How do I open a Dell AC Adapter?

[Homer J Simpson]

I actually found out it's dangerous to open the adapter.
http://groups-beta.google.com/group/comp.sys.laptops/browse_thread/thread/e22955849b556762/#

The advice from 'mike' was much more reasonable than that from 'Hertz_Donut'

Replacing the cord is one of the easiest repairs.

 

[Meat Plow]

Ah, yes, it will. Sometime they'll even shoot flames out.

Well the OP said the LED was not lit and the supply was hissing. I
wouldn't expect that from a supply where just the cord was broken.

 

[[email protected]]

On Tue, 02 Jan 2007 12:11:24 -0800, [email protected] Has Frothed:
The cord would not hiss when it's broken.

It hissed before a couple of times, and if I moved the cable - it would
work properly..
But at one point it never stopped hissing whatever I did.

 

[[email protected]]

It does get extremely hot (the cord). Also a certain part of the
adapter gets hot when it hisses.
Doesn't matter! It's done. It's dead, i need another AC Adapter.

 

[Homer J Simpson]

Well the OP said the LED was not lit and the supply was hissing. I
wouldn't expect that from a supply where just the cord was broken.

The hissing is arcing and burning of the insulation which is probably
carbonized.






--

 

[Meat Plow]

The hissing is arcing and burning of the insulation which is probably
carbonized.

The hiss would indicate to me that the dc component has a high frequency
pulse. Plus the OP didn't mention any burning smell did he?

 

[jean easter]

I like this quote:

"These supplies contain internal voltages that can quite easily kill
(several thousands). "

Several thousands; Yeah, Riiight!

A few hundred here, a few hundred there: it all adds up!

(This idea is borrowed from the tale of some report that totalled the
dB heard by someone at one moment: Normal Conversation 60 dB + Vacuum
Cleaner 80 dB = 140 dB !!! Or was it totalled over the day...)

 

[b]

this fault sounds like bad electrolytic caps, especially if there is
hissing and heat. this may have been brought on by a short in the
cable. either way, given that you may well break the thing by getting
it open I'd start looking for another.
-B.

 

[[email protected]]

It hisses with interruptions, like a beep.. and when I press against
the cable with my finger the hissing increases rate and then becomes
constant (no interruptions). The cable gets really hot, but there's no
smell or anything. The led does not come on anymore also. Can it be a
surge protection system?

 

[jakdedert]

It hisses with interruptions, like a beep.. and when I press against
the cable with my finger the hissing increases rate and then becomes
constant (no interruptions). The cable gets really hot, but there's no
smell or anything. The led does not come on anymore also. Can it be a
surge protection system?

No, I think you diag'ed correctly in the first place. Likely it's been
damaged beyond easy repair, though. Get another one ASAP.

jak

 

[b]

[email protected] ha escrito:

It hisses with interruptions, like a beep.. and when I press against
the cable with my finger the hissing increases rate and then becomes
constant (no interruptions). The cable gets really hot, but there's no
smell or anything. The led does not come on anymore also. Can it be a
surge protection system?

nah, nothing to do with 'surge protection system' (whatever that is).
Those units are typically sealed with no ventilation at all, and with
the current trend to making everything as small (and disposable) as
possible, the components run hot and this shortens the lifespan of the
device. capacitors especially suffer from this. That said, the cable
damage may have precipitated this and shorted out something on the
secondary of the power supply. In any case, it's junk. Get another.
-B.

 

[Michael A. Terrell]

A few hundred here, a few hundred there: it all adds up!

(This idea is borrowed from the tale of some report that totalled the
dB heard by someone at one moment: Normal Conversation 60 dB + Vacuum
Cleaner 80 dB = 140 dB !!! Or was it totalled over the day...)

dB doesn't work that way. If both noise sources were +80 dB, the
total would only be +83 dB.


--
Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to
prove it.
Member of DAV #85.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida

 

[**THE-RFI-EMI-GUY**]

I think there are some counterfeit versions on the market so beware,

It hisses with interruptions, like a beep.. and when I press against
the cable with my finger the hissing increases rate and then becomes
constant (no interruptions). The cable gets really hot, but there's no
smell or anything. The led does not come on anymore also. Can it be a
surge protection system?

--
Joe Leikhim K4SAT
"The RFI-EMI-GUY"©

"Treason doth never prosper: what's the reason?
For if it prosper, none dare call it treason."

"Follow The Money" ;-P