How To Fix Broken Laptop Charger Tip

In this day and age, it is highly unlikely to find anyone who doesn’t use portable electrical gadgets such as laptops, smartphones, tablets, etc.

If you happen to be the owner of a laptop, it is inevitable that its charger will end up fraying sooner or later. And a damaged charger means ineffective or no charging of this vital piece of tech, something which no one can afford.

If your laptop’s charger tip gets broken in any way, it doesn’t necessarily mean the end of the world. We are thus about to share how to fix a broken charger tip of your laptop conveniently so that you no longer have to miss out on making the most of your precious device.

How To Fix Broken Laptop Charger Tip

The charger tip of your laptop’s charger is basically the pin you insert into your device’s charging port. When it’s broken, fixing it up is easier and more cost-effective than getting an entirely new charger.

In order to fix up the broken tip, all you need is listed below

• An anti-cutter
• Heat shrink tubings for insulating the wires – one large and two smaller. Insulating tapes work too
• Soldering tools
• Hairdryer if you’re using heat-shrink tubings

If your charger tip isn’t working, chances are, that the connections inside the tip have come loose or got disconnected. Follow the steps below to reattach them, or replace it with a new pin just to be sure by following the steps below.

1. Cut The Damaged Pin

Make sure that the charger is not plugged into any outlet. Cut off the damaged pin from the cable and discard it.

2. Expose The Wires Carefully

• Slice the cable lengthwise carefully, just enough to expose the wires underneath. Make sure you slit just the rubber cable casing.
• You’ll find two separate wires inside, one positive and the other negative.

The outer thin wires make up the negative connection while the inner cable is at the center with its own rubber sleeve.

• Since the negative wires fray easily, carefully unwind them and twist them all together. You now have two separate exposed wires.Don’t panic if some of the negative wires break off and create a mess.
• Slice off the top of the rubber sleeve of the positive wire to expose the internal wires.

3. Solder And Insulate

• Place the larger tubing under the two separate wires and the two smaller ones on your newly separated positive and negative wires. This is optional but ensures enhanced durability.
• Identify the positive and negative pins/wires of the charging tip. Confirm from its manufacturer which is which. The wires may be color-coded too.
• Solder the positive wire with the positive connection of the pin and the negative with the negative. Soldering is the joining of the metal wires using an alloy called solder.
• Now bring up the heat shrink tubings of the positive and negative wires to cover the connections and use a hairdryer at the highest setting to shrink it for securing the connection. Electrical tape works too.
• Repeat the process by covering the two wires into one with the larger tubing we placed earlier. Again, electrical tape is fine too. Just bring the whole thing together and you’re all set.

How To Fix A Laptop Charger Port

If the problem lies in the charging port of your laptop, that can be fixed up too. For a severe degree of damage to the port, you’d need a screwdriver and prongs.

Once you have those, turn off and unplug the laptop, remove the battery if necessary, and try to reset the connectors in the port back to their original positions.

If the problem is too complex, then the laptop needs to be disassembled, which is a task that should be left to the professionals. Contact your manufacturer or a certified and reliable repair shop to get your laptop port fixed.

How To Fix A Laptop Charger With Exposed Wires

1. Sugru

This is a moldable glue that is kind of like play-doh, but better. Once dried, it is semi-hard, and hence, is durable, while ensuring flexibility in the natural movement of the cable/wires. Depending on the degree of exposure, buy single-use packets as many as you need.

• Clean the exposed wire area with a microfiber cloth.
• Take enough of the Sugru in your hands and warm it up by rubbing it with your hands for around 30 seconds.
• Once it’s soft and more pliable, roll it into a rectangle.
• Wrap it around the exposed wires and smoothen it out with your fingers.
• Leave it for at least 24 hours to harden and you’re good to go.

2. Electrical Tape

This is a great fix for when the exposure is minor and it effectively covers up exposed wires safely and instantly. Just wind the tape over the damaged area tightly to secure it firmly. Wind at the top and bottom of the affected area 4-5 times so that the tape doesn’t come off easily.

3. Heat-Shrink Tubes

We discussed the use of heat-shrink tubes at the beginning of the article when fixing up the laptop charger pin, remember?

These are basically tubings of a sort of plastic that shrink when heat is applied. It is one of the best solutions to go for as it covers the wires far more securely and is more durable.

• Choose the diameter of the tube depending on the diameter of your cable in the ratio of 2:1. The diameter of the tubing must be double the diameter of the cable.
• The length of the cable must also be twice as long as the length of the exposed wires.
• Cut the tubing out accordingly and place it over the damaged area.
• Use a hairdryer or any form of indirect heat source to heat up the tubing from a safe distance to shrink the tubing for secure attachment.

Assessments To Make Before Fiddling With The Laptop Or Its Charger

Make the following assessments and try other methods out before deciding to fix your laptop charger as the problem may lie elsewhere.

• Some outlets have separate switches for turning on the power outlet. Ensure it is turned on.
• Ensure proper connection of cables and try reconnecting them.
• Try restarting your laptop and check if it charges after that.
• Check if the charger lights are illuminating or blinking.
• Try charging from another outlet.
• Try a different charger to check if the problem really lies in your laptop charger.
• Check for any faulty fuses associated with the power outlet you are using.
• Check if the laptop battery needs to be changed.
• Try cleaning the charging ports.

Precautions To Maintain

• When fixing your laptop charger or the laptop itself, ensure they are disconnected from any power source and turned off.
• Never used open flames to shrink heat-shrink tubings.
• Never use duct tapes to insulate or cover exposed wires.
• For extensive damages, seek professional help or buy a new charger.

Conclusion

There are several defects or issues that end up causing your laptop charger to get damaged. But thankfully, most of the minor ones can be fixed up on your own without needing any overly-fancy tools. Now that you know how to fix broken laptop charger tip and more, your life will hopefully no longer have to come to a halt when your charger fails to deliver. Even if gets a little faulty, you can be your own mechanic and fix it up by yourself in no time!