Who is any good at fixing a laptop power adaptor in the Wellington area?

[merv]

OK here's what happened. My daughter has an Acer laptop purchased from Dick Smiths almost 3 years ago. Being a student she was used to using the floor storage system and the power adaptor cord where it plugged into the back of the laptop got stood on and it wrecked the plug - you know one of those moulded on types.

So while the laptop was on a five year extended warranty that kind of damage wasn't covered so muggins bought her a new power adaptor from Dick Smiths - it wasn't an OEM they had but a similar rated one - its 19V 4.74amp.

Then she had some problems with the laptop which they repaired through the Christchurch branch under warranty but they gave her back a different power adaptor claiming the other was no good - but I am sure it was rated OK - so in effect they took the one I paid good money for.

Now the power adaptor they gave her has clapped out and they claim to have ordered another one in ChCh - two months later no sign of it and she is getting frustrated with them after constantly chasing them when they had promised it in 3 weeks.

So I am wondering would someone with a bit of electronics skill be able to just solder us on a new plug to the old adaptor I still have here in Wellington? - its the plug that plugs into the laptop - you know the type that goes over a small centre peg and has the other pole on its outer case. I guess you couldn't do it moulded OEM style.

She'll be home for Xmas and could take it back with her, failing that I may as well and try source a new one here as the shop is being downright useless. How difficult is it to source the correct power adaptor?

Any one able to help would be greatly appreciated.

[Mully]

Mate we had the same problem. Miss Mully is a geek herself and did the soldering, but the fixes only lasted a week at a time.

In the end we sucked it up and bought one on Tardme for $50.

[Colapop]

I could fix it so it really doesn't work...

[merv]

I could fix it so it really doesn't work...

Ta thanks, and how much would that cost me?

[Colapop]

FREE!! And you could claim it on insurance...

[merv]

OK Col ya squeezed me so I've taken Mully's advice and bought one on TradeMe and they're still going for $50 delivered on buy now price which is about 1/3 of what Dick Smiths charge so even if daughter does still get one finally from them under warranty (given they supplied the latest one under warranty they should supply a replacement) it won't hurt if she ends up with two.

[scracha]

For future reference try www.techstarnz.com as they seem to import laptop power adapters at very good prices.

[dasser]

Merv,
I'll take a look at it for you.
send me a PM.
dasser.

[Dave-]

goto jaycar, buy the right plug, strip the wire, solder new one on, heat shrink it, whallah.

I recommend anyone with a working laptop AC adaptor does this just for fun.

[Drum]

Jebus Merv. We must have half a dozen of these lying around at work. I'll give you one if you go for a ride with me.