Laptop loose power connector solutions

luminated

My laptop is about three years old and the socket that takes the mains power has become looser and looser. Any suggestions of how to strengthen this.

Notmyrealname

You can't. It needs the base taking off the laptop and the socket soldering back into the motherboard. The longer you leave it the worse it'll get and the minute arcing that is happening will burn a hole in the motherboard making a repair nigh on impossible.

fwor

luminated wrote: »

My laptop is about three years old and the socket that takes the mains power has become looser and looser. Any suggestions of how to strengthen this.

Presumably you mean the socket that connects to the external power supply, not to the mains?

If it's one with a metal barrel and central pin, and it's still charging OK then it's ~probably~ just that the sprung metal contact that presses onto the barrel has weakened.

Unfortunately there is not much that you can do about it. I've heard of people using something like a thin bent metal rod to pull the contact back towards the central pin (battery out, obviously) but it's only likely to be a temporary fix and you risk detaching the socket from the motherboard in the process.

GunJack

bite the bullet.... new jack socket is £2-£5 delivered off ebay. Get this yourself. Then, if you're no good with a screwdriver and soldering iron find a local independant repairer to do it for you. Get 2-3 quotes, shouldn't be much over £50 depending on where you are in the country (if it was me, it'd be £30-£40) to strip down, replace jack socket and rebuild the lappy....job done

luminated

Thanks to all for your very helpful replies.

Yes it is the metal barrel and central pin. I am quite handy at odds and ends of repairs so I will take a detailed look.

It is 3 years old and whilst I wasn't looking at replacing it there are other issues that make me tempted. But even if I were to get a new one I may as well have a fully working spare.

Thanks again.