Thread: Tripping on Laptop Power Cords
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April 3rd, 2009, 09:39 PM #1Junior Member
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Tripping on Laptop Power Cords
We have two laptops here; both of which have cost us plenty to fix due to broken computer power jacks and/or AC adapter plugs and wires. In fact I'm using a relative's computer right now due to a broken power jack on my Dell Inspiron 6000. The battery won't charge at all.
Are we just a couple klutzes here
What percentage of people with portable computers do you think have similar problems?
Doing some research on a remedy; so your answers are especially important.
Thanks,
jt
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April 3rd, 2009, 09:41 PM #2
Im not sure about a percentage but i do some laptop manufactures have started to move towards a magnetic power adapter (Apple laptop uses these) so when you trip over the cable, it doesnt do any damange
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April 3rd, 2009, 10:07 PM #3Junior Member
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Hey GZ,
They're called Magsafe connectors.
I've heard that they require especially short connector wires to make them work; this could cause a little shorting; which means heat; and there have been some reports of fires....though I don't know this for sure.
That said, at my age, any smoke coming from my lap, could very possibly be seen as a good thing.
jt
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April 3rd, 2009, 11:10 PM #4
Never heard of anyone else doing that before.
Personally I think magnetic adapters would cause more issues than what I've got now unless the magnets are pretty strong. It would be extremely annoying to have the dang power adapter keep falling off. They shouldn't have any issue with shorting though, not if they are made right. Just look at the adapters to most home deep fryers, they are all connected via magnets so the entire vat of 350F oil doesn't come crashing down if Jr pulls on the cord.
"The problem with quotations on the internet is that the sources are hard to verify" - Abraham Lincoln
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April 4th, 2009, 06:27 AM #5
EX the magnets are not strong at all (strong enough to keep the power attached to the laptop while its just sitting there,they cables aren't heavy at all) they are designed to pull away from the device so you don't yank the laptop/break the connector.
They are a really nice feature on the macbooks
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April 4th, 2009, 01:18 PM #6
Well, I like to move my laptop around quite a bit.

As long as it wouldn't fall off then slide down and fall off the back of my desk I guess it would be alright."The problem with quotations on the internet is that the sources are hard to verify" - Abraham Lincoln
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April 4th, 2009, 01:39 PM #7
It's hard to tell just from message boards, but broken AC jacks and screens are both very common laptop problems. The screens, however, are generally easier for the DIYer to fix.
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April 4th, 2009, 01:39 PM #8
The magsafe connector is great. The magnetic part is in the power jack of the laptop so you can't kill the screen or anything with the magnet. I have actually killed two laptops with the power jack problem, and the macbook solution is the only one I know of (also, the macbook is generally just an awesome piece of computer).
Reason obeys itself; and ignorance does whatever is dictated to it.
-Thomas Paine
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April 4th, 2009, 01:52 PM #9
You won't damage an LCD screen with any normal magnet anyways.
"The problem with quotations on the internet is that the sources are hard to verify" - Abraham Lincoln
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April 6th, 2009, 04:13 AM #10
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April 7th, 2009, 10:33 AM #11Junior Member
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I've been researching this problem for some time now; and as far as I know Apple is not licensing the technology. There are problems; and they are not all technical.

Notice how short the connection pins need to be so that a side pull disconnect does not result in breaking or bending the pins. Short pins result in a very limited power transfer contact area that must continue to fit perfectly.
What if there was another way? A way that most every one of the tens of millions of laptops that are out there now will soon be able to benefit from?
How big of an interest do you all feel there would be?
jt
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April 7th, 2009, 10:39 AM #12
Charging devices over the air has been rumbling, but it will be a while before that becomes mainstream
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April 7th, 2009, 11:57 AM #13
One thing I think about is how the original xbox controller had two plugs to prevent the ports from blowing out, which could by moving the disconnect point off the motherboard, though it could also just be a pain in the arse.
Reason obeys itself; and ignorance does whatever is dictated to it.
-Thomas Paine
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August 14th, 2010, 11:49 AM #14Junior Member
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August 14th, 2010, 11:53 AM #15Junior Member
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August 14th, 2010, 12:14 PM #16Junior Member
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Broken DC jacks most common repair
As the owner of a computer repair shop. I can testify that you are not alone. DC jack repair is THE most common laptop repair, followed closely by broken screens. Tripping over the cord is only one way to cause damage to the jack. Other examples are: putting the laptop in your bag with the cord still attached, allowing the weight of the adapter block to pull the cord down and hang unsupported, pushing it against the wall.
Then people complete the destruction when the connection becomes a little loose by wrapping the cord under/around the laptop to make it stay on; then of course the battery goes completely dead, possibly requiring replacement; the O/S gets corrupted from constantly shutting off abruptly. Worse case scenario: user gets mad at laptop for shutting down and punches it - now we have to replace the screen too.
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August 14th, 2010, 03:48 PM #17
Here's an Idea, how about quote all 3 posts into ONE post and reply to each instead of doing a triple post in an old, and for all intents and purposes dead thread?
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TechIMO Folding@home Team #111 - Crunching for the cure!
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August 15th, 2010, 04:50 AM #18Junior Member
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I was not able to delete the post. If you have the power to do it, then please do so.
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