laptop ac adapter HOT!!

[ams1130]

Sorry if this has been asked before; I couldn't find anything doing a search. Also, I apologize ahead of time; I'm the least techy person alive.

When charging my laptop in our travel trailer, the AC adapter (the black box) becomes very hot. Is this dangerous? Why does this happen?

Thanks in advance for any answers!

[ams1130]

Thanks folks. Hate to admit how ignorant I am on the subject. I'm an RN: your heart stops and I'm handy to have around; computer issues, not so much 😉

[NinerBikes]

You either have bad batteries in your lap top.. ( is it over 2 or 3 years old and you use it unplugged and discharge the battery on it frequently) and need to replace them, or you are running a modified sine wave converter that disagrees with the transformer in your charger, or both are a problem.

Plug your laptop in at a cyber coffee shop and check the temp of the brick. If it's lower than in your RV, it's the modified sine wave inverter you are using. If it's the same temperature and still too hot, it's your battery on your laptop that needs replacing.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

My IR gun says my brick can reach 120F. This is darn near " ouch " for me. I place my brick edgewise and that reduced temps by five degrees.

[MrWizard]

Sounds like a voltage difference, possibly low voltage on the 120v campground power

[ams1130]

Yes, much hotter than at home.

Plugged into an outlet in the trailer that is plugged directly to shore power in the campground.

[time2roll]

Deleted inverter comment

[Naio]

The question is, does it get hotter than it does at home?

Other than bad elec, possible causes include sun hitting the black surface, or being under some sort of fabric, cushion, or other insulating material. (If your rig is like mine, stuff is piled on stuff.)

[MrWizard]

Hotter than at home ?
It's plugged into an out let that is connected to campground power
Or
Is connected to an inverter

[ams1130]

Thanks, am learning a lot here.

[BTPO1]

thestoloffs wrote:
Almost all laptop AC power supplies (from the simplest wall wart to the biggest brick) contain a transformer, which heats up during use.

Proper design would suggest that some form of heat discharge needs to be built into the case, but most of them are built on the cheapo.

So, it doesn't matter what campground you're at; as long as it's plugged into a shore power 120 VAC outlet, it'll get hot!

It's only dangerous if the adapter is sitting on something extremely flammable -- like your lap! Most countertops, furniture, etc. should be OK, but check them periodically, just to be safe.

X2, If there are electron flowing there is heat being generated as in tranformers, or any wire that is in use. JMO

[RoyB]

I suspect you are using a MODIFIED SINE WAVE INVERTER to give you 120VAC to run your laptop computer charging brick. This will eventually burn up your transformer brick... Transformers really like to have PURE SINE WAVES...

The only other way to overheat the laptop transformer brick is to PULL TO MUCH CURRENT trying to charge your LAPTOP. PERHAPS the LAPTOP BATTERY is going bad on you... Just be sure you are using the correct transformer brick for your LAPTOP.

My DELL LAPTOP bricks get warm running on good 120VAC Shore Power but never HOT... When you are saying HOT I am thinking too hot to touch????

Roy Ken

[NinerBikes]

Get a Google Chromebook by Samsung, problem solved, and a lot less heat and watts made /consumed.

[ams1130]

Thanks a lot!

[thestoloffs]

Almost all laptop AC power supplies (from the simplest wall wart to the biggest brick) contain a transformer, which heats up during use.

Proper design would suggest that some form of heat discharge needs to be built into the case, but most of them are built on the cheapo.

So, it doesn't matter what campground you're at; as long as it's plugged into a shore power 120 VAC outlet, it'll get hot!

It's only dangerous if the adapter is sitting on something extremely flammable -- like your lap! Most countertops, furniture, etc. should be OK, but check them periodically, just to be safe.

[ams1130]

DH says yes.