Dell Laptop:AC Adapter Connector is Loose!
I have a Dell Latitude 600 and the AC Adapter Connector (where the AC cord plugs into the computer) is loose and causes the screen to pulse, as if between battery source and AC source. I am ready to open the thing up and have a look. Anyone else have a similar problem? Any information/suggestions would be appreciated.
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Could you give us a little more description of the situation? I'm pretty sure you're talking about a laptop but generally they have external power adapters so that you only plug a DC source into the computer. Do you plug a cord from a wall outlet directly into your laptop or is there a box or something in between. To me it sounds like the AC/DC converter is toast and not rectifying the input voltage properly.
If you say the socket is loose within the computer, it's very likely that the inside of the socket has crumbled and broken or the solder joints have gone dry where the socket is soldered into the main PCB.
If you just have loose solder joints, you'll have to access the underside of the main PCB and make them good with fresh solder.
If the socket has broken internally, it needs replacing. It's a straightforward job if you know what you're doing. If you're not sure, take it to a repair shop.
One last thought, often those sockets are held in place by a gnurled round nut with two little slots in. That may have come loose. If so, tighten it by using a fine pair of needle nosed pliers within those two slots and turning clockwise.
Thanks for the reply. Yes, it is a laptop and it is the external power source I am referring to with the small black box which is in between the cord from outlet and computer. The connector I refer to is the name that Dell gives to the place where this cord is plugged into on the computer. I would hope it is the converter which is bad and not the connector, which is loose. A Dell tech thought it could be a motherboard breakdown. I will probably try to purchase another power source unit and try tht first.
In my opinion it's unlikely to be the DC supply as the unit is actually working, albeit not satisfactorily.
If the fault coincided with the power socket becoming loose then that would probably confirm it's the socket.
It could be a problem with the video, often the multipath ribbon connecting the laptop base with the fold up screen can fracture after years of use, this could give the symptoms you describe. If you can, plug an independent Monitor into the VGA socket to prove/disprove that idea.
I still would gamble on a faulty DC socket though.
EDIT: Just had a thought, kind of obvious really, but if all works well when it's powered by batteries, that would confirm there is no video problem and that the fault lies with the socket/adaptor, would it not?
Hopefully there arent any on this board. If so PM me and I will be MORE than happy to elaborate.