Home
Do you have a problem with the power connector on your laptop and want to know how to fix it yourself? This step-by-step power connector replacement guide will be very helpful for you. The guide will explain how to resolder a loose power connector or replace the connector if it’s broken.
Warning! This guide is only for experienced people, who know how to solder. If you are not sure, do not try it at home. You can damage the motherboard.
In order to replace the power connector, you’ll have to disassemble the laptop and remove the motherboard. You’ll find instructions for the motherboard removal for name brand laptops like Acer, Dell, Compaq, HP, IBM, Toshiba, Sony in these service manuals.
Static electricity can kill your laptop. I recommend wearing an anti-static wrist strap while working with internal parts of your laptop.
If you find this article useful, please consider making a donation to the author. Thank you!
February 19th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
[...] 1. The most common technique is resoldering the DC power jack back back on the motherboard. In this case your laptop will look exactly the same as before but the same problem with the power jack might happen again in the future. [...]
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:27 am
[...] In this model the power connector is not attached to the motherboard directly, it’s located on a DC power board. You’ll have to remove the DC power board and resolder the power connector or replace the entire board. You can find a new DC power board if you search on the Internet for this part number DA0CT2PB6D8, but it’s kinda expensive. [...]
May 28th, 2008 at 9:08 am
[...] 4. Replacing the DC power jack. The power jack in this model is soldered on the motherboard and tends to fail. If the power jack has failed, you’ll have to remove the motherboard and replace the power jack. Here’s how you can resolder the power jack yourself. [...]
October 13th, 2008 at 9:31 am
Gateway Laptop mx6421 DC power jack. how to get to it to soldier it.
November 22nd, 2008 at 5:15 am
Well Doctor, you have to take the laptop a part, remove mother board and replace the power jack. It’s easy as 1-2-3…lickity split.
November 26th, 2008 at 9:34 am
im trying to do the dc jack my self and i have cleaned the pins on the jack but my solder is not sticking to the pins the solder keeps going in to little balls
November 26th, 2008 at 9:46 am
Paul,
Apparently you haven’t cleaned them enough. Did you remove the power jack from the motherboard?
Here’s how I resolder the jack:
1. Unsolder the jack from the motherboard.
2. Clean pins on the jack with a knife and apply new coat of solder.
3. Clean terminals on the motherboard and apply new coat of solder.
4. Install the power jack back on the motherboard and solder it.
If you are trying to clean the pins while the jack is still installed on the motherboard, it’s not going to work.
November 26th, 2008 at 10:25 am
yeh im trying to remove the dc jack but theres so little solder on the pins i read one of your guids how to remover a dc jack is it says “Start desoldering process with adding some new fresh solder to all three contacts. This will make old solder more flowable, easier to remove” but its not working
November 27th, 2008 at 1:06 am
could it be the solder im using i have used it befor its called active core solder
December 17th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Jack plug /power supply issues in Gateway laptops : Is anyone aware of a generic fault, that causes laptops to quit after 12 months of use ?
I’ve got 2 that have died within weeks of each other, both with the same fault. (Model ML6227 b).
Now that Gateway have went belly up & been bought by ACER, they want nearly £160 per unit to fix it, even then they only give it 1 months warranty !
Bit rough for a laptop that was only bought last Xmas…
SA
December 17th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Systems,
I just fixed broken power jack in a Gateway NX570X laptop. Follow the link for instructions if you need them.
January 10th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
My gateway mx7118 laptop…I already replace new dc jack in it…I see the blue lid is on that is charge the battery…but only problem is it won’t power up. Is there any why it don’t power up?
February 5th, 2009 at 10:23 am
I am also aware of two different Gateway laptops that had identical power supply issues about one year out from purchase.
March 27th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
I have a Sony Vaio PCG-GRX570. The dc jack was
replaced twice. The second jack I should have epoxied it in place. I pulled to hard on it and it broke again. I resoldered a new one to the board and I have tested both sides of motherboard
and have 19.5 v on both sides of the board but it
won’t power up. When I put the battery in it powers right up. Is this still a dc power jack problem.
March 29th, 2009 at 9:57 am
Michael Glass,
Probably yes but I’m not sure 100%. Is it soldered properly? Maybe you accidentally damaged the motherboard?
Take a look at this post: How to fortify damaged power jack connection in a laptop
April 27th, 2009 at 11:04 am
Let me first say “Thank You” Laptop Tech for such a valuable resource. I have no problem doing a resoldering job like the one that you outlined, but I did have a quick question for you just to double check on a diagnosis. The NX570X model that I’m working on won’t power up at all, even with a charged battery. (The battery for this model has a charge indicator.) The total resistance of the machine (measured through the DC jack) seems normal, so I’m assuming a damaged/failed motherboard. Do you agree?
April 27th, 2009 at 11:14 am
Joshwa,
If the motherboard gets power from the AC adapter but will not turn on, probably it’s bad motherboard.
Just in case you can try removing all internal components except the main once: motherboard, CPU and memory. Try turning it on when the laptop is minimized to bare bone system. If still nothing, most likely it’s bad mobo.
May 24th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
Hi, I am trying to replace a power jack on a SONY VGN-N130 and forgot whether the red wire goes to the middle prong or side prong of the jack?? Please help! Thank you.
May 24th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
gabriel,
First of all, I could be wrong so it’s up to you if you decide to follow my advise. Usually, the red wire is connected to the “+” prong. Take a look at the power supply and find out which one is “+”.
July 17th, 2009 at 6:18 am
Hello,
I have a sony vaio VGN C-290 laptop and my adapter went bad after working intermittently. It would work or not work depending on how you shut off the computer. Then I bought a new one and it was working fine for 2 days and then it stopped working too. What could be my problem, battery or the ac input on the laptop. I would appreciate your help. Thanks.
July 18th, 2009 at 11:55 pm
Prashant,
Can you start the laptop from AC power while the battery is removed? Can you start the laptop if you wiggle the power plug inside the socket?
July 21st, 2009 at 5:43 am
Thanks Laptop Tech for the response. The laptop powers up even without the battery. And even if I wiggle while it is on, it does not turn off. I bought another adapter and I don’t know how I should use the laptop, so it won’t go bad. The adapter is working ok so far.
July 28th, 2009 at 10:51 pm
[...] a case of power connector (power jack) failure either resolder/replace the power jack or replace the whole power connector [...]
September 10th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
Hi guys… Maybe someone can answer this. I ordered a new power jack connector, and took the old broken one out, then soldered the new one back in. But, I am still not getting anything to power up. Even though, I know I need a new power adapter, I know I am getting power through it, but, when I am plugged into the DC power jack (laptop)… nothing still comes on. I was reading through some of the other posts. I didn’t clean the new post/tabs before soldering them in place. Should I have done that, and can anyone give me a suggestion on what else I should check, before I order a new power connector board?
I just unfortunitly purchased another used laptop, from a repair shop, before I came across this site. I still plan to keep my old Compaq Presario M2000 though, especially now that I found I could order another Power Connector Board off Ebay.
September 10th, 2009 at 8:36 pm
Nate,
Unfortunately I cannot help you without looking at the laptop. It’s possible that you have to resolder the jack or maybe you have a dead motherboard.
If the motherboard gets power through the jack but the laptop appears to be dead, probably there is a problem with the motherboard.
September 14th, 2009 at 11:44 am
Dude I couldnt un solder it so what i did was tore he metal plate off and then it was easier and safer to take off the board cause then each metal comes out piece by piece, I should put a better guide out for people who are not pro techs yet.
September 19th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
marcus,
If you can make a guide, I will gladly publish it on this site. Let me know when you are ready.
December 24th, 2009 at 10:20 am
I have unsoldered a broken connector on a acer aspire 9300,the pins were broken off in the holes (my daughter dropped it) and the now empty holes on the motherboard are quite messy. one is even almost connected to the next.Everything is really close together and I cant see any inner sleeves to the holes.
Anyway I have tried soldering a new connector in twice but both times I get a short circuit.
Is there a way of soldering wires to the board through the holes to the underside of the board ?
It works on battery but the battery wont charge.