Dell 1545 - No Power & Shorting Power Supply
Dell Inspiron 1545 arrives with No Power, No Lights and short Power Supply.This unit arrived with because the customer thought it was a DC Jack repair because it was shorting out the power supply everytime it was plugged in. So it did not matter which power supply was used it would still short out.
My way was to simply separate the power panel board from the laptop and see if it was the laptop having a short or the small power board. When the small board was removed, the power supply would still short out. Looking into the jack itself, and testing from POS to NEG shows no short on meter. So tracing the path from the POS terminal on the back through the on board diode showed continuity. 
Reversing the meter's leads it shows 1 Ohm. So this tells me that the diode was shorting the unit.
Extracting the power board only took 3 screws, and not having to remove the whole motherboard made things simpler and a quick repair. Then lifting the power board and replacing the diode.
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| Boots after replacing diode |
After power board diode was replaced. To test, I simply plugged in the power supply before putting it back into the base. This would show me if the power supply was still shorting. It did not short again, so I re-installed the power board and turned on the unit. It works!
Starting the OS everything appears to be OK, except for the message that Windows did not shut down correctly the last time. This was to be expected, but everything works fine now.
hi mayo i have an HP hdx16 that dont boot a all only the hdd light keeps blinking red and the caps and num lock blink 1 time the model is hp pavillion hdx6t do u any thing about this error?? ....
ReplyDeletethank you
Hey Mayo, nice to see your blogging again,any news on the project for Hollywood stardom starring A.Dell.
ReplyDeleteChow, Mike
Mohamad: You may want to check out the SATA ports or test with another drive. I have not had my hands on a HDX6T yet so I have no clue on the insides or architecture of the unit.
ReplyDeleteMichael: It's been hectic around here. Repairing for several shops as well as creating the video, training others and travel needed in the recent months. Can't wait till this summer when I can start to relax. BTW: Hollywood is not my goal, I've lived there and would not like to go back!
Ciao
Hi mayo! i used my dell inspiron 1545 laptop without using its battery, it is directed to the charger, and then the problem occur, it did not power on anymore the time i power it on but i can charge the battery, can u please tell me the possible problem? is it the diode?
DeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI have the same exact situation with my motherinlaw's Dell 1525. Color me stupid but...where does one obtain a power board diode?
Amazon just replace the whole power board it's much easier and only cost 45dollars to do your self
DeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteI have the same problem with the power board and have spent many hours looking for the diode, by part number but have failed to find it, Your review is great and very helpful,
Darren
Hi mayo! i used my dell inspiron 1545 laptop without using its battery, it is directed to the charger, and then the problem occur, it did not power on anymore the time i power it on but i can charge the battery, can u please tell me the possible problem? is it the diode?
ReplyDeleteHi mayo! i used my dell inspiron 1545 laptop without using its battery, it is directed to the charger, and then the problem occur, it did not power on anymore the time i power it on but i can charge the battery, can u please tell me the possible problem? is it the diode?
ReplyDeleteBertJohn: Your post was nested as an reply 3x.
ReplyDeleteNo, I don't believe it would not be the diode (unless it is open). Since you had used your laptop with the adapter and those octagonal jacks are not as durable I would say that it is a DC Jack issue. Most likely the NEG terminals are not making good contact. Least expensive method is to replace Jack (~$5) then board if not capable of troubleshooting.
As stated previously- the parts numbering system has been 'Babelized' by the Chinese manufacturers, so now searching for parts by markings is a big waste of time. It is easier to get the part from another board.
Hi, would the power lights on the front of the unit light up when plugged in before you repaired the system?
ReplyDeletePete: No Lights, No Power- Nothing....
DeleteMayo great deals you produced here what you think about Dell PowerEdge 2900, is it safe or not i want some advised from you.
ReplyDeleteThanks
Hey I have this same exact problem you described with my all in on pc do you think it can be troubleshoot the same way by removing the power board and if so replacing the diode?
ReplyDeleteYou should be able to. But then again troubleshooting may not always be the same issue. Sometimes it is something else. That's why tech's use meters to determine which part is short or open. YouTube cannot make you a technician and is intended for techs to repair. I have seen a number of simple problems become scrap or worse by the inexperienced attempting something that looks simple on YouTube, but don't have any experience. Even have seen M.I.T. electronics PhD candidates that cannot solder, and have poor circuit design skills. So some things are best left to the experienced.
ReplyDelete*I have never and will never attempt brain surgury. So...
Hello - My Dell 1545 does not power on. When I plug in the AC the light on the AC goes off, which I read means there is a short in the charger board or mobo. I took the whole thing apart and have the charger board out on my desk. I plugged in the AC again and the light immediately goes out. Is that normal since its out of the computer or should the light stay on? I am trying to figure out if I need a new charger board or mobo. Thanks
ReplyDeleteHow to check to see where the problem is:
Delete1: with the board disassembled disconnect the DC Board(Power in) from the main motherboard. (2 small screws)
2: Plug the power supply into the small DC board. (not connected to the motherboard) and it still shuts off the power supply the DC board is bad. Usually the diode or the jack is bad. Those octogonal jacks do fail and break. If the power supply still shuts off it is the DC board and not the main board. Boards are relatively inexpensive. ~$18 US
Don't forget if you do solve - Let me know and don't forget to donate.
A question card voltage power supplies usb 5v?
ReplyDeletehello- in my case everything is same except when i plug charger in dc board it is not shortened but when i plug dc board in motherboard then its shortened
ReplyDeletehello- in my case everything is same except when i plug charger in dc board it is not shortened but when i plug dc board in motherboard then its shortened
ReplyDeleteThen diodes on the DC board is shorted - See answer above to Peter Conti.
DeleteThey are only $8 USD. But not really worth the time to repair. If the problem still exists, it will be the MOSFETs on the main board.
Even- in my case everything is same except when i plug charger in dc board it is not shorted but when i plug dc board in to the motherboard then its shorted.
ReplyDeleteKindly help me some one what could be the problem
I replaced the DC board on my 1545 and it still won't power up or charge the battery. I'm having to charge my battery in a different computer. The laptop I want to use will run fine on a battery. Don't know what else to do.
ReplyDeletePlease do not repeatedly post same items. I usually don't reply because I have stopped blogging.
DeleteI have stopped posting to the blog because of another venture. But the problem may also be in the charge circuit. This post problem was directly related to the DC jack being shorted. You may want to check the MOSFETS in the area of the battery's charge pins. There should be 2 directly responsible. (On the top side of the motherboard)
ReplyDelete