Acer Predator Helios 16 (PH16-71-94FB) Loose Barrel Power Connector

Spiritof76
Spiritof76 Member Posts: 4 New User
edited April 5 in Predator Laptops

Hi,

I have had this Acer Predator Helios 16 (PH16-71-94FB) for about nine months now, and the power supply power barrel connector is just getting increasingly unstable the longer I have this laptop. First three months were perfectly okay, and then the last six months it just gets progrssively worse. It doesn't matter if I use it on a table or pad, and even using a series of cable channels and velcro straps to keep it from moving just doesn't prevent it from disconnects, even when typing. I suspect I will have to open a repair case soon.

I see this has been an issue for a variety of other Acer products, and upon inspection, the internal conductive interior looks like a weaved basket. I am dealing with it well, but considering the progression of disconnects and reading about it being a possible flaw of the actual power supply unit in multiple questions, what is the recommendation? This is adult owned, I have a lap pad with a cooler, and I do strap the power cable to the pad with channel grips and velcro and use it almost nightly. Just the slightest touch can cause a dissconect and reconnect a this point.

Are people fixing this issue by submitting the laptop for internal repair? Is purchasing an after market power supply with a more gripping connector the answer? I love the power of the laptop and brighness of the display, but this is a hard reality to chew if something as simple as a the power connector is the cause. I have had laptops from Dell, HP, and Toshiba and this has never been an issue.

Any advice or recommendation would be apprecaited. I did buy the extended warrantly due to this power connector issue and I am curious if it's even worth the effort seeing that some people have sent it in with no improvement.

Thanks!

[Edited the thread to add model name to the title]

Answers

  • Puraw
    Puraw ACE, Member Posts: 13,960 Trailblazer
    edited April 5
    https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/703545/loose-barrel-power-connector

    Maybe you want to get a heavier 330-Watt adapter for better performance and faster charging? The barrel plug should fit tight with an audible click when fully inserted. When the problem is with the DC port, get that port replaced under warranty. https://www.amazon.com/Predator-PH16-71-71AV-PTX17-71-95HW-PTX17-71-99W5-PTX17-71-98JY/dp/B0CH3YGN4W Check that the barrel pin has the following dimensions: 1.7mm (ID) x 5.5mm (OD) x 11mm (length)

  • Cesarhaoll
    Cesarhaoll Member Posts: 11

    Tinkerer

    I also have the same problem where even a slight disturbance causes the pin to snatch off its been 4 months since i bought it, it seems like the laptop port itself has no lock.

  • Spiritof76
    Spiritof76 Member Posts: 4 New User
    https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1268642#Comment_1268642

    Thank you for the advice. I ordered the power supply and will report back if it works or not.

  • Randal2023
    Randal2023 Member Posts: 5

    Tinkerer

    I have the same problem with my new Predator Helios 16 with the 4080 cpu. expensive for something that shouldn't have such a weak plugin design. What exactly is it that causes the plug to become loose and can it be fixed? If it is the power cord end I can see replacing it would fix it but I have a feeling it is the female end inside the laptop that gets loose and would require it to be replaced. Anybody figure out what fixes it?

  • Spiritof76
    Spiritof76 Member Posts: 4 New User
    https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1269034#Comment_1269034

    Yup, I have the same laptop. I am not sure if it's the internal female connector basket and pin, or if the power supply has some sort of mech that clapses the pin. Good luck finding any sort of adapter that can work with the power supply too, as the 5.5mm x 1.7mm is always a male only connector with a 5.5mm x 2.1 female.

    I ordered a new supply listed above that will be here beteen late April or early May, Otherwise, I was going to try a rubber grommet to see if it will grip it into the outer part of the port. Stay tuned, I'll comment back when I get that adapter so we'll know for sure.

  • Spiritof76
    Spiritof76 Member Posts: 4 New User

    To follow up …

    I bought a this grommet set for the original power supply and cut the cap from the appropriately sized one and it did help stabalizing the connector so it wouldn't rock back and forth too much to cause a power disconnect. I used this for a while until the new power supply came with pretty good success. https://a.co/d/gZgSue7

    I did receive the new adapter mentioned above and tried it out for about a week. It did seem to cause less disconnects.
    https://www.amazon.com/Predator-PH16-71-71AV-PTX17-71-95HW-PTX17-71-99W5-PTX17-71-98JY/dp/B0CH3YGN4W

    My biggest problem with it is that it gets really hot. So hot that I am worried that it will actually damage the laptop and void the warranty. I am considering returning it. I need to get a thermal tester because I could swear the connector reaches about 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

    At this point, I am pretty sure the power female connector on the laptop to have poorly designed clamping mechanism in the laptop. It loosens up and spreads out, and you just won't get a stable connection again. Acer could ideally fix this by making a clamp in the male side to stabalize it to the laptop, but unless it is happening to scale and everyone is complaining, we won't see it.

    I would ocnsider opening a warranty case and mailing it in, but I see a couple other complaints in here where it was sent in and returned with the same issues continuing. I'm sure Acer is sitting on a pile of these components anyways.

    I am open for anyone else's advice if any of you come up with a solution. The only other thing I think that can be done at this point is use some free CAD software and design a stablizer and ask someone with the 3D printer to print it for me. I'm thinking something that will push in the rear of the barrel connector so it is tight and clip it to the PC with so it doesn't move at all. Pobably get better luck using that than a repair.

    Not to be bitter, but I am kind of kicking myself for not going for the Alienware M18 with the RTX 4080. I like the Acer screen a lot and firmware updates are a breeze, but it really sucks that I have to channel this power cable through a channel network so I don't have to hear BEEP BEEP BEEP and then get a slowdown every time the tray slightly moves. I'll see if I can share a picture when I get home from work.

  • m1sterd
    m1sterd Member Posts: 21 Networker
    edited May 5
    https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1273798#Comment_1273798

    The Predator Helios 16 is my first Acer laptop, I have the 13900HX with RTX 4080, however my first one had power issues like the prveious model 500 where it wouldnt charge and always said it was on 93% power, that went into Acer for a repair but they said it needed a new motherboard and they werent available, this was only a month after they were released, so they sent me a replacement/new laptop. However my previous one and this one runs extremely hot, and Acer will seemingly not release a BIOS which would allow undervolting and so running cooler. I am pretty sure that many/most other laptop manufacturers allow this common feature, in fact the previous version Helios 500 allowed this. Needless to say, this will be my last Acer laptop, also the power brick is huge and the connect that you mention really doesnt feel like it will last, which is a shame as its quick and the screen is really nice (the 250Hz version).

    Also just to add, there hasnt been a BIOD update in 5 months (really was hoping for the undervolt to be enabled) nr a driver update via their website for 7 months (although I have seen several Acer updates via the normal MS Update route), I am also updating the NVidia driver and Intel GPU drivers directly to stay up to date, not sure if I lose anything by doing this.

  • Randal2023
    Randal2023 Member Posts: 5

    Tinkerer
    https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1273798#Comment_1273798

    What Acer needs to do is make an L shaped adaptor, you plug your straight plug insert into then plug the L shaped into the laptop, they could go even further and have a clip that the adapter fits into to keep it from movement, I doubt Acer is that good or reputable of a company to do something like that for customers but guess we will see if they read this post.

  • Randal2023
    Randal2023 Member Posts: 5

    Tinkerer
    https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1273798#Comment_1273798

    Did replacing the female jack on the laptop fix the problem or did you find the power cord male insert also wears out and fits loosely? I am going to look for an L shaped adaptor to insert the male end into then the adaptor into the laptop, I have a 3d printer and can design a clasping mechanism to push the cord end into, that should stop it from wearing out in the future. Let me know how the replacement of the jack worked out?

  • WPPredator16
    WPPredator16 Member Posts: 2 New User

    SAME EXACT PROBLEM HERE! Opened a ticket and am awaiting instructions. I hope to god they don't take it away for three weeks just to fix this (or NOT fix it as has been the case with some owners).

  • JackOlson
    JackOlson Member Posts: 1 New User

    The charging plug situation is a nightmare. The first two plugs I got wore out bc they stick straight out the back and require weird positioning to actually charge. The third one litterally melted into a puddle bc the power disconnected while the laptop was unattended, making it go into “power saver” mode, which attempts to save power by shutting off the fans. I finally got an angled plug but this one just died too bc the glue used to hold it together softened from the insane heat this laptop produces, eventually causing it to short out. I miss my old Alienware laptop :(

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