Laptop Power Adaptor Keeps Failing!

MrHyde on 04/07/2018 - 12:07

TLDR; Adaptor cable keeps failing at the connection point between laptop and cable. What can I do to stop that from happening?

I seem to be having a terrible run with power adaptors. My original Dell Power Adaptor lasted 3 years before it finally gave up. I bought another one from Officeworks for about $90 and that lasted about 3 months. Bought a cheapo from ebay and that one has so far lasted 4 months and is starting to give.

My problem seems to be the connection between the laptop and the power cable. It seems to become loose and I have to fiddle with it and get it into a perfect position before it will start charging. Over time, it becomes harder and harder to find the exact position it will work. My last charger, the whole thing came apart.

This side of the cable is not hard wired into the adaptor; so I can't simply replace the cable part only.

So, does anyone have any suggestions on what I should do?

I've though about getting a new laptop - like the Lenove L380; but that seems a bit extreme considering the laptop is working fine with no issues. I can get another adaptor; but I fear I'll end up with the same problem. I have been careful with how I pack the adaptor and have made sure I don't bend the cable at the interface point. Is there anything else I should be doing to further protect the cables from damage?

Computing

Comments

  • HighAndDry on 04/07/2018 - 12:23
    +1

    My problem seems to be the connection between the laptop and the power cable.

    Are you sure it's not a problem with the laptop? The jiggling you're doing to try and get it to work could be killing the adapter or the plug part of the adapter.

    • MrHyde on 04/07/2018 - 13:56

      Pretty sure. Whenever I've changed the adaptor, its worked fine for a few months. If the problem was a laptop, I would have thought changing the adaptor would make no difference.

  • Colombian on 04/07/2018 - 13:29
    +2

    Do you leave the connector hanging while it is plugged into the laptop? I always find a support for the connector to avoid getting loose because of gravity force.

    • airzone on 04/07/2018 - 13:46

      Or wrap the cord around the laptop up with the power cord still connected. Or keep it on the floor / table where the plug gets knocked.

      Physical abuse is typically the cause for this issue, especially if it's recurring.

      • MrHyde on 04/07/2018 - 13:56

        The laptop is almost always on a table or flat surface when plugged in. The adaptor "box" is usually on the floor.

      • MrHyde on 04/07/2018 - 14:01

        I can believe it can be physical abuse. The laptop is used as a laptop - so moved between home, work on a daily basis. Each move requires putting the adaptor into my backpack - although I do take care not to bend the ends to protect them from breakage, but that seems to have not helped.

        • Presence on 04/07/2018 - 14:15
          +1

          Buy two chargers, leave one at home and one at work and stick them to the desk with sticky Velcro.

  • John Kimble on 04/07/2018 - 13:41

    Photo required

    • MrHyde on 04/07/2018 - 13:59
      +1

      Photo uploaded to https://imgur.com/a/u35yYJT

      The area marked with an orange circle is where I have to jiggle the cable, either move it up or down or twist it a bit to get the connection to work again.

      • HighAndDry on 04/07/2018 - 14:01

        I'm pretty sure that there's an issue with the charge port on the laptop, and while jiggling the cable at that point might help the connection, it's also killing the cable at that point.

      • John Kimble on 04/07/2018 - 14:16

        Try your power cable on a colleague's laptop to isolate the issue?

        • MrHyde on 04/07/2018 - 14:20

          All my colleagues are Lenovo.

          My wife has a Dell, so I'll try with her machine when I get back home.

      • Broke-Ken on 04/07/2018 - 14:53

        Sorry if I missed it, but how do you unplug the charger? You should only pull it from the base, closest to the laptop(Right of the orange circle.

        If you pull it anywhere from left of the orange circle, then you are causing stress and damage to the wires.

        • MrHyde on 04/07/2018 - 15:50

          It is unplugged right of the orange circle.

  • Davo1111 on 04/07/2018 - 14:00

    sounds like an issue with the laptop end, rather than the power cable.

  • MrHyde on 04/07/2018 - 14:04

    OK - if issue is with laptop end, sounds like going to a repair place to put in a new charging port might be the way to go.

    • Davo1111 on 04/07/2018 - 16:00

      well, the repair cost might be a very large percentage of buying a second hand laptop.

      If you're going through many laptops, might be worth just getting cheap ones and replacing them more often.

      Example, at work, we had toughbooks, that cost a bomb (4k). I could go through 10 $400 laptops before it has paid for itself. A hard thing to achieve.

      • MrHyde on 04/07/2018 - 16:03

        Well, I'm going through a large number of power adaptors. The laptop itself has been going strong for few years now.

        In any case, my next laptop is likely to be a Lenovo L380 or similar - just would like to avoid getting a new laptop unless absolutely necessary.

        • Colombian on 04/07/2018 - 16:08

          Be careful with the L380. We got plenty of them here at work. An external monitor connected via HDMI flickers if you use the USB port next to the HDMI port. So far Lenovo has no fix for this.

        • MrHyde on 04/07/2018 - 16:09

          @Colombian:

          Good to know. We also have a number of L380 at work and this has not been brought up by any of my colleagues. I like using dual monitors when in the office, so that would definately annoy me if it flickers.

    • MrHyde on 04/07/2018 - 15:52

      I don't understand what those connectors are and how I would use them?

  • mskeggs on 04/07/2018 - 15:20

    Get a generic adapter with an L shaped plug?

    • MrHyde on 04/07/2018 - 15:52

      How is an L shaped plug better?

  • bigticket on 04/07/2018 - 19:35

    Its not the connector. If that was the connector, the contact surfaces on the connector and/or the laptop would show burn and arc marks. Sure the connector inside the laptop is dodgy, its on the way out and probably will require repairs.

    Buy good quality branded adapter with 10-20% higher amperage spec than specified.
    For example, my laptop spec is 19V 3.42A(had to take out the battery too find it).
    I would be looking for a 19V 4.0A or higher amp rated adapter.
    Also, unplug the adapter from 240V plug when the laptop is not in use.

  • Stevek1960 on 05/07/2018 - 08:56

    just buy another one from dell, seems the logical thing too do

  • ColonialBoy on 05/07/2018 - 09:12

    "My problem seems to be the connection between the laptop and the power cable. "

    I have your problem. I use old laptop power supplies in my electronics projects. Most of the time its the connectors, or the copper wire leading to the jack gets frayed.

    You need a multimeter to test the voltage. A few small squirts of WD40 on metal contacts can help.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join