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Why do laptop charger get so hot?

Views: 128     Author: Site Editor     Publish Time: 2023-11-28      Origin: Site

Laptops that get hot when charging can cause safety concerns, and sometimes even remind you that you cannot continue to power the laptop due to the high temperature and that you need to temporarily use the battery for power.

Why do laptop charger get so hot

What Temperature Is Normal for Laptop Chargers?

There are certain differences in the highest withstand temperature specified by different brands of chargers, which may be related to the internal structure and type of components. If we already feel hot by touching the charger, then there is definitely something wrong.


Even though the manufacturer claims that the device can withstand higher temperatures without being affected, the highest temperature that a common laptop AC adapter cable can withstand is 60°C. Therefore, considering the impact of high charging temperatures on its related devices, we recommend that when the charger temperature is higher than 60°C, try not to charge for a long time or stop charging.


hot warning labels


It is normal for the temperature to temporarily rise to 70°C when the laptop is running intensively because it needs to handle large quantities of data. But if the temperature reaches 80°C or higher, there is a high safety risk. Regardless of the reason, charging should be stopped. So, what are the reasons that cause the charger to overheat?


11 Reasons Why Laptop Charger Is Overheating

Reason 1: Higher wattage charger can generate more heat

The function of the laptop charger is to convert the mains power into low-voltage direct current. During the voltage conversion process, some power is lost. The conversion efficiency of laptop chargers is currently around 90%. Then about 10% of the electrical loss is transferred outward in the form of heat, so the greater the power of the laptop charger, the higher the heat it emits.


Reason 2: The laptop charger runs at full load or overloads for a long time

If the laptop charger only gets hot when you use it to charge the laptop, then it is caused by the laptop charger running at full load for a long time.


Do you know how the charger distributes power when you use it to charge your laptop?

When the laptop is charging, the charger will give priority to powering the laptop. When the charger charges the laptop more than the laptop requires, the remaining power will charge the laptop's battery. So when you use a laptop and charge it at the same time, the charger will run at full load. If you use the laptop for a long time, especially when running some programs or handling large quantities of data that require high power consumption, the charger will be at full load for a long time. During operation, heat loss will also increase.


In addition, if you use a laptop to connect USB to power other devices (such as mobile phones), it may cause your laptop charger to overload and cause the laptop charger to become hot.


Reason 3: The laptop charger is not compatible with the laptop

If the laptop charger is incompatible with your laptop, it will cause the charger unable to transfer power to the laptop well, causing the charger's internal components to heat up.


Reason 4: Use the wrong wattage laptop charger

If the power of the charger is lower than the power required by the laptop, the charger will run under load, causing the charger to become hot.


Reason 5: The cable is not compatible

If you use unsuitable wires, the charger will not be able to transfer power to your laptop properly, causing internal components to heat up.


Reason 6: Inferior laptop charger

The internal components of cheap and inferior chargers may be very poor, or the design may be unreasonable, causing them not to work properly and then generating a lot of heat that cannot be dissipated properly. It is recommended to purchase a UL-certified AC adapter with the authorized UL mark, which has been assessed and meets appropriate safety standards.


Reason 7: Poor ventilation

Do not place the charger strip in a small, closed space. This may cause the local ambient temperature to be too high, and the charger will not be able to fan heat to the outside. Also do not place the charging brick on soft and heat-insulating materials such as pillows and beds, as this will also cause the local temperature too high and unable to dissipate heat.


Reason 8: The laptop charger case does not heat well

Based on the above, when the charger needs to dissipate a lot of heat, but the charger's shell has poor thermal conductivity or the ambient temperature is high, poor heat dissipation will also cause the charger to become hot. Nowadays, more and more chargers are trying their best to compress the size of the charger to the minimum. Therefore, various components are very close to each other, making it difficult to dissipate heat. Insufficient space may even sacrifice some heat dissipation components. If it is a newly purchased charger, there may be a plastic film on the outside, which needs to be removed, otherwise, it will also affect heat dissipation.


Reason 9: The power strip or socket is faulty

If the power strip or socket is faulty, it may cause the charger to overheat.

Additionally, power strips usually have a certain amount of power they can handle. Plugging a large number of devices into a power strip can cause the strip to overheat and damage connected devices, including chargers.


Reason 10: The laptop charger is damaged

For example, when there is a problem with the transformer inside a laptop charger, although the charger can still be used normally, because the parts are damaged and under load, high heat will occur and it will be hot to the touch.


Reason 11: The dust particles

There is dust in the charging port or cable, causing poor contact or even a slight short circuit. Eventually, the current will be too large and it will not work properly and will generate heat.


Therefore, based on the common reasons mentioned above, we can take corresponding preventive measures. Summarized as follows:

-Use a qualified laptop charger purchased from a regular manufacturer.

-Purchase a laptop charger that fits the laptop.

-Use the laptop charger in a well-ventilated and safe environment.

-Do not use a damaged or old laptop charger to charge the laptop, especially one that frequently overheats.

-Make sure the laptop charger is clean. If there are any stains or dust, use a soft cloth to wipe it gently to make sure not to damage the related parts.

-Do not leave the laptop charger fully loaded or overloaded for a long time.

-Do not use inferior, unsuitable, old power cords or plug strips and other related products.

-Avoid bending the charger cable to prevent internal breakage of the power cord.

-Avoid contact with liquids, etc. to ensure safe use of electricity.


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