Off Topic: i need to repair a laptop charger!!

[Tazon]

i hope i´m not out of line posting this here, i figured this is the forum where the people that can help me really are.

The thing is, i bought a used laptop, dell 505, with a hardware port replicator. it came with a special charger for the port, that has a higher amperage than the regular charge which i also have. Except this bigger charger is dead. when i plug the laptop in the port replicator and try to power it with the smaller charger, i get a message saying the power adapter doesn´t have enough power for the port replicator.
So, just buy a new large charger right? wrong! i live in argentina, i would have to import one, plus i´ve been looking and it seems these larger chargers for port replicators are not so common so i might have to buy one directly from dell, have it shipped to a friend, then have him ship it to me, do the import thing . . . pure hell. So i´m trying to figure out if i can fix it. the charger specs are:

input AC 100-240v 1,5a
output DC 19.5v 4.62a

the smaller one is exactly the same except it outputs 3.34 amps.
any clues on how to fix it? i have a multimeter and some basic soldering and electronics skills. the charger has a little green light, on the small one it light up but on the large dead one it does not.

emilio

[four4875]

i'd start by checking the fuse, if that's good.. i guess start googling for stuff on repairing switching power supplies. they're a bit over my head most of the time, so you might have some learning to do to get in the right direction.

[Tazon]

do these things have a fuse? if this one does, it is internal, since on the outside there´s no way to tell.

[Adragontattoo]

I know you are in Argentina so the price may be higher but the Replicator charger for those can be had (assuming you'll accept NON Dell branded) for pretty cheap.

The smaller brick is used solely for the Lappie.

(staring at 800 D500,505 and 600's.)

[Tazon]

could you point me to a website or recommend where i can get one?

[Adragontattoo]

http://www.google.com/search?hl=xx-hacker&q=d505+%2Bport+replicator+%2B90+watt+charger&btnG=Google+s3a%7C2ch&lr=lang_en

[Kendan]

Do you know if dell will ship directly to you or are you just guessing that they wont?

[Tazon]

i sent it to be repaired at a local electronics shop owned by a friend. hopefully it can be fixed

[Adragontattoo]

depending on cost honestly they arent THAT expensive.. Im sure that Dell sells to Argentina and there may be a knockoff seller in country as well.

[L337 M33P]

i sent it to be repaired at a local electronics shop owned by a friend. hopefully it can be fixed

Good choice. The alternative is you opening a power supply containing 180VDC and playing around inside it....

If the shop can't fix it (likely they can't if it's a control chip or something that's burned out) then definitely buy one or an "equivalent model".