Trying to pin down a power problem

Hey Guys and Gals,

I am the proud owner of a thinkpad R40. I will say this laptop has giving me a smooth transition from being a desktop only person to laptop only... however I am now having issues with my power that has me scratching my head.

The main issue is, I cant get a stable battery charge. I have noticed with my computer off and the power cord in.. my battery light will go on and off like it has a intermitten open. If I press the power jack firmly into the receptical.. it will charge.. however it will get so hot that I smell burning plastic. ~as I do now~ .. Also if it happens to charge normally.. I have noticed a faint squeal noise comming from the area of the power jack (at the laptop).

The variables I think im dealing with are either a bad tip, a bad solder joint on the power receptical(computer side) or maybe the fact that my battery has just turned over 350 cycles on it. My question to you guys is how can I rule each other out?

I do plan on replacing the battery as it is down to 38Wh from 57Wh and Im not certain if the batteries internal circuits is ~telling me~ that it needs to be replaced.

I was starting to have doubts to the quality of targus parts [my power charger is a targus ] as I have had the internal wires inside of the power cord wear out on me. So it could be an interal problem of the interchangable tip.

I dont have another power adapter to plug into the laptop to see if it exbhits the same traits.

While I have no problems turning my laptop back in to lenovo for warranty repairs(if its the thinkpad)...bu I am about to finish up a quarter in school and really need this box here..... even if its being held together with duct tape.

Anyone have similar issues now or in the past?

TIA,

FB

~sees a reason to buy a z60m~ :buyIBM:

 

Hmm... could be a problem with the power connector (resolder it), or a problem with the adaptor.

IIRC, your model uses the 72w adaptor - just get an IBM-branded ThinkPad 72W AC adaptor off of eBay for $10 or $20, and it'll work.

 

there is a chance I got ahead of myself... im finding conflicting info.... will this work with my r40?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6814101144&rd=1&sspagename=STRK:MEWN:IT&rd=1

thanks

 

Might want to try cleaning the contacts. The IBM part number for your adapter is 02K6699. Try searching google or ebay for that.

 

FWIW, my adaptor, which has the same rating as 02K6699, is 02K6669. (02K6699 is specced for the X20 series, which I have - dead giveaway that it's compatible...)

It's slightly more evil, and may or may not be cheaper

I have powered an R50e off of my 02K6669, and my laptop off of an 02K6699.

The difference appears to be that 02K6669 has some plastic thing around the edge that makes it easy to wind the cord around the adaptor. However, a new 02K6699 will be easier to come by, as IBM still sells that one.

 

ok.... my new charger came in,it looks like it is the power jack on the back of the thinkpad. One thing that I am noticing that while it wont charge unless pressed in... the battery does hold at its present charge level. With my targus unit, the battery would deplete itself down to 0 percent .. then... the batt led at the bottem of the display would flash.. giving me only seconds before total loss of power.. I will try to clean the contacts of the power jack as it does look bad.. and if that doesnt work... its going back to lenovo.

FB