In order to replace the power jack in your laptop you’ll have to remove the jack from the motherboard as I explained in the previous post: Replacing DC power jack.
While removing the jack you can accidentally pull out the internal copper coating (I’ll call it a sleeve) from the inside of the “+” terminal as it shown on the picture below.

Damaged power jack connection

The internal copper sleeve has been removed and cannot be installed back. If you solder the power jack back on the motherboard without this sleeve it might work but the connection between the “+” lead and motherboard will not be reliable.

In the following guide I explain how to fortify a damaged power jack connection. You can use this repair technique in some laptops with similar power jacks.

Power jack removed with sleeve

You can remove the copper sleeve from the power jack with a soldering guy and through it away. You cannot install this sleeve back into the terminal on the motherboard.

Unsolder sleeve

Find a small resistor or capacitor with thin leads. Cut off one of the leads. I’m going to use it to fortify the connection between the power jack and motherboard.

Shape the lead as it shown on the picture below.

Power jack mounting contact

Put the lead on the “+” connector on the power jack.

Assemble power jack

Solder the lead to the power jack.

Solder mounting leg on power jack

Now I’m going to modify the “+” terminal on the PCB. Even though on the picture below it looks normal, it’s damaged inside (the internal coating has been removed).

Power jack terminals on motherboard

Carefully scrape off green varnish around the whole on the “+” terminal on the PCB. You can use a small flathead screwdriver.

Clean terminal

If the whole is not big enough for your modified power jack, you can widen it with an awl.

Make hole wider

As you see on the picture below the whole on the terminal has been widened. Apply a fresh coat of solder on the clear area of the trace.

Apply fresh solder on terminal

Install the power jack assembly on the motherboard. Make sure there is no gap between the jack and motherboard.

Install power jack

Here’s a view from the top side of the PCB.

Solder all pins except the modified “+” pin.

Power jack installed

Now, when the power jack is secured, you can shape the lead as it shown on the picture below.

Solder five contacts

Solder the lead to the terminal. Remove excessive flux with an old tooth brush soaked in 99% alcohol.

Power jack installed and soldered

Here’s a view from the bottom side of the motherboard.

Power jack view from top

Be very careful. Doing this modification you can damage the motherboard and make it unusable. Proceed on your own risk.

 

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92 Responses to “How to fortify damaged power jack connection in a laptop”

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  1. 22
    Peter Caines Says:

    EASIER WAY — PLEASE READ

    There is a much easier way to repair the dc socket if the copper sleeve has come off –

    All you need to do is order a small sheet of copper from ebay for a few pound.

    then with the copper sheet cut a small piece 8mm / 4mm

    then use you finger and thumb to roll it into a small tube that will fit on the dc pin where the copper sleeve came of

    once on solder the copper tude to the dc socket at the end nearest to the plastic part of the dc plug so the copper tube does not slide on the pin

    once secured use some pliers and gently press the copper sleeve around the dc pin.

    once happy solder the dc power jack back on to the mother board.

    Hope you understand the instructions as it got me out of a pickle.

    Any comments or advice email me at pcaines_AT_yahoo.com

  2. 21
    colin Says:

    Thank you very much indeed for your fast ,welcome and reassuring response c/2600. I will heed the extra tip aswell.
    Old! you should see my Desktop PC !.

  3. 20
    cj2600 Says:

    Colin,

    if there is presently nothing wrong with any of the laptops components before I disassemble and hopefully effect a supply fault repair after I reassemble the laptop
    can I assume that I will not have lossed its memory. ie will the windows xp still be there and all files etc?

    No, will not loose anything. All files are stored on the hard dive and if this repair is done correctly, the laptop will boot as before.
    Here’s some help for taking apart a Toshiba Satellite Pro 6100 laptop. That’s an old one. :)
    By the way, are you sure that there is a problem with the power jack?
    If your Satellite Pro 6100 will not start at all and the power LED flashes orange light, resoldereing or replacing the power jack will not fix it. Most likely it’s poor connection between motherboard/video card/power board. It’s very similar to known problems with Tecra TE2100.

  4. 19
    colin Says:

    I think the suggested jack socket repair/ reinforcement is well executed. Before I disassemble my Toshiba SP6100 to see if my power supply interuption problem can be solved with this repair solution I would ask please — if there is presently nothing wrong with any of the laptops components before I disassemble and hopefully effect a supply fault repair after I reassemble the laptop can I assume that I will not have lossed its memory. ie will the windows xp still be there and all files etc? I am not sure if the athor of this site would answer please or any one else who would have a reply for me.

  5. 18
    Tim Says:

    Thank you very much to this information. I just replaced the DC power jack on my Gateway MX6960. The jack and the board are a little different that what you show, but, most importantly, I did pull the cooper sleeve out with the bad jack. I would have never know about it. And, because I am not an electrician and have very, very basic soldering skills, I would still be trying to figure out how to fill the hole in the board.

    Since I do not have resisters and such laying around, I used several strands of my cooper desoldering braid. I wrapped it around the positive post and soldered it in place prior to installing the jack on the board. Because of the solder, I did have to open up the hole a little. Though it took some time, and great patience, I was able to solder the cooper to the board in a similar fashion to the method you show.

    Thanks again. The info was much appreciated!

  6. 17
    sven Says:

    well im 15 from germany and i must thank you for this information….
    NICE PAGE….

  7. 16
    sherman Says:

    Can a laptop battery be charged any other way besides through the motherboard? Is there a way to charge the battery from a power source directly to the pins on the battery? (like a charger to car battery) If i could do this I could start my dead compaq R3000 and retrieve info to external hard drive. most likely solution to this could help many users. Thank you Sherman

  8. 15
    jo Says:

    i have a problam about compaq i connected tha ac pin my laptop light s r blinging what is is the falt

  9. 14
    Steve Says:

    This is a great tutorial. I’ve always told the customer the unit is dead when that copper sleeve comes out. Now I have a way to fix that for them. Thanks!

  10. 13
    dlm Says:

    Hi, love your tutorial and i resoldered the power jack and it works. I did a real hack job tho. I couldnt get nice clean holes so i would heat one side and push an exacto knife blade thru and wiggle the best holes that i could. Even still I had to really heat and push the jack back into the holes and I dont think I got it as close to the MB as I would of liked. But it’s working god now, but I’m wondering if I’m on borrowed time.

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