Is there any way to tell if a charging problem is down to the DC power socket or the actual AC adapter?

Question

as yp u might have guessed im having a bit of trouble charging my laptop which is a toshiba. at first the problem was that i had to out the charger going intot he socket into varying positions to get it too charge but now its stopped working completely :(

any ideas on what the problem is and how i can fix it?

=]

Answer 1

Use a different outlet, if it still fails to charge get a new charger. If it still fails get a new battery.

Answer 2

You can test the ac adapter with a voltmeter / multimeter if you have one or can borrow one.  You can get a digital one for under $10.  You need to place the probes on the inside and outside of the hollow "barrel".  The dc voltage should match what it says on the "brick".  Please note you cannot test the (max available) current this way, so don't even try.  Anyway, watch the voltage for a while to ensure it's steady.  If so, chances are the problem is in the charging port and you'll need repairs; sorry.