Tripping on Laptop Power Cords

[JamesThomas]

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

[GroundZero3]

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

[JamesThomas]

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

[EXreaction]

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.

[GroundZero3]

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

[EXreaction]

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.

[osprey4]

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.

[thephilosophizer]

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).

[EXreaction]

You won't damage an LCD screen with any normal magnet anyways.

[GroundZero3]

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).

I believe other laptop manufactures are starting to move towards this solution because its a great idea

[JamesThomas]

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

[GroundZero3]

Charging devices over the air has been rumbling, but it will be a while before that becomes mainstream

[thephilosophizer]

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.

[pcdetails]

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

Magsafe adapters are only for certain Apple/Mac laptops that were designed for that. There has to be a magnetic connection inside the laptop for that to work. They don't exist for anything else.

[pcdetails]

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

Magsafe adapters are only used by Apple

[pcdetails]

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

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.

[ShyguyXPC]

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?

[pcdetails]

I was not able to delete the post. If you have the power to do it, then please do so.