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.
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June 26th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
I was storing a Compaq Presario 2800 (pre-HP). Great machine. After dropping it several times, after several years of service, (fell asleep with laptop near and Boom!, to the floor it goes)it kept working as if nothing had happened. But eventually the power jack gave in (Wuss!)and I couldn’t wiggle the AC Adapter anymore to keep it working.
So after several years without using it, I decided that with the power of the internet I could fix it myself. Plus my wife won’t let me buy a nice little netbook, and almost never shares her iMac 24″ because “I break everything”. Of course, how else am I going to have the opportunity to fix things if I don’t break them first.
After finding and reading this article I figured I have nothing to lose. I bought the recommended instruments, grabbed a beer and am about to power the soldering station. I’m worried since the soldered parts of the dc jack are near other circuits, unlike the pictures here. But, still, here I go. I’ll let you know if I had to call the Fire Department. Wish me luck!
June 23rd, 2009 at 8:56 pm
This is very clear,but should be noted that both main leads +/- must make good solder joint on both sides of motherboard.after working on 6 toshibas I believe one side of motherboard is charging circuit,the other powers system.this is a week point for some model toshibas,so I replaced My jack with an N size panel mount jack thru original hole for jack and wired to motherboard using flexible solid copper wire and heat shrink to avoid risk of shorts.
June 22nd, 2009 at 3:53 pm
I find tons of info about the jacks, however I’m looking for the plug! The one on the AC power adaptor. I need one for an HP 8710. It’s a huge plug (7mm outside diameter, 5mm inside and a very tiny needle in the centre).
Any ideas where to get it in CA?
June 22nd, 2009 at 12:39 am
This is just AWESOME!!! I’m a professional that’s done tons of break/fix work but with the economy people are shopping for the cheaper solution to not only fix their hardware but keep them going. I’m tearing into a Toshiba for the first time and I am so glad I found this site. Clear, concise, no BS! Excellent job, thank you so much, you made my job 100% easier.
June 17th, 2009 at 3:51 am
[...] Thanks to Ken, who provided us a link to the problem which is located here. [...]
June 15th, 2009 at 5:25 am
I have a HP Pavilion ze2000 I replaced the power board and still I can’t get power to my system. Any suggestions? What is my problem?
June 15th, 2009 at 12:02 am
Hi Guys,
First off, I am indebted to to this site and the contributors that I finally got my Dell XPS Gen2 repaired. I want to pay forward and share my experience.
Yes, desoldering a Dell is HELL. I disassembled my laptop twice trying to desolder it. Finally, I went rambo on it by using a wire cutter, cutting across the jack and carefully tearing it piece by piece until I can see the holes. Do it at your own risk though, but I recommend it because I had no other way. Then, I use the solder iron to pierce the hole and removing the solder and cleaning it. The rest I follwed the well-written instruction here.
After reassembling it, the laptop would power on, but no screen, and then the laptop would power off in like 10 seconds. I also notice many of the people here are experiencing the same thing. Relax guys, all you need to do is to check and switch your RAM.
Hope that helps.
Thanks again to Laptoprepair101.
June 11th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Hey,
Great site, I’m going to give this a shot to hopefully fix my Dell Inspiron 9300 with power problems. Just want to maybe mention about using an anti-static braclet etc, didn’t see it mentioned here, was there reason for that? Do you think it’s not neccessary?
Thanks,
Mark.
June 9th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
Is there a way to test a good install like getting proper volts from battery lead outs on board.
DC power jack install.
June 7th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
nydatapc,
Apparently, you accidentally pulled the “internal sleeve” from the hole. Take a look at this post: How to fortify damaged power jack connection in a laptop. It explains how you can fix the problem.