One of the crucial parts of a MacBook is its battery. Therefore, to take good care of it, you must ensure that you charge it appropriately with a proper MacBook charger. However, your MacBook charger may malfunction in one way or another; leaving you wondering how you may remedy the situation.
So, what could make your MacBook charger hot? Your MacBook charger could get hot when charging because the device creates heat when it runs hardware and applications. Even though heated MacBook chargers are mostly not dangerous, it is essential to remove your charger when you realize it is overly hot. It would help if you also stopped using your MacBook while it is charging to prevent overheating.
When charging your MacBook, you might notice that the charger is getting overly hot. This is not only dangerous for your safety but also to the state of your device. Therefore, you should put in place measures to prevent any damage.
Your MacBook charger could be hot because the device creates excessive heat when it runs apps and other hardware. Furthermore, the charger could get heated when it is faulty. When the power transmitter in a MacBook charger is damaged, it could overheat the charger, making it very hot.
To combat this issue, manufacturers install powerful fans in the MacBook to help it regulate temperatures. As much as this helps to some extent, the chances of experiencing an overheated MacBook charger are still high. Therefore, you should put in place preventive measures to help prevent overheating your MacBook charger.
Luckily, there are several things you can do to prevent your MacBook charger from overheating. This is essential because it helps limit damage to your device. Even though your MacBook might still get heated, implementing these preventive measures will keep the temperatures at safer levels. Keep in mind that overly high temperatures can melt down your charger.
Therefore, it is essential to store your MacBook charger in an open area with a lot of space around. Avoid putting it under clothing, blankets, or in any enclosed areas. Instead, put your MacBook charger on a flat, hard surface. This is beneficial because it allows controlled and proper ventilation.
Also, in case you notice any debris at the end of your charger that plugs into the MacBook, you should gently remove it using a soft piece of cloth. Cleaning the tip of your charger is crucial because it is magnetic. This means that it can attract magnetic or metal debris that can affect the electrical circuit.
When the electrical connection is affected, it can easily lead to an overheated charger. When cleaning the tip of your MacBook charger, you are warned against using rough materials because they can damage it. This can also reduce its lifespan.
It would help if you stuck to using original MacBook chargers to avoid cases of overheating. Typically, original MacBook chargers can be costly, ranging between $80 to $100. Their considerably high cost can make it tempting for you to opt for relatively cheaper off-brand chargers. This can be very costly in the end because using imitation chargers can damage your MacBook.
It is important to note that many MacBook imitation chargers look precisely like the original brand chargers, except they don’t have the signature Apple logo. If you have an imitation charger and have been using it on your MacBook, it is likely to cause overheating.
Continued use of such chargers can significantly damage your device. Therefore, you should stop using them immediately for the sake of your device. Doing so will also help prolong the lifespan of your MacBook battery.
Apart from implementing these precautions, you can also do several things to reduce the amount of heat generated by an original MacBook charger. You can start by getting a notebook radiator. This radiator is very beneficial because it plugs into one of your device’s USB slots and cools it down using fans.
In addition, you can plug your MacBook charger into a lamp timer to help regulate the heat. After plugging in your charger, plug the lamp timer into a wall and turn it on. Set the timer to 30-minute intervals.
This setting means that your charger will stop receiving power from the wall outlet after every 30 minutes. As a result, you will have a sufficient battery charge to use your MacBook. Using a lamp timer is highly recommended for those that like charging their MacBook while using it.
You must be aware that one of the leading causes of overheated chargers is using your device while charging. A lamp timer will help keep your MacBook cooler while you use it. As a result, it will improve your MacBook’s battery life.
In some cases, your MacBook charger might get extremely hot to the point that it produces the smell of burning plastic. When that happens, you might also notice wires becoming burned or frayed.
In such cases, you need to replace your MacBook charger immediately. Using a charger with any of these symptoms poses a significant risk to your MacBook. If you purchased your device from an authentic Apple outlet, your MacBook charger would be replaced at no cost.
Note that your device must be covered under AppleCare for it to be replaced. If you don’t meet these requirements, you will have to pay for a new MacBook charger. However, you might get a new charger at a discounted price if you make a strong case. Either way, you must replace a faulty or burnt MacBook charger for the sake of your device. Using damaged chargers can affect the stability of your battery and damage your MacBook altogether.
Can You Keep a MacBook Charger Plugged in?
MacBooks can be so addictive due to their fascinating features. As a result, you may be tempted to use them all the time, a habit that drains their battery faster. This may tempt you to keep your MacBook charger plugged in.
It is not a good idea to keep your MacBook charger plugged in. This can affect the battery life and damage your MacBook’s charging system. Therefore, it will be better if you unplug your MacBook charger after the battery is fully charged. Only plug it in when the battery needs charging. This will help regulate the battery levels and maintain its durability. Knowing how to handle your MacBook battery will go a long way in safeguarding it.
Generally, laptops are as good as their batteries. Taking good care of your MacBook battery is crucial for its durability and ensuring it can retain a charge. Constantly leaving your MacBook charger plugged in could affect your battery and trigger other factors like excessive heat. Such factors can worsen your battery life. Keep in mind there are different types of batteries.
In most cases, MacBooks use lithium-ion batteries. These batteries don’t suffer from the harmful “memory effect,” unlike their nickel-based counterparts. This means that when you discharge and recharge lithium-ion batteries, you won’t cause significant damage to their durability. Once a laptop battery is fully charged, it automatically stops charging. Therefore, the risk of a damaged battery is significantly low.
Note that your MacBook battery can only avoid damage when you leave them plugged in and not using them. However, when you use them while they are charging, the chances of battery damage are high. Therefore, you should only leave the MacBook charger plugged in when not using the device to avoid damage.
If your MacBook uses lithium-ion batteries, you should avoid discharging them completely then recharging them fully. This process is commonly referred to as “deep cycle,” and only works on nickel-cadmium batteries. In simpler terms, a deep cycle is using your laptop until the battery is 0%, then recharging it to 100%.
This habit can be harmful to lithium-ion batteries. However, you are advised to perform a deep cycle once every two months to help recalibrate the battery. This is important because it allows the battery mechanics to remain accurate when showing the battery charge. Avoid deep cycling regularly because it will damage your MacBook’s battery life.
Apart from damaging the battery life, leaving your MacBook charger plugged in results in excessive heat that is dangerous for your device. Processor-intensive apps like games trigger excessive heat levels. Your MacBook could also get overheated when you have many programs running simultaneously.
Leaving your MacBook charger in such cases can damage your device significantly. Therefore, you should unplug the charger, switch off the device, and let it cool down. This will go a long way in preventing heat damage.
If you want to perform a deep cycle, start by charging your MacBook battery to full capacity. Then, let it cool down for around two hours to get rid of the heat. It would help if you then unplugged the charger and set the device’s power save settings to 5%. The cycle will start once the battery level drops down to five percent. As mentioned earlier, deep cycling should only be done once in two months.
Dropped End of MacBook Charger in Water?
It is essential to take good care of your MacBook charger for its durability. Poor handling of a MacBook charger can damage its tip and cause cuts on parts of its cord. Mishandling can also see it drop in water.
When one end of your MacBook charger drops in water, it can easily affect its performance. This is more likely to be the case when it is plugged into an active socket. There are several things you need to do when one end of your MacBook charger drops in water.
First of all, you need to be very careful. This is because when the charger is still plugged in, it can cause electrocution. Getting in contact with the water your charger has dropped in could get you electrocuted. Therefore, you need to be very careful when handling such a situation. It would help if you only touched where there is a rubber casing when handling the charger.
Avoid touching any exposed wires or metal parts. If possible, you should wear electrical protection gloves that help prevent damage if your skin is exposed. Don’t rush into handling the charger; instead, be cautious and identify safer parts to touch.
Next, you should turn off the power. Cutting off the power supply is essential because it eliminates the risk of electrocution. You can switch off the power by simply turning off the power switch. If you have a faulty power socket, you need to be careful when handling it. This is crucial because the socket can easily cause electrocution. Handling the socket with wet hands is even riskier because it increases the chances of electrocution.
Thereafter, unplug the MacBook charger. Start by unplugging the charger from the power socket then from the device if applicable. This is vital because it helps cut off the power supply that can damage your MacBook.
If you had connected it to your MacBook, unplug it safely. After, take the disconnected, wet charger cord to a different room and dry it. You can use a hairdryer to dry it quickly or expose it to direct sunlight. Either way, make sure it is completely dry before removing it.
After ensuring that the MacBook charger is dry, wait for some time before using it again. This can be days or weeks. You need to decide whether the charge is usable. If you feel water caused significant damage to the charger and can’t be used again, you should replace it.
However, if you decide to use it again, watch out for signs that indicate it is not working correctly. When the charger becomes overly heated when plugged in, it could be time to replace it. When getting a replacement, make sure that it is an original MacBook charger. Avoid using imitation MacBook chargers because they can affect your device.
Wrap Up
You should be worried when your MacBook charger becomes overly heated. This could be a sign of a faulty charger or a damaged charging system. Also, your MacBook charger could get hot when charging because the device creates heat when it runs hardware and applications. Therefore, it is a good idea to stop using your MacBook when charging it.
In addition, it is not a good idea to keep your MacBook charger plugged in. This can affect the battery life and damage your MacBook’s charging system. Therefore, you should unplug your MacBook charger once the device is fully charged. This will help maintain its battery life. If one end of your MacBook charger drops in water, you should be very careful when handling it. Poor handling can easily cause electrocution and damage the charger.
