When an issue with a laptop comes up, many times the laptop power jack is one of the common areas that might need checking out. Having a broken or damaged power jack can be a real pain, especially since it can mean your computer has only limited life or battery power. If you can’t recharge the laptop, it’s going to be really hard to get much use out of it. However, one of the biggest issues that comes with trying to take on laptop power jack repair is that it is not an easy do it yourself project and should never be done by amateurs who don’t have any experience with computer repair or soldering. This is definitely an advanced repair technique.
First, you will want to know what the most common signs of a damaged laptop power jack are. Knowing these signs will help prepare you to recognize the problem and deal with it before it gets worse. While some laptop power jack damage occurs all at once, many times the process is gradual and if you know the early signs that damage has taken place you may be able to get it repaired before things get worse.
One of the most common signs of a failing power jack in the beginning is your laptop will occasionally suddenly switch to battery power despite being plugged in. This can be a sign that your power jack is beginning to fail. Another similar sign is when your laptop will only charge when plugged in a certain way. If you find yourself constantly jiggling the power cord because it has to sit a certain way in order to charge the battery back up to full, then you’re looking at some potential issues with the power jack. More advanced signs of problems include your laptop only running on battery power, shutting off without warning, or in extreme cases even sparks can appear out from your laptop.
Normally, repairing a laptop power jack will mean finding a qualified and trained professional to handle it. Repairing a laptop power jack starts with taking apart a laptop and removing the motherboard. This is going to vary from one computer to another, and anyone who tries this at home should have a strong working knowledge of how computer hardware works as well as expert soldering skills. Repairing a damaged laptop power jack means removing the motherboard first. You must locate the positive pin and make see where it’s not making the right contact.
You also must have a spare laptop power jack to replace the malfunctioning one, and all the appropriate soldering tools. The smallest mistake can result in destroying the laptop and making it impossible to use again. Everything must be taken apart precisely, the proper parts soldered precisely, and then everything put back together precisely. Laptop power jack repair is no small matter and should only be done by experienced professionals.
Trying to save a few bucks by repairing your laptop power jack yourself definitely backfires if you ruin the computer.
