HP Recalls Notebook Computer AC Power Cords Due to Fire Hazards

[stj]

http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2014/...C-Power-Cords/

[SteveNielsen]

Re: read this.

Thanks for the alert. I have an HP mini but not the affected AC cord.

[goontron]

Re: read this.

Mine did the that. Dell chargers are so much better.

[momaka]

Re: read this.

I would be highly surprised if HP used only one manufacturer for these power cords. Most are probably okay, but a few from a specific manufacturer are likely affected. Too bad they don't give more details which particular manufacturer is the problematic one (or if they just gave out the UL number, that would definitely help).

Thanks for sharing, though. My sister does have an HP laptop that she bought back around 2010 I think (or possibly 2009, but I'm not sure), and her adapter has stopped working too. I wonder if this is the culprit or just the usual shorted/open output wires near the DC plug.

[ratdude747]

Re: read this.

I just sent a HP brick of that era to mad professor... luckily I didn't ship it with the orginal AC cord (but a different one out of the pile). IIRC I never received the original AC cord (as it was a $1 GW score).

Yet another reason why HP = (as does lenovo but that's neither here nor there)

[binsonk]

Re: read this.

I just purchased a HP dv5000 for under $20. The power adapter runs really hot: it would be uncomfortable to hold it in your hand. The power cord has the "mickey mouse" termination on one end, but the cable is round, not flat. Is the recall only for the mickey mouse flat cord?

[mariushm]

Re: read this.

Awesome title. I'm sure EVERYBODY's going to read this thread just because you said so.

Anyway.. for anyone that is too lazy to actually read the link, it's ONLY FOR CABLE, and only for the one with text LS-15 on it.

Just buy a new power cord off Amazon or Newegg or some local store instead of wasting money on postage and waiting for HP to give you another cable.

[Th3_uN1Qu3]

Re: read this.

I have several cords with that text on them and they've been fine for years. Must be confined to a particular lot.

OTOH I did have random crap Chinese cords spew flames at the end that plugs in the charger. Cheap insulation got ripped due to regular wear and tear and the cord shorted out.

[Topcat]

Re: HP Recalls Notebook Computer AC Power Cords Due to Fire Hazards

Fixed the retarded thread title.

[momaka]

Re: read this.

Just buy a new power cord off Amazon or Newegg or some local store instead of wasting money on postage and waiting for HP to give you another cable.

I discourage anyone from purchasing cheap generic AC cords. They almost always either develop bad contacts in the plug (where the cord connects to the adapter) or the fragile wire rips near the AC plug (and usually either shorts or opens). Really, some are so crappy that you might as well take some phone wire and make your own. Probably equally unsafe anyways.

[stj]

Re: HP Recalls Notebook Computer AC Power Cords Due to Fire Hazards

Fixed the retarded thread title.

i liked it.
besides, it seems to have worked.

[trebo]

Re: HP Recalls Notebook Computer AC Power Cords Due to Fire Hazards

that it did alright

[ben7]

Re: HP Recalls Notebook Computer AC Power Cords Due to Fire Hazards

Hm, I have an HP computer with HP power adapter.

Cord is different than the recall, as it says:
I-SHENG
I3-034
The other side:
E55943
7A 125V

My cord looks SOOO much better quality wise than the one they have pics of.
Adapter is made by Delta

[japlytic]

Re: HP Recalls Notebook Computer AC Power Cords Due to Fire Hazards

I had a mains lead from a Toshiba notebook AC adaptor which tripped the earth leakage - resistance tests on the lead not connected to anything else revealed a low enough resistance between Live and Earth, but the AC adaptor was OK.
Could undersized wiring have something to do with this and the HP recall?

[stj]

Re: HP Recalls Notebook Computer AC Power Cords Due to Fire Hazards

more likely, the problem is because most cables are spot-welded to the pins.
sometimes the spot is off-center or the strands break.

[eccerr0r]

Re: HP Recalls Notebook Computer AC Power Cords Due to Fire Hazards

I think I have a bunch of these "LS-15" cords, some are from my employer. Anyone know where the failure takes place (which connector end)? To me, these LS-15 cords don't look that bad, I wouldn't be able to tell a good one from a bad one.

I think HP is only replacing one per purchased serial numbered power brick so I can't box up all of them and get a replacement...

I thought most HP power bricks are made by Delta, HP tends to use them a lot for power supplies.

[goontron]

Re: HP Recalls Notebook Computer AC Power Cords Due to Fire Hazards

I think I have a bunch of these "LS-15" cords, some are from my employer. Anyone know where the failure takes place (which connector end)? To me, these LS-15 cords don't look that bad, I wouldn't be able to tell a good one from a bad one.

I think HP is only replacing one per purchased serial numbered power brick so I can't box up all of them and get a replacement...

I thought most HP power bricks are made by Delta, HP tends to use them a lot for power supplies.

if one of us could get one up to Littleton i could put it through its paces. otherwise mine failed at the part that goes into the charger brick, hence why my HP now uses a Dell charger.

[ben7]

Re: HP Recalls Notebook Computer AC Power Cords Due to Fire Hazards

I thought most HP power bricks are made by Delta, HP tends to use them a lot for power supplies.

I think so too, but it is likely that Delta doesn't make the cords. I think they only make the power supply itself. They might assemble the cord part that goes into the computer though (not the wall plug part.)

[goontron]

Re: HP Recalls Notebook Computer AC Power Cords Due to Fire Hazards

I think so too, but it is likely that Delta doesn't make the cords. I think they only make the power supply itself. They might assemble the cord part that goes into the computer though (not the wall plug part.)

i remember seeing the name "Longwell"

[eccerr0r]

Re: HP Recalls Notebook Computer AC Power Cords Due to Fire Hazards

I actually broke the low voltage end of my laptop's power brick (ultrabook, cracked the plastic) and it's intermittent now. So I don't even use that power brick - I use an aftermarket power brick. It (the Targus branded brick)'s smaller but doesn't have a ground unlike the original.

I need to find another connector to fix my OEM power brick, but sneaky HP made it such that standard coaxial plugs from rat shak would plug into the hole but the handle would hit against the side of the laptop, so it won't go in... GRR.

Speaking of the "cloverleaf" or "mickey mouse" power connectors, these should be fairly common and standardized (looks like an IEC standard), I wonder how they screwed up making them...

Then again even the more common rectangular-trapezoidal ones also occasionally has issues...