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AC Adapter problem

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Name: meisyou
Date: December 16, 2008 at 13:22:46 Pacific
OS: Windows 2000
CPU/Ram: ??
Product: Ibm / IBM THINKPAD
Comment:

When ever i plug in my adapter i need to wiggle it alot or else it dosnt turn on........ its in righht now and my batterys at 0% the computer dosnt say the thing is plugged in and also its not going into hibernate cause its at 0%

it this the adapter or the internal machine?
Also i ussually have to bend the wire alot or else it wont work..... please help



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Response Number 1
Name: jefro
Date: December 16, 2008 at 13:59:55 Pacific
Reply:

You need to test not wiggle wires and connectors. I actually know people who get paid to be techs that do that silly stuff.

Take it to a shop or get a Digital Volt Meter to help determine if the adapter is bad. As in many laptops the connector gets torn from the motherboard. Rather difficult to fix as there is little solid to attach anything to. A big glob of epoxy is usually the cure with a wire add or two.

"Best Practices", Event viewer, host file, perfmon, antivirus, anti-spyware, Live CD's, backups, are in my top 10


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Response Number 2
Name: aegis
Date: December 16, 2008 at 14:28:06 Pacific
Reply:

It's very likely that the connector has broken loose from the motherboard, as jefro suggests.

Very poor design in that area. They should have attached the connector to the case and ran flexible wires to the motherboard.


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Response Number 3
Name: meisyou
Date: December 16, 2008 at 18:02:10 Pacific
Reply:

Its me again but ive removed every screw and
still cant get to that connector...


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Response Number 4
Name: Derek
Date: December 16, 2008 at 18:09:34 Pacific
Reply:

Re #1

In fact a "gentle" wiggle of a cable or connector is not so silly, as first step, after all the poster has already proved approximately where the problem lies by using just that method. I have many times immediately seen a bad soldered joint on a board when it moves in sympathy with a socket.

Sure, a multimeter is the next step but often an analog meter is best bet if you simply want to know whether a connection is present or not. When a connection is high resistance a digital meter can often produce a confusing rolling display, due to electrical fields adjacent to its probe leads. Horses for courses, digital is far superior for accurate measurements.

Taking it to a shop has merit because they can simply try another adapter, which removes one item from the equation.

Err...yes, I am an engineer (silly or not LOL).

some other bloke...


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Response Number 5
Name: jefro
Date: December 17, 2008 at 14:25:17 Pacific
Reply:

You still have the question of the ac adapter. It is not clear if your cord is really the damaged part or the connector. Might follow up on the cord testing.


Laptops are rather odd in design. See if you can't get online docs that show how to remove the board that the connector is on. (I assume it to be motherboard) They are not made to be serviced easily. Normally an almost hidden plastic part to plastic part connection is held in with some formed in clips. Sometimes hidden under tags or feet screws. Don't force anything.

Sounds right up there with let the smoke out and swap until you fix it, slap it on the side. I prefer logical troubleshooting techniques over superstition. Well, kicking it worked one time so we still use it. I suspect that wiggling it will only tell you what you already know. Something is bad and it is time for testing. Half split the issue.

"Best Practices", Event viewer, host file, perfmon, antivirus, anti-spyware, Live CD's, backups, are in my top 10


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Response Number 6
Name: Derek
Date: December 17, 2008 at 14:55:04 Pacific
Reply:

Aha, maybe I misinterpreted that earlier post because I have no trouble with the last para of #5. Just poking and bashing never fixes anything, although a little very carefully applied movement "in the first stages" can immediately show, for example, which end of a cord the problem lies.

There is another corker that is often mooted and that is "oh it was just a fuse", which is mostly the province of TV soaps. Most techs would assume that there is usually some reason for a fuse blowing and try to find the cause, if at all possible.

Back to the post....Intermittent faults can often be a pig because even measurements can look perfect if a fault just happens to maintain sufficient contact while you are testing.

some other bloke...


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Response Number 7
Name: jefro
Date: December 17, 2008 at 19:36:31 Pacific
Reply:

Sorry, I am very wiggle wire sensitive.

Hope the poor fella fixes the thing and every one has a Merry Christmas.

"Best Practices", Event viewer, host file, perfmon, antivirus, anti-spyware, Live CD's, backups, are in my top 10


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Response Number 8
Name: Derek
Date: December 18, 2008 at 07:24:30 Pacific
Reply:

Yeah, I sure hope he does. Christmas greetings to all from across the pond.

some other bloke...


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