A PROBABLE solution to ADAPTER problems - Inspiron 8600 and maybe others

I recently read a blog about a very fustrated Dell consumer, whose laptop refused to work due to docking problems. But that wasn't the main point of interest, the more disturbing thing was the amount of COMMENTS the guy had received from as-fustrated Dell customers all over the place. And in the middle of all those comments, a shining beacon of light in the name of a Darrin (god bless you, whoever you are) came with a very probable solution to this adapter-melting unchargable-battery fused-out-motherboard problem of ours. He was fixing his girlfriends laptop when he came across this. What a great guy!!!

Here are parts of the first comment he made on the blog:

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I SUGGEST THAT ALL OF YOU WHO ARE HAVING ISSUES DO THIS: look at the bottom sticker, the one with the DELL logo, www.dell.com, FOR USE WITH ADAPTER PA-10 or PA-12. Look at the amperage requirement. The label on my girlfriend's computer says 4.62A. Her Inspiron 8600 requires 4.62A in order to properly function. A 4.62A requirement equates to 90W of power. Now compare the amperage rating on your computer to the Output amperage rating on your AC Adapter. The adapter that Dell shipped with this computer WAS ONLY 3.34A, and 65W. DELL SENT THE WRONG AC ADAPTER!!! This explains why the first adapter went bad, why the battery went bad, and probably why a lot of you are having the same problems. The adapter is not providing enough power to the computer, and in the meantime the computer is trying to pull that power from the adapter, straining it to the point of destruction.

If you have Dell Part Number 5U092, the 3.34A 65W adapter (the same one that came with my girlfriend's 8600), check your computer to see if it requires 4.62A (the 90W adapter). I found 2 Dell AC adapters that output 4.62A: P/N: 7W104 and P/N: 9T215. Maybe one of these adapters is what you need.
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Later on the comments list, he can, with a glad note, tell that everything runs in tiptop condition now that he has had his adapter changed. I think he even made Dell send him a new adapter and battery, after making Dell understand that THIS IS NOT A WARRANTY-ISSUE. This was a MISTAKE made from Dell's side, and to prevent further agitation amongst their customers and technicians alike, someone should look into this problem ASAP. I've sent an email to my local Dell site (Norway) and I expect a reply soon. Luckily nothing has happened to my laptop as yet, but I am NOT going to sit around here, waiting for the unspeakable to happen. I really love my laptop, it is one of my dearest possessions, and my entire life is on it. It is perhaps dangerous to say so, but if Dell refuses to provide me with the correct adapter free of extra cost, I will go out and buy the stupid adapter myself, and I will tell absolutely everybody I meet who is looking for a laptop to forget about Dell, since their follow-up service on customers is non-existant.

Here is the link to the blog:
http://geekswithblogs.net/jjulian/archive/2004/12/09/17171.aspx

I got seriously scared, reading about all those people with problems, likewise here on the forum aswell. My laptop was running fine, but I checked the info and all, and it is indeed what Darrin said; the output of my adapter is lower than what the laptop needs. I think Dell consciously chose an adapter with lower ampere, but I am suspicious of if it was right or not.

If there are any important DELL-people reading this: I hope you guys will do something about this soon. There are thousands of people out there who have bought your product, we expect things to be working in good condition when it arrives. There are many people out there who feel tricked, scammed and hussled in all directions - backwards, forwards and diagonally. I wish you guys would pay attention to the bad vibes you got out there. What happened with the service you're supposed to be selling them? Even though you guys don't have official stores around, doesn't mean you can back out of the customer-service part. In fact, you should pay even more attention to that, since you have no physical location for people to go. We as consumers feel we're talking to walls sometimes when we want to enquire about our expensive equipment.

By the way, is this forum manned at all? I read in the other post that Dell people rarely read the forums. And she got it from a Dell guy over the phone. That's nice to hear, have you guys closed off more ways in connecting with you people?

I hope everybody's problems will be solved. And I really do love my laptop. And just like anything else I love, I want my laptop to be happy. I hope people will realise this - we just want our laptops running in good condition. That is all.

Message Edited by Akilah on 08-25-2005 02:16 AM