Tech Support Forum - View Single Post - HP ZV5000 Power Supply & Power Meter Problem

eagle76 · 03-09-2008, 09:34 AM

just for info. We have a HP ZV5000 with a DC power supply connector issue as well.

Downloaded off HPs site the tech manual that includes the disassembly instructions for the laptop. Figured it was something to do with the DC Jack located on the mobo so went after it.

first of all, disassembly was easy... only thing would recommend is taping the screws to sheets of paper to help make sure you get the right ones back in the right holes. And as I didn't perform each step called for, I wrote down exactly what I did, when, so I could reverse what I did.

to make a long story short, the solder joints on the mobo were sound, continuity verified with meter to points other than the solder joints themselves while stressing the DC jack. Even the center pin was solid.

with the confirmation that the DC jack wasn't the issue, looked at the darn DC p/s connector. As our problem was, we could get it to connect if we stressed the DC connector to DC jack interface, but left unstressed it wouldn't 'connect', noticed in the tip of the DC connector tip are two 'tiny wires' located across from each other... Bent them towards the center, plugged it in, and it worked...

so all along, our problem wasn't the DC jack, it was simply that with time, those tiny 'wires' inside the tip were being pushed away from the center and losing connectivity...

now for my fix. I am in the process of buying a right angle DC connector, intend to attach a short piece of wire to a more robust connector (similar to a 2 wire "square white plastic style connector' that will be more rigid when in use)... I intend to use screws and wire restraints and capture this short assembly onto the back of my laptop.

the intention is to fix that right angle DC connector to the DC jack interface so that their is NO movement of that interface. Any stress as a result of movement of the laptop when its plugged in will be felt on the more rigid secondary connector I am going to install....

and for info, as someone with prior microelectronics repair experience, trying to replace the DC jack on the mobo would be very interesting without some specialized soldering equipment. Not to mention the concern over maintaining a proper bridge from the joint side to any internal traces or traces on the opposite side of the mobo.... guessing thats why when I talked to one computer repair shop in our area, they would have simply replaced the mobo itself in order to fix a DC jack issue...

kind of overkill, but maybe as a result of the design, an evil necessity.

03-09-2008, 09:34 AM	#10 (permalink)
eagle76 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1 OS: vista	Re: HP ZV5000 Power Supply & Power Meter Problem just for info. We have a HP ZV5000 with a DC power supply connector issue as well. Downloaded off HPs site the tech manual that includes the disassembly instructions for the laptop. Figured it was something to do with the DC Jack located on the mobo so went after it. first of all, disassembly was easy... only thing would recommend is taping the screws to sheets of paper to help make sure you get the right ones back in the right holes. And as I didn't perform each step called for, I wrote down exactly what I did, when, so I could reverse what I did. to make a long story short, the solder joints on the mobo were sound, continuity verified with meter to points other than the solder joints themselves while stressing the DC jack. Even the center pin was solid. with the confirmation that the DC jack wasn't the issue, looked at the darn DC p/s connector. As our problem was, we could get it to connect if we stressed the DC connector to DC jack interface, but left unstressed it wouldn't 'connect', noticed in the tip of the DC connector tip are two 'tiny wires' located across from each other... Bent them towards the center, plugged it in, and it worked... so all along, our problem wasn't the DC jack, it was simply that with time, those tiny 'wires' inside the tip were being pushed away from the center and losing connectivity... now for my fix. I am in the process of buying a right angle DC connector, intend to attach a short piece of wire to a more robust connector (similar to a 2 wire "square white plastic style connector' that will be more rigid when in use)... I intend to use screws and wire restraints and capture this short assembly onto the back of my laptop. the intention is to fix that right angle DC connector to the DC jack interface so that their is NO movement of that interface. Any stress as a result of movement of the laptop when its plugged in will be felt on the more rigid secondary connector I am going to install.... and for info, as someone with prior microelectronics repair experience, trying to replace the DC jack on the mobo would be very interesting without some specialized soldering equipment. Not to mention the concern over maintaining a proper bridge from the joint side to any internal traces or traces on the opposite side of the mobo.... guessing thats why when I talked to one computer repair shop in our area, they would have simply replaced the mobo itself in order to fix a DC jack issue... kind of overkill, but maybe as a result of the design, an evil necessity.