How to Test a DC Jack?

Sure you got the right type? I've come across ones with the same OD to the plug - say 2.1mm - but the centre pin ain't the same size on both. Might be worth getting a plug from the same source and changing that too.

Hate the things. ;-)

It also might be just a shade shorter or something and you are working the plug against the case to get it in far enough.

WT

I don't have any experience with that exact model.

But plugs rarely break. What breaks is the connection to the board. You may still have cracked traces that disconnect when flexed. Did you use the EXACT replacement part from sony. Slightly different inner/outer diameters can cause what you experience. Are you sure the problem wasn't in the plug end? Plugs get more flex and the wire tends to break right at the end of the strain relief. mike

As has been hinted in this thread, the dimensions of the replacement socket and pin most likely do not conform to those of Sony plug. It has been my experience that laptop manufacturers almost invariably use OEM specific connectors for the DC input plug and socket which do not match the ones commonly available in electronics parts stores.

In addition to the suggestions already made, be aware that the circuit board in your laptop contains many layers. Each has it's own traces (conductors). Think of a regular double-sided circuit board (conductors on each side)...then imagine two or three of them sandwiched together, with some components (like the power jack) needing to be connected to traces on more than one layer. It's sometimes a little more difficult than soldering just the conductors you can see, although, ideally each such hole should be 'plated through'; meaning the inside of the hole has it's own layer of copper and connects to each layer.

You might have missed one layer, and when you hold the plug 'just so' it makes mechanical contact.

jak

Many thanks to those who responded.

Dave and Wayne, I checked the prongs on the jack with the AC adapter plugged in. It does supply the voltage, so the jack *is* compatible with the adapter. (I should've done this first.)

Mike, it *was* the jack that broke - the plastic receptacle for the center pin just disintegrated into shards.

This sounds like the most likely culprit. The ends of the prongs that stick through the board I have soldered solid, but that doesn't mean that there's contact inside the board. Damn. Guess I'll have to get the thing out and try to plate the insides of the holes with solder or something. Oh well...

Yisroel

I only put it out there as one likely culprit along with the suggestions of the other repliers; but it's worth investigating.

jak

Use a MultiMeter to ring it out before you put it all back together. Another thing to watch out for is you accidentally heated up a component near by and made it loosen up. Been there and done that.

Dewa> snipped-for-privacy@> >> snipped-for-privacy@> >>> Greetings,