photo, and the photo to the right, shows copper prongs that protrude out of the jack.
The view to the right shows the jack upside down, in relation to how it's mounted on the motherboard.
The prongs go through the motherboard, and are soldered to circuit traces on the motherboard.
(For simplification, think of circuit traces as being very thin flat copper wires on the motherboard)
There is data stating that the solder joints have a tendency to crack, even with normal usage of just plugging, and unplugging the AC adapter.
It is also stated that the motherboard area where the DC Power Jack is mounted, is of a bad design.
Many have had the motherboard replaced, ($400 to $500), only to have the same problem come up later.
It has also been stated that the manufacturer states replacing the AC adapter, but has been shown to no avail in solving the problem.
Same thing comes up for the Dell Inspiron e1705.
(I know, I'm just a 'Ray of Sunshine')
A cracked solder joint, or cracked solder joints make an intermittent contact. When the DC Power Jack is in a certain position with the AC adapter plugged in, the contact may be good. Moved around by plugging in the AC adapter again, the position may change, and result in an intermittent contact, or no contact at all.
Result?
Laptop will not power off of the AC adapter, nor will the AC adapter charge the battery.
This is the reason why the laptop will run straight off of the battery, but the battery isn't being charged back up.
It could also be that the damage is further than a cracked solder joint, or cracked solder joints.
One of the prongs could have come loose from it's mounting, and no longer be attached to the pin it's supposed to be attached to.
[ The AC adapter converts AC {Alternating Current} electricity from your household, or business, into DC electricity.
{Direct Current. Batteries are an example of stored DC electricity}
DC uses two connections. A Positive connection, and a Negative connection.
One of the prongs is for the Positive connection, another one is for the Negative connection. The other prongs are used for stability, to mount the DC Power Jack in place to the motherboard. Generally the center pin/s are for a Positive connection, the outer pin/s are for the Negative connection ]
Unless I had the laptop in my hand, I can only give you a generalization of what may be wrong, and the possible solution to repair it.
1) All power to the laptop removed, (AC adapter and Battery), see if you can wiggle the DC Power Jack around. Any perceptible movement is bad.
2) Past this point the laptop will have to be completely disassembled, down to the bare motherboard in your hand. Requires visual inspection of the solder joints for the DC Power Jack, and the surrounding circuit traces.
It may be something as simple as resoldering a cracked solder joint. (Or joints)
It may go further into replacing the DC Power Jack.
It may still go further if the area on the motherboard where the DC Power Jack is mounted, has cracked.
You or a tech may not be able to mount a new DC Power Jack.
This would require a workaround, IF feasible. Won't be aesthetically appealing, however.
http://www.laptoprepair101.com/laptop/2006/05/27/failed-laptop-power-jack-workaround/
Dell Support > Inspiron 9300 Notebook PC > Service Manual,
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins9300/sm/index.htm
Older Dell Inspiron 1300 laptop, but linked to show you more about replacing a DC Power Jack, and the required 'little things'. Such as properly cleaning the solder joint area on the circuit trace, that a prong for the DC Power jack, goes through, and is soldered to.
http://www.insidemylaptop.com/remove-motherboard-repair-dc-power-jack-dell-inspiron-1300-b120-b130-laptop/
You may find this useful also,
http://www.coredatarecovery.com/how-to-repair-a-bad-power-jack-on-a-dell-inspiron-51501100-series-laptop-for-under-2000/
Click on - Dell 5150/1100 series Slideshow
(Author Charles House)
1) Buy an wear an ESD wrist strap. (Electro Static Discharge) The average cost is around $3 to $8.
Connect the alligator clip to a good ground source. I connect to the metal frame of an empty desktop computer case.
Observe Anti-Static Precautions.
[Your body carries static electricity. Static will fry out (Short Circuit) the hardware components inside a computer. Wear the ESD wrist strap, and connect it to a good ground when working on the laptop.
Should you leave in the middle of working on your laptop, upon your return be SURE to put the ESD wrist strap back on ]
2) There may be as many as 60 screws, and 12 different types of screws. Do Not mix them up.
Use a multi-compartment container for the screws. Mark each compartment for the area the screws came out of. Do not stack them neatly on a table. Recipe for disaster.
You can use a clean egg container in a pinch. Mark each egg holder.
3) Use Solder Wick, (Desoldering Braid) to remove the old solder. Do not use a Desoldering Tool.
4) Make sure the area of the circuit trace that you have removed solder from is CLEAN. The links above will detail more about this. Make sure the circuit trace areas are pre-tinned with solder, before inserting the DC Power Jack's prongs. Don't worry if the hole in the circuit trace is covered with solder from tinning.
You can heat it up to insert the prong. (One prong at a time)
5) DO NOT linger too long with the soldering iron, (40 to 50 Watt) This can render a circuit trace useless.
It will burn it, (And the motherboard), and render the circuit trace useless from accepting the tinning.
(Solder it applied to the area to be soldered in a light coat. = Tinning)
Linger too long, and you can lift the circuit trace right off of the motherboard.
For further questions please state in a Comment.
Regards,
joecoolvette
292 views
Usually answered in minutes!
×