This laptop has a power problem. The battery stops charging when I move the power cord on the DC adapter. When I start moving the cord left to right, the power LED light on the front goes on and off and the battery charge LED goes on and off too.
I removed the battery and tested the laptop again. The laptop starts fine from the DC adapter when the battery is removed, but as soon as I start moving the power cord the laptop shuts off. It looks like the laptop looses power immediately.
If you have a problem like that, most likely it’s related either to the power adapter or the DC-IN power jack.
First of all, I tested the power adapter with a multimeter. The power didn’t cut off no matter how badly I moved the cord. The power adapter output voltage was 15.45VDC all the time. That means there is nothing wrong with the power adapter and most likely there is a problem with with the power socket inside the laptop.
By the way, I just purchased a brand new FLUKE 179 multimeter here for less then $160. The retail price at Sears for the same multimeter is $240. FLUKE is a really good brand. Just a side note.
Now I’m going to test the power socket inside the laptop.
In order to access the power socket I had to disassemble the laptop and remove the top cover assembly with the display.
You can find disassembly instructions for many HP, Dell, IBM, Lenovo, Sony and Toshiba laptops in these service manuals and guides.
In the laptop I was fixing (Tecra M2) the power jack is attached to a DC-IN harness and this harness can be unplugged from the motherboard.
As you see, I removed the DC-IN harness from the motherboard, plugged in the power adapter and tested continuity with my multimeter as it shown on the picture.
When the power cord is still, the voltage output is 15.45VDC, the same as on the plug.
But as soon as I start wiggling the plug inside the jack, the power cuts off and voltage goes to 0. It means, the power harness is bad.
The problem was fixed after I replaced the defective DC-IN harness with a new one.
In some laptops the power socket (DC jack) is soldered to the motherboard.
If the battery stops charging when you wiggle the power plug inside the jack, either you have a bad power adapter (test it with a voltmeter) or the power jack is broken or loose.
You cannot simply unplug the jack and replace it with another one. You’ll have to unsolder the old jack and solder a new one back on the motherboard as I described in this post.
If the power jack is not broken but loose (not making good contact with the motherboard) you can resolder the old jack without replacing it with a new one.
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September 20th, 2009 at 11:50 pm
ish,
I had a similar problem with another HP laptop and here’s how I fixed my laptop.
I reseated the video cable on the back of the LCD screen because the cable was half way out.
Maybe you have the same failure?
September 12th, 2009 at 4:49 am
dear sir
i have problem with hp laptop
when i press power button lights comes up for 10 second and cut off
can u help me what is the problem and how to fix it
September 4th, 2009 at 11:37 pm
Hi I have the same problem, but on the other side of the cable, the one that enters in the power charger.
Could you show me how to open a power charger?I am getting mad with that..I cannot open it. There are no screws or pressure points…
August 11th, 2009 at 7:44 am
I have any number of AC adapters on my site at any given time and they maybe able to solve your problem. Sometimes your laptop repair guy will buy them from my site and sell them to you at a much higher price. This is a good blog with alot of informative information. Thanks for checking out my site Primeonly27.com If I don’t have what you looking for ask for your power supply # / model and I can look for one and when I get it give you a call or notify you.
July 17th, 2009 at 12:42 am
Sir, I am facing a very unique problem, I have Dell 1525 for last 11 months, from last 3 days battery is not charging full, it started 3 days back, when for the first time after purchased I worked entirely on battery n it drained out upto 15%, after that when I conneted to adapter it charged only upto 63%, I took out th battery n refitted, but then also It was recharging upto 63% only, since yesterday, it is charging upto 15% only, I ve tried all the tips after surfing so many sites on net, but no use, Can I expect a solution from you,
Thanks
July 4th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
I’m having a similar problem in that my Toshiba laptop charger lost one of the prongs. My mom played around with it, trying to pull out the prong that had fallen part of the way into the box, and it seemed to work…until I plugged it in. I looked again and the prong had fallen the rest of the way into the box. What can I do to get it out, or would it be best to buy an AC Adapter, as mentioned above?
July 4th, 2009 at 4:20 am
I have a Dell Latitude D820 and my puppy chewed through my Dell ac adapter so I bought a universal ac adapter. It works most of the time, but sometimes I feel like I am baby sitting my computer just to make sure it’s still charging!!! even while plugged into my computer the adapter will not charge and the battery will lose its charge…also the adapter has to be moved or jiggled to begin charging again…???? could it be I just got a faulty “new” adapter and need to get a refund…????
June 29th, 2009 at 8:55 am
hey i also have a toshiba laptop.. my problem with mines is at the side of my laptop where u r ment to plug in the charger .. but there is no where to plug it in to.. ie there is a hole but no jack thing there to catch on to my charger..wot do i have to do so a can use ma laptop again.. i can still put my laptop on it just wont charge ..
June 28th, 2009 at 7:53 pm
my laptop have a problem like tath but i just have to buy a new charger
June 15th, 2009 at 11:26 pm
I have a Toshiba laptop, and the other week I just lost al charge from my AC Adapter so I could use the laptop. I then purchased another AC Adapter, and the laptop is recognising that I have pluuged it in, however its stating that it isnt charging?! It only starts to charge the laptop one I turn the Laptop off… any ideas? I cant use my laptop knowing that in 1 hrs time the battery will be dead.