I got a Dell latitude D510 2nd hand in August to use for imaging for 500 Euro.
It's a grand basic unit but now it wont charge off the mains.
I had a quick search on the net and it seems both the Latitude & Inspiron
have the same issue.
The units have a badly designed cooling system which (in short)
causes various problems.
The power connector makes a poor connection with the Latitude D510 jack.
This causes arcing which can generate enough heat to melt the Latitude D510 dc jack and the power pin may become lose.

I'm just wondering has anyone else had anything similar happen?

I sent my unit to a repair shop and they re-seated the point but it still will
not charge (at a cost of 50 Euro)
The only way now the tell me to repair it is to replace the motherboard
(which I'm not too keen on doing as they cost around 200 euro)
Would I be better off buying a new one?.....

I got a Dell latitude D510 2nd hand in August to use for imaging for 500 Euro.
It's a grand basic unit but now it wont charge off the mains.
I had a quick search on the net and it seems both the Latitude & Inspiron
have the same issue.
The units have a badly designed cooling system which (in short)
causes various problems.
The power connector makes a poor connection with the Latitude D510 jack.
This causes arcing which can generate enough heat to melt the Latitude D510 dc jack and the power pin may become lose.

I'm just wondering has anyone else had anything similar happen?

I sent my unit to a repair shop and they re-seated the point but it still will
not charge (at a cost of 50 Euro)
The only way now the tell me to repair it is to replace the motherboard
(which I'm not too keen on doing as they cost around 200 euro)
Would I be better off buying a new one?.....

Yes, laptops don't repair well AT ALL.

At this stage you'd just be sending good money after bad. If you pick up a cheap laptop for 500, you can't really expect it to last, you just use them as long they hold together and then replace them. You can be lucky or not with them!

Bart.

Frank,
Seems like you once again have the touch of death :wink:
Barts right, if they go, they're basically gone unless you can fix it yourself.

If you think you can solder, it might be worth while re-soldering the power connector or getting a new one out of maplin, if its a standard one.

I got a lidl laptop 3 years ago, it was lightening fast (AMD 1800+) back then and still does a good job with the new registax and never gave me any serious trouble, but I'd never buy any laptop again, if they go wrong its very difficult to fix and their components are not upgradable like a desktop.

BTW, with the help of some cooking fat, I could fry eggs with the bottom of my laptop, so I got a fan unit from maplin to keep it cool, its like a flat rectangle with fans. I got a heatsink for the power supply which gets so hot I used it to keep my cup of tea roasting.

Another alternative is a docking station. These have their own mains connection and provide power directly to the laptop.

They are expensive to buy from Dell, but you may be lucky with e-bay.

Regards,
Brian.

Another alternative is a docking station. These have their own mains connection and provide power directly to the laptop.

What's that you say? You don't mean an external battery of sorts do you?

Most docking station are usually powered off the mains, so its a nifty way of using the laptop, if you're willing to fork out for it.

Frank,
Seems like you once again have the touch of death :wink:

Same run of bad luck,
First the Laptop, then the New Canon (now repaired) & then the LXD75!

This docking station sounds like the job.
as long as it recharges the battery while docked it'd be perfect.

Anyone know if the docking stations do this?

Anyone know if the docking stations do this?

99% sure they do.

Bart.

All docking stations I have ever used recharge the battery...

Yip it does!
Just found the user manual on the web.

I rang dell an they were about as helpful as a
a hole in the head.

It's hella cheaper than a new motherboard repair - 150 Euro from Dell Direct.

Fingers X'd!!!!!

Thanks everyone!