Quick and Easy Laptop's Power Plug Fix

Background: I have 2 HP laptops at home and unfortunately, both of the the power plugs that go to the power jack of the notebooks have been loose for a while. My sister who is tired of trying to turn the power plug such that it the AC adapter is able to charge the battery keeps on asking me to buy a new AC adapter. But being a student and being tight on money, I figured I should just hack the old adapter and replace the power plug somehow.

This is my solution to my power plug problem. I think took me less than an hour to fix the plugs, and I blame it on my $10.00 solder iron. Hope you'll enjoy my first and hopefully not last instructable.

Step 1 Things you need...

So let's get started with the list of materials and tools.

Materials:
1. Generic AC adapter package with different attachments
- $9.99 ( I bought another for $6.99)
- if the store charge you more than $10.00 I think you are just in the wrong store. I got the $6.99
one from Tiger Direct (on College Street and Spadina Avenue, Toronto) close to my school
- and I got the $9.99 one from one store along Yonge Street, sorry I can't remember the name
- IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU CHECK THE SIZE OF THE ATTACHMENTS THAT COME WITH
THE PACKAGE IF ONE OF THE PLUGS FIT YOUR LAPTOP

2. some zip ties

3. empty sharpie barrel/ empty highlighter barrel
- if the marker is still working, please don't waste it. just improvise of how you can substitute
this part genius!

4. electrical tape

5. you laptop's AC
Tools:
1. solder iron
2. solder
3. pliers
4. wire stripper
5. multimeter
6. hole maker - choose: drill / nail & hammer combo / screw & screwdriver combo / laser ( as long as it can make a hold for the barrel )

Short list eh? Told you this is going to be easy.

Comments

[mantoniou]

hi there i have been trying a for a long to find a solution about that but my laptop has 3 cables which is a hp one,,can you please help with that?

[wetnap]

Zip ties aren't really the right way to strengthen wire. Better to use heatshrink tubing of different sizes in layers and perhaps a layer of epoxy under the first, they also make heatshrink with heat activated adhesive, also throw in some plastic or scrap wire as a splint under the first layer. This would be far stronger than capping it witha marker body. It seems you already did most of the work necessary so heat shrink would have been the better choice since you had already done the correct soldering rather than going for something like crimps or wire nuts that would require a large housing. Next time perhaps stagger the solder section so they are not side by side as well.

[mrbob1000]

lucky! my old dell (what im typing on now) has a loose connector and i had to use aluminum foil (wrap a tiny amout around the barrel) and then use a tiny amount of tape to hold it on. then i plugged it in and taped it there. Plus my battery doesnt even work!

[Joanassie]

Sounds like my inspiron 1525.

[abadfart]

sounds like my thinkpad 

[PowerHungery]

I love this idea, and very much needed thank you.

[lightpacker]

wow nice touch with the highlighter barrel 5*

[sanluwee]

thanks :D. I have sharpie on the other adapter. I think the highlighter one looks more aesthetically pleasing. o_<