Toshiba x305 adapter can not fully charge the laptop battery

Does your Toshiba Qosmio X305-Q701, or some other Toshiba POS randomly shut off and not fully charge the laptop battery? This is apparently a very common problem with these notebooks. When I had to fix my friend’s laptop I searched all over the internet for a solution. I found quite a few forum threads and laptop reviews discussing the issue but no one actually fixed it themselves. Lazy bastards. Most of these folks were having them sent in for warranty work and having the entire main boards replaced. This is a ridiculous waste of money for someone. I did see an ad for some computer repair place who was charging $200 to fix these, which is a total rip off. They were replacing the jack (claiming $20 just for the part!!) which is not necessary (at least not with this one). Well, I am really cheap and I didn’t want to deal with the time or BS of having it shipped (the warranty is expired anyway), so I fixed it. Cliff’s notes at bottom.

The power led on the front would flicker when the Toshiba x305 adapter was plugged in. I could wiggle the power cord and it would change the nature of the flickering. Sometimes it would stay on continuously and sometimes it would shut off depending on the wiggling. This behavior had the obvious side effects of shutting the computer off and never really charging the battery. Oh how irritating.

At first I thought it was the power cord. I mean I could wiggle the cord and it made changes to the flickering, so why not? After testing it with the volt meter it seemed to be good, good enough to not spend ~$85 on a new power cord. What else could it be?

The x305 adapter jack in the machine turned out to be the culprit. Well, sort of. Technically it was the connection between the jack and the main board. Yeah, just a stupid connection. Not the whole motherboard like the corporate “customer service” reps want you to think. See, the jack has the positive connection coming out of the back and directly into the board with a little weak solder joint keeping the jack from rocking back and forth. When the laptop is subjected to normal amounts of power cord wiggling it breaks the weak joint and screws up power delivery. You can test this by plugging in the laptop and pushing the end of the cord (where it goes into the computer) in different directions while watching the green power light. Mine broke mostly on the top joint and so the light would be a solid green if I pushed the cord end UP (thereby pushing the connection back together), and would totally turn off when I pushed the cord end down.

You can view the backside of the jack by popping the little panel thats above the laptop keyboard (it also goes over the screen hinges):

You can plug the computer in and wiggle the cord end to see if there is a visible crack. Mine had a visible crack when i pushed the cord end down. The picture above, however, was taken after I fixed it, so I have no pics of the crack.

Ok, so now you have to fix it. This is extremely easy. If you have ever soldered, you can do it. Take the laptop apart. I used this guide here which is really good. Just get the main board out so you can solder on the bottom of the jack. Once the board is out you just solder the bottom of the + terminal of the jack (the part of the jack that goes into the middle of the cord). Then solder the top. I tried to make the top solder joint as beefy as possible so it takes a while before the problem happens again. i.e. solder the circled terminal on top and the corresponding bottom terminal:

Power stuff on X305-Q701 went to shit. Wasn’t the power cord. Was the + side jack connection to the main board. Take apart laptop, take out main board, re-solder on the bottom AND on the top of + connection. Put it back together. Enjoy the not-sucking laptop.

The Different Types of Toshiba satellite a15 Notebook Accessories

Notebook accessories are additional items that can be used to enhance the performance of an notebook computer, assist in the protection of the notebook,or improve user experience.An notebook is a computer that has a built-in keyboard and a folding screen.Notebooks vary widely in size, thickness, and weight and provide computer users the ability to work in a wide range of locations.

Notebook Accessories designed to improve the notebook performance focus on core notebook functions. All notebook computers have a built-in rechargeable battery(such as Toshiba satellite a15 battery). The capacity and lifespan of the battery varies by model and manufacturer. External rechargeable battery units are a popular laptop accessory, as they provide increased battery life.

Airplane and car charger accessories allow the notebook to accept power(Toshiba x305 adapter ) from the lighter outlet in a car and the power outlet in an airplane. Cooling mats are placed under the notebook to shield the user from the heat generation from the notebook battery and to reduce the radiation that may be emitted from certain types of notebook.

Tools that improve the user experience include a mobile computer mouse that is connected by a USB key, headphones, microphones, and mobile technology. Docking stations are base units that provide a central connection to power, network connectors, monitor, keyboard, and mouse. The notebook is placed inside the station and pins in the back of the unit lock into the docking station. All the accessories are connected to the docking station itself, providing a simple, quick method of converting a portable computer into a desktop model.

notebook bags are necessary to protect the notebook while traveling. These bags come in a wide range of shapes, styles, and colors. They are all designed to protect the notebook, provide an easy method of transporting the notebook, and have holding space for notebook cables and other notebook accessories. notebook bags are available as backpacks, briefcases, portfolios, and simply carrying cases.

For users who are in wet or dusty working conditions, there are notebook accessories designed to protect the unit from these elements. Specially designed cases made from rubber and plastic materials are used to protect the notebook if it is dropped, exposed to water, dust, or dirt. When selecting notebook accessories, it is important to confirm that they are compatible with your notebook . Due to the wide range of notebook sizes and operating systems available, all accessories provide information on the models they are designed to work with.

Tips of Hp 239427-001 Adapter

An ac adapter for laptop allows a laptop to be plugged into a standard wall outlet. It converts the “AC” of a wall outlet to “DC” so the laptop can draw power safely while charging the battery.

Usually, an laptop ac power adapter is built to last for years, but sometimes it does not last as long as planned. When caring for or replacing a faulty AC adapter, there are a few things to keep in mind in order to maximize its usefulness and compatibility.

Not all AC adapters are created equal. Some will have differing input and output voltages which makes choosing the correct one frustrating. If you are replacing a laptop’s adapter, always check its specifications to determine the power requirements. Also, laptop computers have different sized DC plugs, so make sure that the adapter that you buy will fit. Many universal AC adapters come with interchangeable plugs to prevent this problem.

While it is normal for an AC adapter(hp 239427-001 Adapter,Toshiba x305 adapter) to get warm to the touch while plugged in, any other signs of trouble may require immediate action. If your adapter is making a high pitch noise, replace it. If your adapter stops working completely, it may be a sign of a bad transformer or a wiring issue. If you fancy yourself an amateur repairman, keep in mind that it is generally a bad idea to open up the AC adapter for any reason. In addition to being notoriously difficult to open (without a hacksaw), the internal components can deliver dangerously high voltage levels to inexperienced repairmen.

An AC adapter’s(adapter 239427 001) secondary function is to charge a computer battery. A full charging session takes around two hours or longer if you use the computer during that time. If the battery is completely dead, you may need to leave the adapter plugged in for a few minutes before you turn on the computer.Avoid exposing an AC adapter to prolonged periods of extreme heat or cold. Doing so could damage the internal circuitry and prevent it from working. Always wrap up the AC cord tightly when traveling, and avoid any contact with other metallic devices, like coins, pens or paperclips. These could accidentally short-circuit the adapter by causing an connection of the positive an negative terminals, for example, when bouncing around in a bag.