pa-9 three prong power adapter

Question

Hi everyone, I have an Inspiron 5100 and I have lost power to the laptop. I am trying to determine if my failure is with the ac adapter, cable, or male adapter on MB. Does anyone have the pinouts for the pa-9 three prong adapter? I need to determine which prong is positive, neg, and ground. Or if possible can someone hook up a multimeter and take a look at their working adapter?

Thanks,
Tommy

AussieChris · Answer

Hi,

The output is 1 + and 2 - around 20 volts. The 2nd neg. pin is to tell the MBD that a 90 watt adapter is plugged in. The PA6 did not have this pin connected.

Regards Chris

DCookies · Answer

Hi Tremmert,

I have 3 PA-6's which have the same 3 pin connector and use one of these with my Latitude C640 and another with my Latitude CPi D300XT. When I have my C640 in a docking station, it says it wants the PA-9 so I am getting one. I have just checked two of the PA-6 connectors with a volt meter and my results are different than those posted by AussieChris.

My "male" connector is labeled as follows: Pin 1 is at the top, Pin 3 is to the left and Pin 2 is to the right when viewed from the end that goes into the laptop; obviously left and right would flip when viewing the "female" connector in the laptop or docking station. I have 3 of these PA-6's and all the connectors are labeled the same.

I get Pin 1 to be - and Pin 3 to be + with Pin 2 apparently disconnected at least I read 0 between Pin 2 and Pin 1 and 0 between Pin 2 and Pin 3 ... Note this is the PA-6 NOT the PA-9. Given the ability to use the PA-9 and the PA-6 with the C640, I don't see how the pin outs could change relative to + and -.

I also get something close to 20v DC which is what the output spec is.

My PA-9 is arriving today and I will make another post after I get a chance to see what the 3rd pin (Pin 2) does there.

Dave

DCookies · Answer

Hi,

I just got a PA-9 as a replacement for a recalled PA-6; beat my PA-9 from an E-Bay auction which should be here later today.

The "male" PA-9 plug is pin labeled the same as the PA-6; no surprise here.

I get Pin 1 as - and Pins 3 as + as on the PA-6. Pin 2 on the PA-9 is - with respect to Pin 3. I read about 20v DC 3 to 1 and 3 to 2.

Dave

AussieChris · Answer

Hi,

I may not have made it clear, I meant the number of pins, ie there are 2 negative and 1 positive on the PA9 the PA6 has one pin left out.

Regards Chris

rambiss · Answer

Hi DCookies My PA-9 has two foam strips at the bottom and there are no screws under them.  There do not appear to be any screws under the label which covers rest of the bottom.  This is a unit made in Thailand and from the weight I guessed it was a transformer block as I did not expect a converter to be so heavy.  The only thing I did not try yet is to pry it apart at the seam which wraps around the entire perimeter.   Any suggestions? Rambiss

rambiss · Answer

I also have a similar problem with my PA-9.  It is intermittent.  By flexing the output cable I determined that the problem is a broken wire at the stress reliever where it exits the transformer block.  You might want to try that.  When I hold the cable in acertain position the computer returns to AC power.  The way this thing is built the stress reliever is unsuitable for the function required of it.  There does not appear to be a way to open the transformer block to repair the wire.  I think I am struck to buy another one.   Regards Rambiss

DCookies · Answer

Hi Rambiss,

Don't give up yet. I have had mine open ... at least a PA-6 and added a 2nd cord to a cigar lighter so that I can plug in my GPS when at home.

This is NOT a transformer ... the PA-6 and PA-9 are power supplies that convert 110 or 220 AC to 20V DC.

To get inside, just pull up the rubber pads at both ends on the bottom ... if I remember correctly there are 4 screws, 2 at each end ... else there are only 2 screws, 1 at each end.

Failure of the strain relief is a BIG problem on the smaller power transformers especially those with large gage (thin/small diameter wires) and most of these are made to NOT come apart

DCookies · Answer

Hi Rambiss,

So sorry. I just took the foam pads off a newer PA-6 that was handy and it is the same way. The PA-6 that I had modified was an older one with only a 2 prong AC power cord ... I guess I got lucky. I wonder if they still have a user replaceable fuse that mounts in clips inside:-)

I would still not give up. The results may not look pretty cosmetically. I have managed to break into some of the smaller power bricks (everything has them these days ... I think I am batting about .500 relative to whether the plastic case survives and these look like they are heavy enough plastic that they should.

I am assuming that you know how to solder, etc. so that once you are inside, cutting the wire a little shorter, figuring out a replacement strain relief, etc.
is something that you think you can handle ... right ... and of course, unplug it from the AC before doing this:-)

The biggest part of the problem is guessing whether it is the top or the bottom of the case that has the lip attached to it and thus whether the glue joint is between the lip and the bottom or the lip and the top ... I hope you gather what I mean. Once you make the guess/choice, I run a sharp knife blade around and around with quite a lot of pressure and gradually cut/break the glue joint.

When you put it back together, you also have a choice ... super glue because you know you will never have to open it up again ... other glues or techniques because you just know you will need to break into it again.

Good luck

rambiss · Answer

Hi DCookies Thank you for the suggestions and I'm OK with breaking it open and soldering.  I have also done a few smaller ones before and the results were always ugly. I'll give it a shot

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pa-9 three prong power adapter

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