Soldering a new power jack onto a laptop - never done it before - help!

[Rob_B]

Hi folks,

My laptop is occasionaly buzzing from the power socket (even when not plugged in), the screen is flickering, when plugged in it randomly loses mains power then comes back again, also it is powered ok by the mains adapter but doesn't always charge the battery - Knackered power jack methings!

So I have though about soldering on a new one, jacks costs £4, 30w iron + accessories can be had for £9 so this is much cheaper than buying a new PC/laptop! One problem is that if I muck it up I lose the resale value of my laptop that could be sold as-is for a lot more than a dead one! I'm certainly not paying someone £50 or whatever they're trying to charge me to fix it!

Thing is i've not soldered since school & that wasn't exactly a fine art back then, I've seen a guide on how to replace jacks & it looks 'simple' enough but I could do with some advice on the in & outs.

Anyone got any helpful tips/guides or links to decent (& cheap!) irons? this is the kit I've seen for £9



Rob

[da_ging]

good news is that soldering a new jack in is fairly easy bad news is the hard bit is actually removing the bad jack first which can be a bugger

and that kit should be fine, I've used a cheap 25w iron for jack repairs without problem so that one should work.

if you have any broken things you can practice soldering on then do so, ps what laptop is it?

[Rob_B]

good news is that soldering a new jack in is fairly easy bad news is the hard bit is actually removing the bad jack first which can be a bugger

and that kit should be fine, I've used a cheap 25w iron for jack repairs without problem so that one should work.

if you have any broken things you can practice soldering on then do so, ps what laptop is it?

I don't have anything broken to test with - anyone care to donate dead eletronics to the 'Let Rob fix his laptop' fund?

It's a HP NC2400, cracking little machine apart from this!

[Kumagoro]

The soldering is probably the easiest part depending on what the socket is like and how it is broken.
I hate taking HP laptops apart so many screws and annoying designs.

It sounds like your jack isn't actually broken and just needs to be re-soldered. See if you can get
your hands on some old lead based solder it makes things a lot easier.

If you need to take the jack off and replace it add more solder to the joint first and then suck it.

[Rob_B]

The soldering is probably the easiest part depending on what the socket is like and how it is broken.
I hate taking HP laptops apart so many screws and annoying designs.

It sounds like your jack isn't actually broken and just needs to be re-soldered. See if you can get
your hands on some old lead based solder it makes things a lot easier.

If you need to take the jack off and replace it add more solder to the joint first and then suck it.

The central circly-bit on the jack seems to have some give in it, I'd assumed that was the problem rather than the connection to the mobo.

I took it apart today, it was a right pain but I know how to do it now & i'm posting from it so it still works (for now)

[Rob_B]

Well the jack & iron have been ordered, still open to any advice anyone has

[GoNz0]

you will need solder braid to help remove most of it, its a pita trying to heat up all the points to pull it out and clean fresh solders a must as the old has no flux left in.

i also expose more track for the center pin so i can add a damn good dollop of solder to help prevent it happening again.

[Rob_B]

So what are the different sizes of braid for? I've never come across it before? Doesn't the desolder pump do the same thing?

[GoNz0]

you cant always get it all with the pump, and a small cheap braid will be fine

and the top tip is dont work to long or the track will lift. let the board cool down between attempts!!

[Rob_B]

Well, opened her up tonight & the idiot ebay seller sent me the wrong power jack, probably for the best as it was very tight on there & I wouldn't dare try to replace it, noticed the current jack was loose in a few points so (rather hashily) soldered it. After getting it back together & spending an hour wondering why it kept throeing up an error ref the HDD I pushed it in that little bit further & it boots fine.
Still getting a slight flicker in the screen & the odd buzz, think I'll be selling it to someone who it'd be an easy 30min job to fix.

[Kumagoro]

Should have taken a few pics of it, I reckon you could do it.

[GoNz0]

where do you live rob ?

[Rob_B]

Should have taken a few pics of it, I reckon you could do it.

Should have done, tried to google for a decent pic but can't find on. The clearance between the legs & some tiny component was almost nil, a smaller tip would help but I'd still be wary

where do you live rob ?

Edinburgh

[GoNz0]

well im not in your area to help out im afraid.

[Rob_B]

Cheers for the though