Laptop Charger

Hi guys !

I'm an electronics engineer masters student, and i'm looking to fix an issue with my hp laptop charger (19V * 4.74A = ~90W).

It started to beep (error signal) yesterday and i started searching web to a possible reason. All connectors are good (both in & out), 0v at output don't know why! I saw someone saying that there is a diode that need to be switched.. I opened it and i looked to pcb and there is 3 big diodes next to transformer circuit and a small one after those 3.. Other side of the pcb there are a few but i don't think those are the problem.. I have a multimeter but i don't know how to test the diodes. Desoldering all diodes and test them may be the solution ?

Thanks in advance :)



EDIT: The diodes are on the center of the photo

EDIT2: SOLVED! Gnd and Vout were on short circuit !

Glad you got it fixed !
But as for testing diodes in circuit, if they are rectifying an AC, put an oscilloscope across them.
If they are just conducting, see if they have about 0.6 V across them.
If the equipment is off, just use your multimeter's diode test range.
(Possibly there may not be other components significantly affecting the reading.)

A large proportion of electrical and electronic faults are due to a simple bad connection - e.g. dry joint, dirty or corroded contact, loose connector.

Thanks for the info, but i found an easier way to test diodes:
Check the resistance on both ways of the diode, if you get 0 ohm on both ways its short circuit.
If you get infinite on both ways its short circuit too.
If you get infinite on one way and in another you get 0 ohm its good!

Sorry my bad english

Infinite resistance both ways would mean the diode is open, not shorted. Also, some multimeters have a diode checking setting that, typically, gives a voltage reading. If it reads around .6 to .7 volts, that is a functional forward biased diode.

Didn't know that ! Mine don't have diode checking...
Diode should only allow current in one way
But thanks for the info !

Luis
One way to test the circuit is to go form the output backwards, take your meter back to ground and red as your probe finder.. check each point going backwards until you get a voltage reading, form that point the problem is around that area....

Two check and see if you are getting a reading form your transformer output "if not", it could also be your transformer.
Now checking the diodes out of circuit is a good idea, your reading should be 0.7 volts one way and when you switch the leads you shouldn't get any reading... should read OL open circuit..

Try this and if you have any problems or want more information reach me here..

David

Hey David,

I've fixed it already ! But i think you can help me with another issue:

With another charger, an universal, 12-20V 3-4.74A, it seems to be functional but when i plugged into the laptop, it says connected but not charging, and if i have no battery attached, i turn off pc and past 2 seconds it shut down. Seems like he can't hold the 90W :s It's supposed to, i've opened it and the pcb seems to be fine, no short circuit...

Cumps!

Could you confirm:
The laptop is shutting down when you remove the battery with the charger attached ?
The power pack is set to the correct voltage;

Here's one possibility that could explain your symptoms:
The charger is slightly under-powered, but in normal operation, the battery maintains the voltage level when the laptop is drawing more power than the charger supplies. (When running processor/memory/disk intensive programs.)
But without the battery in, the voltage drop under high power conditions results in automatic shutdown.

Hey Frank,

Check and check, on charger output i'm getting 19V (oscillates between 18,5 and 19,5).

I agree with you! But i've charged my laptop with this transformer before, and i used it a few days... it seems to have poor quality (Trust brand)

Don't know what might be happening.. I think it should be components.

Another common fault: wires can become loose inside the charger power plug going into the laptop. This is due to the cable being bent many times whilst in use.
It can appear as an intermittent fault, so test the output while wiggling the plug.

Testing method for this fault: wire an LED and series resistor to a spare input socket, plug the charger into it and wiggle the plug, observe if the LED remains constant or flickers.
If this is the fault, re-wire or replace the plug.

I have also encountered a problem with wires coming loose from the input socket inside the laptop, or the input socket becoming loose from the computer's circuit board.

you should check the Fuse on the PCB. which will be the side from where AC supply enter to the charger . . . . . . . mostly fuse burned due to fluctuation in Supply . . . check it . . . and replace it if burned. . . . I hope your problem will solve by following this steps . .

The fuse is good, at least making contact with both sides.


Still don't know what might be :s