DC power jack repair guide. Do-it-yourself instructions.
This guide will explain how to repair a failed or loose DC power jack on a laptop computer yourself. Here’s my previous post related to DC power jack related issues.
Disclaimer: I’ve made these instructions only for people experienced with soldering and repairing computers. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this job, please do not open the laptop or you can permanently damage your computer. Take your laptop to a professional repair shop instead.
Use this repair guide at your own risk. 
First of all, you’ll have to disassemble your laptop and remove the motherboard. Here you’ll find disassembly instructions for some major laptop brands such as IBM, Dell, HP, Compaq, Toshiba. If your laptop is not on the list, you’ll have to figure out yourself how to take it apart.
For this repair you’ll need the following tools.
1. Soldering iron or soldering station. I use Weller WES51 soldering station and for this job I set temperature to about 800-850°F.
2. I use high-tech rosin core silver-bearing solder from Radioshack with diameter 0.022″ ( Catalog #: 64-013 ). I think standard rosin core solder will work just fine.
3. Desoldering pump for removing solder around component leads. I use Edsyn Soldapullt pump, model DS 017.
4. 99% isopropyl alcohol and tooth brash for cleaning the motherboard from flux.
5. A new DC power jack, you can find a cheap one here.
Laptop DC power jack repair guide.
As you see on the following picture, the solder drop on the positive terminal looks different than on other three contacts. That’s where the problem is. The positive pin is not making a good contact with the motherboard and because of that power to the laptop cuts off when I move the power plug inside the power jack.
I’m going to desolder the power jack from the motherboard, clean contacts on both power jack and motherboard and then solder it back in place - this is the proper way fixing the power problem.
Start desoldering process with adding some new fresh solder to all three contacts. This will make old solder more flowable, easier to remove.
While heating one of the contacts, remove the solder from this contact using the desoldering pump. Repeat the same steps with all power jack contacts until you remove as much solder as possible.
Grab the power jack and carefully try removing it from the motherboard. Most likely you will not be able to remove the power jack the first time because there will be some solder bridges left between the contacts and traces on the motherboard. Carefully wiggle the power jack without applying any significant force and at the same time heat up all contacts one by one. This will help you to remove the power jack.
The DC power jack is almost removed from the motherboard.
Be careful. Inside the positive hole there is a copper sleeve witch connects the terminal on one side of the motherboard with the traces on the other side. If you are removing the power jack with force, you can pull the sleeve from the hole. You don’t want to do that.
UPDATE: If you accidentally removed the internal sleeve, check out this post: How to fortify damaged power jack connection.
So, do not apply any force and make sure the solder is melted when you are removing the power jack. I hope you understand what I’m talking about.
After the power jack is removed, clean all oxidized contacts with a knife.
Apply a fresh coat of solder to all contacts on the power jack.
The power jack terminals will look dirty because of melted flux.
You can remove the flux using the tooth brash and alcohol. It’s not necessary but it will make your job looking clean.
Apply a fresh coat of solder to all power jack terminals on both sides of the motherboard.
This side has been coated.
And this side has been coated too.
Now you can install the power jack back on the motherboard. Put something under power jack so there is no gap between the jack and the motherboard. Now you are ready to solder the jack back in place.
Solder all power jack pins.
The job is done and the laptop DC power jack is fixed. B-E-A-utiful!
Now just install the motherboard back into the laptop and you are done.
Entry Filed under: Laptop Tips and Tricks
185 Responses to “DC power jack repair guide. Do-it-yourself instructions.”
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Pages: « 19 … 17 16 15 14 13 [12] 11 10 9 8 7 … 1 » Show All
August 9th, 2008 at 8:13 am
Hi,
I just want to say: “THANKS ALOT”.
i have a Toshiba A70 Laptop and the power adapter needed to be replaced. I took it to the computer shop and the guy coded me $240.00. I could not afford it so I stop using that computer. but few days back i found this site and i fixed my computer, resolder the jack, and also clean it from inside. With the help of all the pictures I found that it was not that hard. so thanks alot guy. thanks alot.
regards,
Lukh
August 8th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
Thanks for the informative site…the pictures are great too. Here’s my problem: I installed a new jack in my HP Pavilion ZE4900. When I barely insert the power tip into the jack, just making the connection, I get power. When I completely insert it, I lose the power. I looked at the design of my jack from the rear, and when the tip is fully inserted, the (negative?) plate or “tongue” inside compresses down, which looks normal, but it looks like it disconnects from another contact above it. Is this because when running on battery power, that completes the battery’s circuit? If so, I suppose my solder of the negative plate is bad?
August 5th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
This is an excellent guide, many thanks for taking the time to document your work.
August 5th, 2008 at 7:49 am
Can you tell me where to find a replacement DC-In for an HP DV8013CL?
August 3rd, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Is there any way to figure out where the screws go if you did not label them? It is an Acer Aspire 1640. The repair manual does not tell you this.
July 31st, 2008 at 8:37 pm
lcydude21,
I think you can use the laptop like that but I’m not sure if your soldering job will last forever.
Be careful when you plug and unplug the power adapter.
July 31st, 2008 at 1:58 pm
I just want to say thank you soooooo much for posting this guide and helping us with this problem. I have fixed my laptop after it has been sitting in my closet for 2 years. I have tried multiple times for the past year to try and solder the power jack back on properly, but I was just not able to. Your guide, and the comments, and your responses all helped me to do it finally today and I am really really thankful and happy.
The main problem I was having was with actually soldering the power jack onto the motherboard. I still have not soldered it fully and properly, the solder is only sitting on half of the joint for each of the joints, but it is the best I could get it. The laptop is powered again, so hopefully the joints will last a long time.
Is it okay that the joints are only soldered on partially? Will this cause any kind of problem if I continue to use the laptop like this? Or is the only problem in doing this that the solder is more likely to come off again? Thanks again!!
July 31st, 2008 at 8:01 am
Kish,
If the power adapter is fine then either there is a problem with the power jack or the motherboard is dead.
It’s necessary to take a closer look at the power jack. When the motherboard is removed, you can plug in the power adapter and test if power comes to the motherboard. It’s possible that you have a blown fuse witch is located close to the power jack. It’s possible that you can fix the laptop by replacing the fuse.
If the fuse is OK and motherboard receives power from the adapter but the laptop is still dead, most likely you have a problem with the motherboard.
July 30th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
thanks for your advice. i tried what you suggested, but it did not work. the laptop is still dead. the power switch still does not turn on the computer, and there are still no lights and no response. i also checked the power adapter, and it did show 19VDC output. do i have to take apart the laptop and look for defects in some hardware (like the power jack, etc)? what are my options here?
thanks again
July 29th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
Kish,
Can you see any LED lights on the front when you plug in the power adapter? If the power LED lights up but the laptop will not start when you press the power button, there could be a problem with the memory. Try reconnecting the memory, move the memory module into the empty slot.
If there are no LED lights, check the power adapter. It has to output 19VDC.