Source for 5.5mm/2.5mm barrel connector for X31 AC adapter?

[elray]

I'm about to undertake repairing two power adapters for my X31. Both feature a defective joint at the dc barrel connector. When I'm finished, they won't break again.

But as a rank amateur with a soldering iron, I'm having trouble finding the barrel connector. The Radio Shack part is worthless. Fry's doesn't appear to stock it, and I didn't find a match on Ebay.

Homebrew experts, can you recommend a source for qty 2-10?

[rkawakami]

Those barrel plugs are called "coaxial". Searching with Google shows this:

http://www.kenselectronics.com/lists/coaxpp.htm

I've ordered some parts from this place before but received the wrong item one time and didn't return it after the seller gave me a hassle.

[jdhurst]

<snip> When I'm finished, they won't break again.
But as a rank amateur with a soldering iron, <snip>

With respect, those two statements are contradictory. Soldering is an art and a learned skill. If you are a rank amateur, I strong suggest purchasing replacement adapters and using them carefully. With one exception (improper use), mine don't break, and for the most part, my clients adapters don't break either.
... JDH

[elray]

Soldering is an art and a learned skill. I strong [sic] suggest purchasing replacement adapters and using them carefully. With one exception (improper use), mine don't break, and for the most part, my clients adapters don't break either.
... JDH

You underestimate my determination. But thanks for the advice.

As for the "care" issue, I've had Thinkpads for a long time - since 1996, they all still work, and none ever had a power supply issue.

Only the X31 adapter failed. In anticipation, I had ordered a spare, used.The spare arrived featuring the exact same defect, and the same jury-rigged splint I conjured up for mine.

So while I agree, one must always exercise care, I don't think there is a case of "improper use" here. Instead, I suggest that the X31 adapter design has an ordinary laptop MTBF versus the stellar life-expectancy of a Thinkpad. I can live with that, minus the sparks.

Having slept on the matter for a fortnight, I think the problem rests with the connector.
My solution, instead of building a rigid cage/truss for the replacement connector, will be substituting a right-angle connector, so the strain presented by gravity is distributed equally, not levering one side of the coax jacket.

[jdhurst]

If you are going to do this, try the following:

Cut a length of Number 14 solid copper wire into 12 1" lengths. With only a pair of needle nose pliers and no jigs, solder the lengths into a cube. Put on a leather glove and attempt to crush the cube in your hand. If no joints break, you are on the road to a good skill. ... JDH

[jdrou]

Those pre-Lenovo Thinkpad power connectors are a fairly standard item; even Radio Shack has them. Look for 5.5mm outer diameter & 2.5mm inner diameter. Thinkpad 600 series uses the same connector.

I've gotten a lot of various connectors from Mouser Electronics (http://www.mouser.com ).
http://www.mouser.com/Search/Refine.asp ... 4294572974