Any way to replace a laptop power jack?

[Ziva David]

The power jack on my laptop has developed a short, so the power tends to go out.  The only way to get it to work is to bend it and tuck it under the computer so it stays bent at a sharp angle.  Eventually, I'm sure that strategy will quit working.

Is there any way to replace the jack? There is nothing wrong with the power pack itself, and it gripes me to have to spend a bunch of money to replace the whole thing.

[snayte]

The power jack on my laptop has developed a short, so the power tends to go out.  The only way to get it to work is to bend it and tuck it under the computer so it stays bent at a sharp angle.  Eventually, I'm sure that strategy will quit working.

Is there any way to replace the jack? There is nothing wrong with the power pack itself, and it gripes me to have to spend a bunch of money to replace the whole thing.

Let me guess a Gateway? 

I have replaced three of them on two computers.  It is not too hard I recommend when disassembling a laptop to take pictures as you go to aid in reassembly.  There are several sources for laptop parts on the net.  I have gotten mine on an eBay store called aDeal

[Ziva David]

Thanks.  It's actually an HP.

I need to replace the plug on the AC adapter, the male jack that plugs into the computer from the power pack.  I don't need to disassemble the computer itself.

[Microvoltz]

Rae -

You do not have a short, but rather a frayed wire on the plug. I can fix it when we meet on the camping trip, but from personal experience doing all the computer's at home, you are only going to buy yourself about 6 months......

The problem we are having is that the family likes to use their laptops in their lap and it puts pressure on the DC plug and causes the wire to bend and fray. To fix it, we bought a "Generic" DC adapter from Best Buy that on the adapter side, made a 90 degree bend in the hard plastic so that there are no opportunities of bending wires.

[Ziva David]

Thanks, Ron.  I'll look around and see what I can find online.  I talked to two electronics places here in town and they both said it can't be replaced.  I just can't believe that.  It's a little jack, how hard can it be?

[tadsgirl]

The power jack on my laptop has developed a short, so the power tends to go out.  The only way to get it to work is to bend it and tuck it under the computer so it stays bent at a sharp angle.  Eventually, I'm sure that strategy will quit working.

Is there any way to replace the jack? There is nothing wrong with the power pack itself, and it gripes me to have to spend a bunch of money to replace the whole thing.

We just replaced the whole powercord for 30.00 on the Dell my older daughter uses for Homeschooling.
Go here 
http://discountelectronics.com/

Dell wanted 80.00 for the cord. 
And the really nice thing is that this cord has the plug into the computer at an angle.

[merc]

We just bought a new power pack with universal cord and a pouch of adapters at wal-mart for $90. It seems I packed the computer but not the power supply...  Our comp is an HP DV6700.

[Ziva David]

I know I can replace the power pack, but it irks me to have to spend a bunch of money when all the thing needs is a $2 plug.  I just don't know if it's possible to replace just that plug.

[tadsgirl]

I know I can replace the power pack, but it irks me to have to spend a bunch of money when all the thing needs is a $2 plug.  I just don't know if it's possible to replace just that plug.

My DH said that he could fix ours on the Dell, but the repairs tend to be flaky.  He is a computer dude by trade.
In researching to find a cheap replacement, everyone said the repairs work for a while.

We elected to buy instead.

[Ziva David]

Good to know.  Aggravating, but good.  Thanks.   

[another_newfie]

Is it just the DC plug on the end of the AC Adapter?  If so, it is a easy thing to replace, go to any decent electronics shop (no NOT circut City, a place that deals in electronic components) and buy one with the same diameter and tube length and cut off the old one, solder on the new one and done.

Piece of cake, I do it all the time with adapters of varying types and sizes, then again I have been working with electronic equipment for over 15 years now.

[Ziva David]

Is it just the DC plug on the end of the AC Adapter?

Yes, it's just the little part that plugs into the computer.

No electronics stores around here, but we may be near one in a couple of weeks.

[another_newfie]

This is an example of a store that you are looking for:

http://www.sayal.com

I shop there all the time.  If you could get me the specifics I could easily grab one for you, it would cost like 2 bucks.  In the US try

http://www.digikey.com

[homer]

Z David:
Is there a radio shack store in your area? If so they might have just what you need and what you are describing , it would be simple if you have a soldering tool (gun or iron). Just this morning my portable cd player's phones had a short in the headphone end (not the plug end) and I could wiggle it or move it and it would quit working.  I took the earphone apart and took a razor blade and cut the strain release and got into the cable there and BEHOLD!, there was the white wire broken into,the jacket wasn't broken or cut but the wire had broken into inside the covering. I found out this by feel and pulling of the wire. I cut the jacket into and stripped the ends by about 1/16 inch and twisted them together and then touching the ends with a soldering gun and solder. After that, I put a piece of electrical tape on it and now the earphones work like new.  Took about 15 minutes to start and complete.  Im sure that your problem could be similar if you can find the place where its  broken or get a new plug.
"homer"

[Microvoltz]

The problem is not that is can be repaired (done it several times). The issue is that once you cut away the stiff PCV that holds the wires to the head, there is no support or stress relief to keep the wires from being pulled or crushed with each movement of the PC and/or computer cord.

I have tried using several layers of heat shrink to stiffen the joint, but what I really need is a 90 degree clamshell that will secure the head to the wire bundle.