How to Replace a DC Power Jack

IF you don't know the importance  of the power jack to your laptop, well let me tell you something. The power jack is the only power source for charging your laptop. Without the power jack, your laptop is pretty much useless. However, just like any other accessory, the power jack breaks down. Anytime the connections in your laptop and the circuits lose contact, it means your power jack has broken down and that it's time to replace it. But not to worry! It can be fixed although it will take you under two hours. Here is how to replace a DC power jack.


First to do this repair job, get the following tools:

• Soldering Station
• Electrostatic Wristband
• Flat-head screw driver
• Soldering iron and solder
• DC power jack

Now onward to the tutorial

• First be sure to remove ANY CD/DVD lingering in your hard drive.
• Turn of the power and unplug the adapter from the wall outlet and laptop. 
• Remove any peripheral devices such as pen drives or flash drives from the laptop
•  Make sure you put on an  electrostatic wristband. If you don't, static electricity builds up in your laptop.

              
Turn The Laptop Upside down

• Turn the laptop upside down and make sure the surface is even. Then take out all the screws tightening  the bottom case and slide the bottom case off. Slide the lever to the side to free the battery and then take the battery out.
• Loosen all the screws tightening  the plastic cases holding the memory and optical drive, wireless card and hard drive. Then push the retaining latch to free up the memory stick. Do the same for the wireless card and remove all remaining screws at the bottom of the laptop.

Flip The Laptop Upwards

• Flip the laptop facing upwards. Lift the lid up top open the laptop such that you are facing the screen.Then Remove the strip securing the top of the keyboard.  
• After removing the strip you then fit the blade of your flat-head screwdriver into the groove close to the strip. 
• Next, apply pressure on the strip to pry the strip and then remove it.  You then use your screwdriver to loosen all screws holding the screw driver. 
• Once you are done loosening the screws, go ahead and pull out the keyboard and and disconnect the cable connecting the keyboard to the motherboard.

Pull Out all Cables Connected to Motherboard

• Pull out  connected to the motherboard. 
• Then use the screwdriver to unscrew all screws tightening the the display panel and remove the panel. 
• Disconnect the CPU from the cooling unit by removing all unit screws with your flathead screwdriver. 
• Take out all the motherboard screws and remove it from the laptop.

Set the Motherboard Face down

• Set the Motherboard face down and remove the faulty DC jack from the motherboard with a soldering iron.  
• Next, remove the melted solder with a de-soldering pump .   After the de-soldering procedure, take the power jack off the motherboard.

Insert the New DC Power Jack

• Now he is the procedure for inserting the new DC power Jack. 
• Rub a coat of solder to the DC jack contact points on the motherboard. Wait for two hours for the solder to dry up on the contact points. 
• Once the contact points are dry, insert the new DC Power Jack  into the holes and then put the laptop back together.

That is a wrap on how to fix replace a power jack. It is a bit involving but hopefully once you get a hang of it, it should be a walk in the pack. If you are a newbie and would like to learn how to fix your laptop including replacing a DC Power Jack, Download Laptop Repair Videos and  The Laptop Repair Workbook: An Introduction to Troubleshooting and Repairing Laptop Computers    .