Member Avatar for Violet_82

Hi chaps, I have a problem with my dell xps 17 lappy, the connector for the main is really dodgy inside the laptop itself therefore charging it is a nightmare. I was wondering if there is such a thing as a USB main charger that can be plugged in to a usb port of the lappy rather than to the usual power cable connector and charge the battery (I assume the computer needs to be on for it to work).
Have you ever heard anything like that?
thanks

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Dani AI

Generated

Practical follow-up for @Violet82 that builds on comments from and @Rik without repeating their points: quick checks, realistic repair choices, and safe short-term workarounds.

First, noninvasive diagnostics to confirm the jack is the culprit:

  • Observe the AC adapter LED and the battery/charging icon when the plug is inserted.
  • With the laptop off, plug in the adapter and gently move the plug to see if the charging indicator flickers — that confirms intermittent contact at the jack.
  • Try a different known-good charger or wall outlet to rule out the adapter or mains.
  • If comfortable, check the battery/charging status in the BIOS/UEFI as well as in Windows.

Repair and replacement paths:

  • Identify the exact model/service tag on the laptop and download the service manual from Dell Support to see whether the DC jack is a separate harness or soldered to the motherboard: Dell Support Manuals.
  • If the jack is a replaceable harness, the part is usually inexpensive and swap-able with basic tools (remove battery first, use ESD precautions). If the jack is soldered, board-level repair is likely needed — leave that to a shop unless experienced with soldering.
  • For step-by-step teardown photos and general safety guidance, consult community repair resources such as iFixit.

Short-term alternatives and compatibility notes:

  • Modern USB-C power delivery (PD) can charge many laptops, but only on systems designed for it; check PD specs before buying a PD-based solution: USB Power Delivery.
  • There are third-party laptop power banks and PD-to-barrel adapters that work with some machines — verify model compatibility and any vendor-specific adapter ID requirements before attempting.

Safety: back up data, disconnect power and remove the battery before opening the case, and avoid makeshift fixes that might short the board. If unsure, a professional repair is the safest route.

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Member Avatar for rubberman

Send the computer in for repair. It may be possible to find such a charging device, but the question is whether or not the xps ports are configured to allow that. You might want to connect with Dell Tech Support (they have a decent browser-based chat capability) and ask them if it would be possible.

Member Avatar for Rik_

Charging the laptop battery from a USB port is just not possible. If you did find a device that claimed to do it it would work, for all of a few seconds until it fried your motherboard. USB ports have not been designed to handle the kind of current that a 19 volt battery requires to charge proberly. Have a look at your charger, It is most likely 19 volts at 3.42 amps or more. Look up the specs of any USB device, it will be 5 volt and a maximum of around 600 miliamps. 3.42 amps = 3,420 miliamps.

Edited by Rik_
Member Avatar for Violet_82

thanks guys, I kind of suspected the voltage might have been different...it's that I really don't want to take the whole machine apart, but I will probably have to
thanks

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