A notebook receives its power through an internal battery which is charged via an adapter connected to the power jack, which is located on the side or back of the machine. If the socket should malfunction it can be difficult to impossible to charge the Lithium Ion battery. Noticeable signs of a non-functioning power jack are a loose-fitting socket, difficulty charging the notebook, and intermittent charging. A jack that seems to be failing is repairable by either someone competent with working on the internal components of a notebook or to guarantee a quality fix it benefits to use the services of a local computer repair shop.
Some of common causes for the power jack to fail consist of -
Not Giving the Right Care - a typical problem for a power jack to become defective is not caring for the notebook properly when on-the-go. Excessive knocking or bumping or not using the right type of laptop bag when traveling can result in a wide variety of problems, not just those related to the jack. If traveling to and from work with a notebook in tow, it is always wise to disconnect the power supply from the notebook. Leaving the power cord in place when traveling could soon lead to the socket being twisted or loosened which will soon cause this essential part to fail.
Defective Components - some of the popular notebook brands seem to have a higher occurrence of failures to this component due to a weak joint between the motherboard and the power port. Overtime everyday usage of a notebook has the potential to cause this soldered joint to fail, which causes the jack to loosen from its hold on the motherboard and restricts the ideal charging of the battery. Besides the soldered joints, a power jack can also be connected to the motherboard using multiple clips which can often give a more reliable hold.
Everyday Wear and Aging - for a notebook that is constantly on the move it will be necessary to remove and insert the power supply into power jack on an almost everyday basis. Although, this is considered as normal use, in time the port can fail due to this repeated pushing and pulling. However, for a notebook that is based for the majority of its time on a desk this type of problem isn't so much of a concern. Accidents, such as tripping over the power cord can also result in unwanted strain causing the jack to detach from the motherboard and fail.
Showing posts with label Power. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Power. Show all posts
Tuesday, 30 October 2012
Tuesday, 4 September 2012
Tips to Avoid Damage to the Notebook Power Jack
If your notebook power supply starts acting up, which can prevent the battery charging, the first place to look to troubleshoot a problem of this nature is the internal power jack. A broken or damaged power jack can effectively prevent all efforts to charge the notebook. It this problem comes apparent it often means a trip to the local computer repair shop to have this critical component repaired. It can be quite difficult to self-repair for those not use to working with the inner-workings of a computer. Here are some tips to ensure this component is kept in full-working condition -
Prevent Trip Hazards - a common cause of damage to the power jack comes from someone tripping over the lead that is attached to the power supply. This will in all likelihood loosen the soldering which keeps the power jack mounted to the motherboard. If the DC power jack becomes too loose or gets completely ripped off the motherboard then it can become almost impossible to charge the notebooks battery.
Unplug Properly - if needing to unplug the power supply from the notebook, in times of going mobile for instance, avoid pulling or yanking by the actual cord. Instead take the plug that connects to the back or side of the notebook and gently turn or twist to loosen it and then pull it straight out. Avoid too much wiggling as this will have a negative impact on the power jacks attachment to the motherboard. As a general rule of thumb aim to avoid anything that would put a strain on the notebook and power lead. Also, make certain to unplug the lead if moving the notebook, even for short distances from one room to the next.
Store Safely - it helps to store the power adapter and lead safety when it is not in actual use. Store the adapter in its own bag on a shelf or in a cupboard to avoid possible damage, which might include getting dirt or dust into the plug-end which connects to the notebook.
Location - avoid using a notebook on a soft surface, such as a bed, couch, pillow or lap, as this might well put pressure on the various connectors if the notebook gets pushed down into the soft surface. If preferring to use a notebook in the bedroom, it might be worthwhile investing in a lapdesk or multi-angled stand to ensure the condition of the notebook is maintained.
Prevent Trip Hazards - a common cause of damage to the power jack comes from someone tripping over the lead that is attached to the power supply. This will in all likelihood loosen the soldering which keeps the power jack mounted to the motherboard. If the DC power jack becomes too loose or gets completely ripped off the motherboard then it can become almost impossible to charge the notebooks battery.
Unplug Properly - if needing to unplug the power supply from the notebook, in times of going mobile for instance, avoid pulling or yanking by the actual cord. Instead take the plug that connects to the back or side of the notebook and gently turn or twist to loosen it and then pull it straight out. Avoid too much wiggling as this will have a negative impact on the power jacks attachment to the motherboard. As a general rule of thumb aim to avoid anything that would put a strain on the notebook and power lead. Also, make certain to unplug the lead if moving the notebook, even for short distances from one room to the next.
Store Safely - it helps to store the power adapter and lead safety when it is not in actual use. Store the adapter in its own bag on a shelf or in a cupboard to avoid possible damage, which might include getting dirt or dust into the plug-end which connects to the notebook.
Location - avoid using a notebook on a soft surface, such as a bed, couch, pillow or lap, as this might well put pressure on the various connectors if the notebook gets pushed down into the soft surface. If preferring to use a notebook in the bedroom, it might be worthwhile investing in a lapdesk or multi-angled stand to ensure the condition of the notebook is maintained.
Sophisticated Power Supplies For Better Functionality
A high-end power supply unit comes in many different forms, with a great range of different output parameters that enable them to be used for a great number of different functions. Whether you use them for business IT or home use, it is worth understanding the fundamental elements of what differentiates the basic home supply with a higher end product like a programmable or DIN rail power supply. First of all let's take a look at the main characteristics.
A regulated supply takes electrical power from its source e.g. mains, generator or battery, and, as is self-evident from the name, regulates this, principally in terms of voltage or current, providing, for example, a 'transformer' or 'step up/step down' function. This is why the power unit is often referred to as the heart of a piece equipment, be it computer or Hi-Fi, and why it is so important to ensure that it is both safe and reliable and will have a long life.
The output parameters must be closely controlled and consistent. Similarly important for many other tasks, including laser surgery, magnetic resonance imaging scanning, oil well logging, particle physics research and electroplating, is a programmable power supply. This is a way of providing different output parameters, but the need for control and consistency is still paramount.
This supply consists of current/voltage programming circuits, current/voltage read-back circuits, current shunts and a processor. The supply might also include overvoltage, overcurrent and short circuit protection as well as temperature compensation. Remote control of the supply may be through a variety of interfaces such as a GPIB (General Purpose Interface Bus), RS232, ethernet, can bus and profi buses or an analogue input signal. In this way it is possible to control current, voltage and, for AC output suppliers, frequency.
If AC output is desired, it can be either single-phase, generally used for low-voltage supplies, or three-phase, principally for high-voltage power supplies. The power suppliers can be wall mounted, board mounted, floor mounted, bench top or modular. A typical bench variable-switching DC unit specifications could be voltage: 0-10V/500V, current: 0-600mA/105A, power:350W-1KW.
And with such a variety of options it is easy to see why these power supplies have become so important in automotive, semiconductor and component industries, especially in the production of test systems. The programmable version, like the regulated power supply, is still at the heart of whatever function it is involved in.
A regulated supply takes electrical power from its source e.g. mains, generator or battery, and, as is self-evident from the name, regulates this, principally in terms of voltage or current, providing, for example, a 'transformer' or 'step up/step down' function. This is why the power unit is often referred to as the heart of a piece equipment, be it computer or Hi-Fi, and why it is so important to ensure that it is both safe and reliable and will have a long life.
The output parameters must be closely controlled and consistent. Similarly important for many other tasks, including laser surgery, magnetic resonance imaging scanning, oil well logging, particle physics research and electroplating, is a programmable power supply. This is a way of providing different output parameters, but the need for control and consistency is still paramount.
This supply consists of current/voltage programming circuits, current/voltage read-back circuits, current shunts and a processor. The supply might also include overvoltage, overcurrent and short circuit protection as well as temperature compensation. Remote control of the supply may be through a variety of interfaces such as a GPIB (General Purpose Interface Bus), RS232, ethernet, can bus and profi buses or an analogue input signal. In this way it is possible to control current, voltage and, for AC output suppliers, frequency.
If AC output is desired, it can be either single-phase, generally used for low-voltage supplies, or three-phase, principally for high-voltage power supplies. The power suppliers can be wall mounted, board mounted, floor mounted, bench top or modular. A typical bench variable-switching DC unit specifications could be voltage: 0-10V/500V, current: 0-600mA/105A, power:350W-1KW.
And with such a variety of options it is easy to see why these power supplies have become so important in automotive, semiconductor and component industries, especially in the production of test systems. The programmable version, like the regulated power supply, is still at the heart of whatever function it is involved in.
Monday, 27 August 2012
Tips to Avoid Damage to the Notebook Power Jack
If your notebook power supply starts acting up, which can prevent the battery charging, the first place to look to troubleshoot a problem of this nature is the internal power jack. A broken or damaged power jack can effectively prevent all efforts to charge the notebook. It this problem comes apparent it often means a trip to the local computer repair shop to have this critical component repaired. It can be quite difficult to self-repair for those not use to working with the inner-workings of a computer. Here are some tips to ensure this component is kept in full-working condition -
Prevent Trip Hazards - a common cause of damage to the power jack comes from someone tripping over the lead that is attached to the power supply. This will in all likelihood loosen the soldering which keeps the power jack mounted to the motherboard. If the DC power jack becomes too loose or gets completely ripped off the motherboard then it can become almost impossible to charge the notebooks battery.
Unplug Properly - if needing to unplug the power supply from the notebook, in times of going mobile for instance, avoid pulling or yanking by the actual cord. Instead take the plug that connects to the back or side of the notebook and gently turn or twist to loosen it and then pull it straight out. Avoid too much wiggling as this will have a negative impact on the power jacks attachment to the motherboard. As a general rule of thumb aim to avoid anything that would put a strain on the notebook and power lead. Also, make certain to unplug the lead if moving the notebook, even for short distances from one room to the next.
Store Safely - it helps to store the power adapter and lead safety when it is not in actual use. Store the adapter in its own bag on a shelf or in a cupboard to avoid possible damage, which might include getting dirt or dust into the plug-end which connects to the notebook.
Location - avoid using a notebook on a soft surface, such as a bed, couch, pillow or lap, as this might well put pressure on the various connectors if the notebook gets pushed down into the soft surface. If preferring to use a notebook in the bedroom, it might be worthwhile investing in a lapdesk or multi-angled stand to ensure the condition of the notebook is maintained.
Prevent Trip Hazards - a common cause of damage to the power jack comes from someone tripping over the lead that is attached to the power supply. This will in all likelihood loosen the soldering which keeps the power jack mounted to the motherboard. If the DC power jack becomes too loose or gets completely ripped off the motherboard then it can become almost impossible to charge the notebooks battery.
Unplug Properly - if needing to unplug the power supply from the notebook, in times of going mobile for instance, avoid pulling or yanking by the actual cord. Instead take the plug that connects to the back or side of the notebook and gently turn or twist to loosen it and then pull it straight out. Avoid too much wiggling as this will have a negative impact on the power jacks attachment to the motherboard. As a general rule of thumb aim to avoid anything that would put a strain on the notebook and power lead. Also, make certain to unplug the lead if moving the notebook, even for short distances from one room to the next.
Store Safely - it helps to store the power adapter and lead safety when it is not in actual use. Store the adapter in its own bag on a shelf or in a cupboard to avoid possible damage, which might include getting dirt or dust into the plug-end which connects to the notebook.
Location - avoid using a notebook on a soft surface, such as a bed, couch, pillow or lap, as this might well put pressure on the various connectors if the notebook gets pushed down into the soft surface. If preferring to use a notebook in the bedroom, it might be worthwhile investing in a lapdesk or multi-angled stand to ensure the condition of the notebook is maintained.
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