Member Avatar for R Jamieson

I have a dead Dell Inspiron 5160 laptop, I am a TV technition, so am familiar with most of the power connectors. The suppy connector to this laptop is different from anything I have seen before. It has an outer ring that is negative, an inner ring that seems to be positive and a small center pin that has a lower voltage on it. Is anyone familiar with this connector and do you know for sure if there should be the full 19.5 volts on this center pin.
Thanks in advance
Bob

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by Lu8Thales

Dani AI

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Short, practical diagnosis and next steps for the Inspiron 5160 three‑contact DC connector.

The small centre contact on many Dell three‑pin plugs is used for adapter identification/communication rather than as the main power conductor. That means its behaviour (and measured voltage) is not a reliable indicator of whether the adapter or power delivery is correct. Troubleshooting should focus first on the adapter's main power contacts and the laptop's DC‑in circuitry.

Checklist to isolate the fault:

  • Confirm the adapter label and measure the DC output between the two main power contacts on the adapter with a DMM. Compare to the printed rating on the adapter.
  • Measure at the laptop jack next. If the adapter is correct but the voltage is absent or intermittent at the jack, suspect the jack/wiring or the removable DC‑in assembly.
  • If voltage reaches the jack but the machine still won’t power, remove the battery and try to boot from adapter only. If still dead, inspect the motherboard DC input area: small SMD input fuse(s), MOSFETs, and nearby capacitors are common failure points. Check for open fuses, visible damage, or shorted components.
  • With the adapter disconnected, measure DC resistance between the board’s + input and ground to detect heavy shorts. A very low reading often identifies a shorted component that will draw down the adapter under load.
  • Try a known‑good OEM Dell adapter (matching voltage/current and ID capability). Some third‑party bricks don’t provide the adapter ID and can cause charging/boot issues even if main voltage is present.

Cautions and practical tips: do not short contacts while probing. The centre contact carries a digital ID signal and can give misleading DMM readings; probe it only if necessary with a high‑impedance instrument. Replace the DC jack assembly before assuming a motherboard replacement—jack repairs are common and relatively inexpensive.

This expands on ’s point about adapter vs internal shorts and echoes the practical caution noted by about probing tiny contacts.

Member Avatar for mechbas

Not all that familiar with your plug type but I'll make a stab at it. Full power is supposed to be delivered at ALL times when plugged in to unit. If power drop is noticeable at that time it should ring a very big bell, i.e. internal short and/or defective power adapter.

Member Avatar for Lu8Thales

R. Jamieson
I just inherited a 5160 with the same problem. The tech at my favorite shop put a voltmeter on a used adapter right in front of me to test it before he sold it to me. He tested from the outside ring to the inside ring (hardly visible) and told me to avoid testing to the center wire for any reason.

I see this thread is 7 months old so I am probably not helping you RJ but maybe the next reader can use this. I'm not into tweet or blog but forums work for me. This is the first PC forum I have run across that works well for PCs. I am an Apple dude and have spent hours on the Apple forum. I finally have 2 PC machines and I am glad to find this site.

Good luck to all, Thales

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