laptop help! =(

[tetatdo]

Well, some time ago, the power brick on my laptop started acting up. Sometimes I'd connect it and it would charge, sometime it wouldn't. I thought it was a short in the power brick so I severed the old connector that goes to the laptop and soldered on a new one on.. I made sure I matched the polarity, but it seems to not be the problem. Now every time I connect the power brick to my laptop, the connector sparks on the laptop and nothing... There is a short and the power brick shuts down until I unplug it from the laptop (but still in the wall). I've tried both polarities (thinking maybe i did it wrong) but it doesn't seem to help. The laptop works perfectly fine, but since I can't charge it, I can't turn it on... I checked took it completely apart and looked at the PCB and I don't see any shorts anywhere!! I thought maybe the power connector on the PCB might have had a short so I replaced it and solidered another one on there, but it still does the same thing. I even got a new power brick for it and it does the same thing! HELP! Im out of a perfectly good laptop! Is there any way I can tell where the short is occuring? Anyone have any engineering or electronics experience that could guide me to a way I can get it fixed? It seems like such a waste, everything on the laptop works perfectly except for the charger/charging mechanism.


Sorry for the novel, Im so frustrated right now I can explode!!! I had alot of important files on there..

 

[LiLithTecH]

Try plugging the AC in without the Battery installed.

Most batteries have a small circuit in them to prevent overheating, but
unfortunately sometimes they short out themselves.

 

[tetatdo]

I have.. with no luck..

 

[LiLithTecH]

What type of laptop is it?
(MFG, Model)

I guessing Toshiba or IBM....

 

[tetatdo]

It is a mitac 5033

 

[KenGr]

Do you have access to another power supply? Leaving aside the question of whether you may have messed something up in changing the connector, there may be a defect in the power brick itself. The connectors and power ratings are pretty standard now so you could try one from a different brand, if necessary, as long as it matches.

Obviously, the number one issue is to get your data backed up. If you can find someone else with the same system, you could borrow a battery and save the data.

 

[tetatdo]

yeah actually I bought a brand new power brick and hooked it up and it does the same thing

 

[LiLithTecH]

You might want to open it up again and check the Floppy drive cable.
Uplug it and try the AC again.

They have a tendency to go bad as they are metal shielded ribbon cable.

Just a thought.

 

[tetatdo]

good idea... let me try that and let you know..