CF-52 motherboard inverter connection

Terrible week so far. Ruined two CF-52 motherboards while trying to replace LCDs (my own stock, not customer machines - thank god). I know the problem, but would like to know if there is a fix. The problem is that when I went to plug the inverter back into the motherboard connector, I bent a pin. And even though I was able to straighten the pin, and was able get the plug to connect, something else happened to that connection that now, even though everything is back together correctly, the LCD will not light. The image is there, but it won't light up. I tried a second LCD, known to be good, that would not light either. So the problem is not the inverter itself, but rather something related to where the inverter plugs into the mobo. The pin that bent, in each of the instances, was the last (8th) pin closest to the back of the laptop. It touched the 7th pin

Conclusion is that either;
1.) While straightening the pin, I broke a solder joint, or
2.) While straightening the pin, and because I touched adjacent pin(s) that something shorted out, or
3.) I can't recall with certainty, but I suspect, in at least one of the 2 instances, and maybe both, that I tried to power on the machine before I realized the inverter connection was not full and proper. For sure two pins were touching each other in that (those) instances.

I suspect this has happened to others, the connector is not easy to get to and consequently, it is easy to begin inserting the plug into the connector with a slight tilt which causes the plug to go into the connector at an angle which catches the pin and bends it as you push the plug further into the connector.

Note: I have worked on hundereds, maybe thousands of laptops, so please no words of advice on proper power mangement. I understand those risks and maybe that would have helped if the problem is a short, but it would not have helped if the problem is a broken solder joint.

Second note: I have many CF-51 machines that when changing LCDs resulted in images that would not light. No bent pins there, and proper power management was observed, but am fairly certain that the video cable connection was breaking a motherboard solder joint when trying to lift the cable connector from the motherboard. Got to the point where I refused to lift that connector, and instead totally disassembled the LCD cover to disconnect the video cable from the broken LCD at the LCD instead of at the mobo. Problem with that technique is that it almost always resulted in a broken bezel, the CF-51 bezel cracks so easily.

Any ideas...Anyone?

Thanks, Joe

 

F 2, 4, 5, 7, 8 S K5H202Z00005 FUSE, 2A, 32V 5
F 3, 6, 9 S K5H402Z00003 FUSE, 4A, 32V 3
F 1000 S K5H153A00001 FUSE, 15A, 65V 1
F 1001, 1002 S K5H123Y00001 FUSE, 12A, 65V 2

from the online manual's parts list.
I'm sure you know what they look like as well as I do
Good luck with them.

 

normally I would think it is number 2. But pin 7 is close to and pin 8 is Ground.... ^^

had u checked the fuses around the connector (F2, F3, F4 and similar white things ) ?

Edit: Uncle Mack was faster

 

Thanks Uncle Mack and Onirakkiss (looks like Shawn too). This information will take me to another level of diagnosis and repair, but that would be the natural progression of professional growth, I guess it is time for me to go there. Thanks for the push.

 

Component-level repair can certainly increase your income but I found I had to force myself to keep a close eye on the clock.
Very easy to become so engrossed in what you're doing that you save the price of a $50 board at the cost of a whole morning's work.
If it were a hobby that would be very satisfying - but to feed your family you need to be ruthless with your time management.
Most people don't need to be told that time is money but the concentration necessary for this work can divert a person from running the business efficiently

 

I've had this problem all my life. I would spend 5 hrs trying to repair a $50.00 lawn mower when I worked at the mower shop.

 

Yeah, been there!
Sometimes it's an unmitigated waste of time because you've learned nothing.
Sometimes you might learn something that will come in handy, possibly months later.
Sometimes it results in a fix nobody else knows. You become the go-to guy and until someone else figures it out you can do very well.
I never was bored though

 

I figured I was just too dumb to know when to stop.

Nah, It's more of a determination type of thing. I KNOW I can make it work. I enjoy the challenge. This is a great attitude for a hobby, but needs to be watched when it's for a customer.