Ike
1/8/2006, 07:42 PM
....on my laptop that is.
the problem: DC power was inconsistent. sometimes the computer would not register the power input at all, sometimes only enough to power the computer and not charge the battery, and sometimes full power. could be temporarily 'fixed' by jiggling the input wire near the back of the computer.
the test: ran a voltmeter across the contacts of the DC input plug. jiggled the wires. found zero evidence that the problem was associated with the converter or the wires attached to it.
the diagnosis: after learning that the power jack on the back of the computer is connected to the main board by 4 solder points, I surmised that most likely, one of the solder joints had been jarred loose.
the operation: upon opening the laptop (completely unfortunately...we're talking everything but the CPU removed...there was no other way to get a good peek at both sides of the main board) I discovered that my diagnosis was correct.
http://www.nhn.ou.edu/~hall/problem1.jpg
as you can see, at the base of the post on the back of the power jack, the solder joint had been broken. when I plugged the cable into the jack while open, I could jiggle the wire and plainly see the post lose contact with the main board. After seeing this, I re-soldered the joint, and re-assembled the laptop.
the result: everything is beautiful now, and Im posting from it as we speak.
there was one small snag, that when I was removing the ribbon cable that connects the keyboard to the main board, the plastic fastner for the socket broke. this was repaired with superglue. obviously it works, because I am typing just fine.
woot!
the problem: DC power was inconsistent. sometimes the computer would not register the power input at all, sometimes only enough to power the computer and not charge the battery, and sometimes full power. could be temporarily 'fixed' by jiggling the input wire near the back of the computer.
the test: ran a voltmeter across the contacts of the DC input plug. jiggled the wires. found zero evidence that the problem was associated with the converter or the wires attached to it.
the diagnosis: after learning that the power jack on the back of the computer is connected to the main board by 4 solder points, I surmised that most likely, one of the solder joints had been jarred loose.
the operation: upon opening the laptop (completely unfortunately...we're talking everything but the CPU removed...there was no other way to get a good peek at both sides of the main board) I discovered that my diagnosis was correct.
http://www.nhn.ou.edu/~hall/problem1.jpg
as you can see, at the base of the post on the back of the power jack, the solder joint had been broken. when I plugged the cable into the jack while open, I could jiggle the wire and plainly see the post lose contact with the main board. After seeing this, I re-soldered the joint, and re-assembled the laptop.
the result: everything is beautiful now, and Im posting from it as we speak.
there was one small snag, that when I was removing the ribbon cable that connects the keyboard to the main board, the plastic fastner for the socket broke. this was repaired with superglue. obviously it works, because I am typing just fine.
woot!