Dell Inspiron 1501 AC Adapter error message
The Dell 1501 ac adapter (possibly other Dell’s as well) has
been known to be problematic because of its lack of a plug to jack secure
fit. You will notice that the plug can
all too easily be pulled from the jack, as opposed to other systems where the
plug fits more securely onto the jack.
The plug and jack combination is poorly designed so that over time, the
plug will come unseated depending on how much movement the machine is subjected
to. This will result in power error
messages or outright power-up failure. So before assuming you have a faulty
adapter, make sure that it is not just a loose plug that is causing the
problem. If you look inside the jack,
you will notice that there is a 3mm region of non-conductive material nearest
the surface of the jack. Use a strip of standard electrical tape 3mm wide and
long enough and wrap it around the base of the plug (you may need more than one
layer of tape to get a good fit). I
have used this method to secure my plug and it has served me well. If the tape
comes undone over time, just simply replace it. A more “elegant” method would be to use an “O” ring of the
appropriate size (about 6mm) around the base of the plug in lieu of the tape.
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