Product enhancement for Dell power adapter

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5855

Product enhancement for Dell power adapter

5855 points posted to Laptop Power by gbrugman 02/21/07

For your information: daily winding and unwinding the notebook connecting cord, will eventually cause the cable shield and isolation to tear down, just outside the housing. It happened to many Dell notebook cords at work, causing the power flow to stop or, even worse, to short-circuit.

The cord at the other end of the AC wall mount doesn't have this problem because this cord already points at the right angle. So as to avoid said problem in the future, both cords should leave the housing in the proper winding-angle: problem solved.

I hope to have been of help, because I think it's a shame that a minor cord problem makes it this risky to work with an otherwise good product. It seems easy enough to remedy. :-)

evilspell 02/27/07	Merged Idea originally posted 02/16/07 NEW POWER ADAPTER FOR LAPTOPS Please get rid of that huge brick of a power supply put the brick at the end that plugs into the wall like APPLE DOES!!
i_own_dell 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/17/07 no need to post in multiple categories...though i like the idea and promote it as well....
matt 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/19/07 Agreed
barius 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/19/07 Please no! It's hard enough to find space for all the cabling and bricks sitting around my power outlets as is. How about a real solution like moving the brick inside the computer??
pboyd04 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/19/07 Oh Please no. Try charging a Dell and any other brand (including Apple) the Dell charges about 3 times faster.
jadith 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/20/07 All over the forums is stories of the E1705 giving out a charge from not being properly grounded. See http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?p=1030636265. Anywyas i think all the adapters should by default be 3 prong
krisp 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/20/07 Please stay away from the plug blockers!
keylime 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/20/07 There should be a cord from the powerbrick to the wall outlet so you aren't blocked by something else and you don't create a blockage with the brick. The cord from the wall outlet to the powerbrick should be about 3' long so the brick can sit on the floor or on the desk. The cord from the brick to the laptop should be about 6' long so the user has some freedom of location. The connector to the laptop should be designed so tripping over the cord neither breaks the connector/socket nor yanks the laptop off the desk. The cords should either retract into the brick or the brick should have clips for cable management. The same powerbrick and cables should work on all models of laptops. Putting the brick inside workstation laptops (desktop replacement) with a smaller internal battery as a 30 minute UPS is a good idea. In this case, the cord should be about 10' long with integrated cable management clips for when the cord is packed for travel.
timc 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/21/07 No. Not like the Apple. I've seen Apple users try to recharge in the airport and they spend 5 minutes balancing it in the outlet so it doesn't fall out. So how is the next guy supposed to plug another brick into the 2nd outlet? Besides, Dell DOES offer a smaller, cordless plug that fits into the brick if you really want to do that.
jasclar 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/21/07 Please don't do this! There are plenty of offices with underfloor structured cabling where mains sockets are in covered hatches and there simply is not the clearance to place a "wall wart" (especially not one like Apple's) and close the hatch lid without crushing the adapter.
motie35 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/21/07 Ditto to keylime
sheridanw 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/22/07 Bad idea.
oa_imagination 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/22/07 The Apple brick has an interchangeable prong -- you can use the 2-prong attachment or slide it off and use the 3-prong attachment (which is at the end of a 6-foot cord, just like every other power brick). I've heard that there have been a few problems with the MagSafe power connector (http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=302461) but I have a MacBook Pro and haven't had a single connector problem. BTW, I also have a Dell Latitude D600.
krusher_00 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/22/07 I vote bad idea as these wall blocks can damage the point, drop out when loose and stop other appliances from sitting in a socket next to it.
chrislilley 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/23/07 So that it takes up all the available room on a multi-outlet strip, and wobbles around dangerously if you use a power adapter for a different country. no thanks. Please continue to supply a power brick witha separate mains lead. Also, offer mains leads for other countries (I would prefer to be able to buy a US/Japan, a Euro, and a UK lead at the time of ordering)
impala 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/23/07 BOO! HISS!!! DEMOTE! DEMOTE! I hate wall warts! Dell has a good power adapter design for the Latitudes. It's designed to wind BOTH the AC and DC cables. I've not seen any other that does that. You could improve it by making the DC cord come out along the body of the brick, the same way the AC cord exits with it's 180 degree plug. This would make it easier and more compact to wind the cable. It would probably protect it more. I do love the Apple MagSafe connection. I'm very glad you've gone back to the 2 prong AC adapter. No reason an AC/DC adapter needs to be 3 prong case ground and the ground just adds bulk and weight.
mijunkin 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/23/07 This is a horrible idea. I have multilple computers and multiple peripherals, all with their own plugs, and most of them with big clunky plugs. I either have to spend more money on cord extensions, or just deal with less outlets. And yes, the apple version is junk. It's hard to get it to stay in the outlet, and it takes forever to charge (which may be the battery or the power management in macs...). So, no, bad idea. BELETED
learn2see 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/23/07 I agree with those who dislike outlet blockers. I'd rather have a normal size plug that I can easily insert into any outlet. However, it would be nice to have an easy way to stow the cables when you pack it all up. I hate having to fold up the cables, and then wrap everything up with a little strap to hold it in place. Some sort of cable winder would be nice.
theplaz 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/23/07 I like the current dell adapters. The winding design works well and I love that they are standardized. Please don't make wall hogs. Only thing is I dislike the 3rd prong. But do make the other thing come out at a right angle. Just keep it compatible with current adapters.
pest_789 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/24/07 The dell power brick is perfect the way it is, with cords on both the input and output sides. HOWEVER, it should use a standard PC power connector on the input side instead of the goofy non-standard three circles connector so I can leave the AC cord at home with confidence that I'll be able to find a regular cord wherever I wind up. I also LOVE the idea of Apple's where the DC side is attached to the machine magnetically so it can never be pulled to its death if someone trips over the cord.
btaryag 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/24/07 No to plugs that use TWO slots. Say no to wall hoggers and keep the brick where it is. But do get rid of the 3 prongs, two is fine!
thirty2bit 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/24/07 NO - lousy idea! Big wall warts block other outlets. Dell's current brick is easily hidden behind things and easy to tack underneath desk (by wire ties, velcro, etc). Bad idea!!!
andrewmilnermobile 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/24/07 NO WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This takes up more power outlets. In-line DC converter is better idea; keep it how it is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
wmealing 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/25/07 But do get rid of the 3 prongs, two is fine! > Please, think of the civilised countries with earth leakage.
walkingcoffin 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/26/07 Man, this couldn't be a worse idea. If I were you, I'd be lobbying for all plug transformers to be banned. I have enough issues with them as is without my laptop chord having one. Though that said, it would be nice for the block to be moved inside the chassis, although not at the expense of loosing component options. The chord could also be a touch longer (say 12") only because I find that the chord is stretched to the max on a lot of the desks i use.
moiety 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/26/07 You can get a wall wort adapter for these if you want to. But why would you want to?
navvy 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/26/07 The power brick on my Inspiron 510m is great, with both leads the right lengths and able to be wound round for storage. The Inspiron 1100 brick is untidy - can't wind the cables up. Unfortunately the DC connectors are different, so I can't swap the bricks or share if one brick went faulty. I haven't found a single piece of hardware that is interchangeable between these two Inspirons - you'd think they were from two different manufacturers...
cedwards 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/27/07 DEMOTE DEMOTE DEMOTE!!! This is a bad idea. I have a hard time pluging in my phone charger, my two external hard drives and my speakers...who all use the plug blockers and having to use almost two power strips to accomidate them all. KEEP WHAT YOU HAVE DELL!
skyking 02/27/07	Merged Idea originally posted 02/22/07 Laptop Battery(s) Standardize on a battery that will provide and deliver longer offline or wireless capability. Specifications of battery life should also provide or demonstrate a break-even point of loaded software content not just a vanilla laptop with minimal requirements. Worst case scenario is always appreciated.
bstormer 02/27/07	Merged Idea originally posted 02/21/07 Internal Battery Replacement Power Supply Provide the option of an AC power supply for notebooks which would fit in the battery compartment. It could reduce the transformer clutter and cost, for people that don't need portability, but just wish the clean compactness of a notebook. It might be most attractive on low end machines, where a $50 or so price reduction due to elimination of the battery would be more significant. Of course the notebook could just be sold without the battery, but reducing the clutter might be important to a number of customers. If portability was desired at a later time, a battery could always be purchased.
csorel 02/28/07	The cord and the little pin in the plug (that goes into laptop) keep breaking on ours. I like the magnet end on the apple power supply with using a extra cable. Works better.
dknight526 02/28/07	I know this thread is mostly centered on the power brick, but there is another major issue that Dell needs to address, which I thought was related. Its how the power plug interfaces into the laptop itself is configured. I own an Inspiron 5160, and I've had to repair the power adapter socket on the motherboard several times (once by Dell, the rest by me). There was a class action suit for the 5150 for the same issue, and though I have not verified this, I have read several posts that some of the current Inspiron models use the exact same interface. Basically, the cord connector sticks straight out of the laptop, and the receptacle inside the laptop is soldered directly to the motherboard. If someone trips over the cable, or you try to use it as a portable device (I like to take it on long family trips to use my GPS and routing software, but need AC power since the battery life is short), the extended connector puts a LOT of stress on the receptacle, eventually loosening it to the point where it won't charge. I have also noted that the tiny wire inside the connector, which is what actually charges the battery, seems to eventually lose contact, and then even though its plugged in, the battery will still not charge. I keep my battery indicator window up at all times just to be sure I'm charging my battery. Most recently, I've managed to improve the situation somewhat by putting just a little bit of solder on the tip of the wire inside the connector, which seems to improve the connection. However, I have not worked up the courage to use my laptop as a mobile platform, and am seriously considering selling it on eBay and buying a couple of Toshiba Satellites.
daveski 02/28/07	What a shame most people have not read the (now) original idea. I agree that integrating the transformer and the plug is a bad idea, but the idea is to solve a design flaw where users do as instructed in the manual and wind the power cables around the transformer. As the DC cable comes directly out, this causes strain on this cable, which will certainly fail - usually well before the laptop does. In addition, people wind up, but unwind by simply pulling the cable. This causes the DC cable to end up twisted like a pig-tail and constantly strained internally - again usually causing a failure. IBM transformers used to have the DC cable jutting out at right angles, which completely solves the first point of failure - sadly though, the cable still eventually ends up perminently twisted, but does last much longer.
thirty2bit 02/28/07	Power cables should not be shielded in the first place. The IDC power cord is not, but from the brick to the Dell- that should not be shielded. Yes, Dell needs to get the angles right. But what Dell ought to do is make the brick-to-Dell cable replaceable just like the IDC power cord is. This goes back to unified adapters again- there is no reason why Dell and other manufacturers couldn't agree upon a power standard. Everything I've seen is between 12 and 26 (why?) volts. Pick a voltage number. Pick an amperage. Put circuitry (trivial) in the laptop if the voltage needs to be dropped. Agree on standard plug pinouts. And you have a unified adapter. Dell could lead the pack!! Hello!!
sgt.pepper.1967 03/02/07	It seems like people aren't focusing on the original point. The original point was that the power brick should be changed so that both wires can be wrapped around the brick without risk of fraying of the wires (which, if it occurs, would result in the user having to spend money to replace the poorly designed brick). Instead, most people seem to be objecting to moving the brick to the wall (which I would oppose) or commenting the number of prongs. This is a good idea, which I'll promote.
laurio 03/08/07	Apple has nice power cable design. Adapt and improve...
wlch07 03/14/07	I agree with getting rid of the brick altogether... or making the chords retract into the brick at the click of a button. This may seem simple, but I'm tired of winding chords up constantly. I've got an ethernet, firewire, and usb cable that retracts to almost nothing. Now I need the power supply to do the same.
jamesots 03/23/07	Please note: I was voting for this because I thought having the cable come out of the brick at the correct angle for winding would be a good idea. I think having a separate brick from the plug is a good idea. And well done Dell for finally making the power lead connector a standard figure of eight connector - now I can leave one lead at work and not have to crawl under the desk every night to unplug it to take it home.
mtnbikefred Apr 16	Put a short 90° male connector on the end that goes into the laptop to prevent damage to the power connector and motherboard

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