So, I've got a massive laptop, and it requires a ton of juice. The power supply is rated at 7.89A @ 19V. I'm on my third power supply in as many years, because I travel with this thing everywhere, and the only AC adapter has a serious design problem.
The AC cable has a socket, and can disconnect, but the DC side is just a cable running directly in to the box. After a few weeks of being coiled and placed in the laptop bag, the torque on the cable builds up to the point where the strain relief cracks. It's a coaxial power cable, and after the strain relief goes, it's only a matter of time until the outer conductor is broken.
Right now, it's sitting on my desk, functioning, and only very occasionally emitting snapping noises and ominous smells. (No, I will not leave it plugged in unattended.) I have purchased another, but I would like to repair, and perhaps improve, this one.
So, my questions are these:
The current construction seems like the outer conductor is just gathered in to a bit of shrink tube and soldered in place. The inner conductor is just soldered directly. I think I can cut the DC power cable and replicate this on my own, and it should work. Is this a correct assumption?
As an improvement, I would like to place a socket in DC side so that this does not happen again. However, I've gone through the Mouser.com catalog, and I can't seem to find a power socket that is rated for the rather large requirements of this system. (19V, 7.89A) Obviously, such sockets must exist, because there is one on the end of the cable that plugs in to the laptop. Can someone point me in the correct direction, or is there something I'm missing about the power rating?
Thank you very much for any assistance.
The AC cable has a socket, and can disconnect, but the DC side is just a cable running directly in to the box. After a few weeks of being coiled and placed in the laptop bag, the torque on the cable builds up to the point where the strain relief cracks. It's a coaxial power cable, and after the strain relief goes, it's only a matter of time until the outer conductor is broken.
Right now, it's sitting on my desk, functioning, and only very occasionally emitting snapping noises and ominous smells. (No, I will not leave it plugged in unattended.) I have purchased another, but I would like to repair, and perhaps improve, this one.
So, my questions are these:
The current construction seems like the outer conductor is just gathered in to a bit of shrink tube and soldered in place. The inner conductor is just soldered directly. I think I can cut the DC power cable and replicate this on my own, and it should work. Is this a correct assumption?
As an improvement, I would like to place a socket in DC side so that this does not happen again. However, I've gone through the Mouser.com catalog, and I can't seem to find a power socket that is rated for the rather large requirements of this system. (19V, 7.89A) Obviously, such sockets must exist, because there is one on the end of the cable that plugs in to the laptop. Can someone point me in the correct direction, or is there something I'm missing about the power rating?
Thank you very much for any assistance.