Faulty AC power connection on an X32

[magnusansky]

Hi

My X32 has occasionally run out of juice even when plugged in because it seems the AC power connector is loose or faulty. Usually, I can reseat the AC Adapter plug so that power is filling the battery as well as the computer.

However, last night I left the computer on and plugged in, and I guess at some point, the connection went bad and drained the battery dry. The normal reseating efforts didn't work. I almost gave up, but then I found if I pressed the plug hard into the jack it started charging.

This doesn't sound like a long term solution.

Can anyone tell me how hard (and perhaps how) it would be to replace/fix the AC power connector/jack? I looked at the X30/X31/X32 Hardware Maintenance Manual, but there's nothing on replacing that particular part.

I then read a different thinkpad model thread that said they were able to workaround the problem by buying a docking station for the laptop that also provided power. Does the X3 Ultrabase (or any other X32 docking station) have the ability to send power to the laptop not via the AC power connection? (Sorry, I've never had a dock before so I don't know the details of how they transfer information/power)

Thanks for any help!

Edit: Oh, I have multiple AC Adapter/cords as well as two drained batteries (one original, one 3rd party), that helped me isolate the problem to be the connection.

[sarbin]

can't help you much with the circuit repair, but all of the thinkpad docks and port replicators i have, supply power to the laptop, and hence charge the battery, through the docking connector.

hth.

[blink]

Hi, i had an x31 that also sometimes wouldnt connect to charge when putting the power lead in, usually if i took it out & tried it again it then would. In my case though even on a dock i got the same problem sometimes which led me to think it was a slightly lose connection in the circuitry somewhere. Just a heads up & if it is definately just a slightly faulty input pin you should be fine, Have you tried cleaning the contact? If you are gonna buy a dock maybe its best to get a cheap variety, eg port replicator 11 which can now be picked up for less than £10 here in the uk at least to try.

[fasterbybike]

The DC connectors are soldered onto the X31/32 mobos I'm afraid. Unlike the T4x where they are a separate part that plugs into the mobo, making a swap easy. If you have access to a broken X3* mobo with a good connector, and can solder proficiently, it would be too hard to do the replacement tho. YMMV.