Dell AC adapter gets HOT!

[AndrewR]

Just bought a used Dell laptop, and while the laptop itself is fine, I've noticed that the AC adapter gets extremely hot. It's not quite too hot to touch, but it's definitely hot, much more so than seems normal. I have limited experience with laptops, though, so should I worry?

It's a Dell Latitude D600 Pentium M 1.3 GHz. Adapter is PA-12 family, model AA22850.

 

[inhotep]

Like how hot? If you are in an area with higher than 120v, like 240v current, it will get hot. I traveled that when I traveled abroad.

 

[AndrewR]

Originally posted by: inhotep
Like how hot? If you are in an area with higher than 120v, like 240v current, it will get hot. I traveled that when I traveled abroad.

No, I'm in the States, not abroad right now. According to my wife, it's about the temperature of a hot baked potato but below the threshold of actually burning. You can hold it without discomfort, but it's warmer than I would think is prudent for a piece of electronics. I could also compare it to a car left in 85 degree sun -- if you put your hand on the outside, it's very warm but not burning. Make sense?

Should I contact Dell?

 

[inhotep]

Yes call dell and also check on the web if any recalls were made.
If you can hold it with out any "discomfort" then it is normal, but check with dell anyway. Also try to get a temp reading from a thermal.
Somehow I got this feeling that dell won't talk to you if the warranty expired or they will want to charge you for it.

 

[andrewbabcock]

My 9300 ac adapter gets a little warm. Not hot but it gets warm. I think they all get warm. In fact, all electronics get a little warm. Think about pc components. A gfx card in a desktop getting to 60C is fairly common. Electronics get hot and they live on. Thats what they do.

 

[cheesehead]

Mine got pretty darn hot. It eventually stopped working.
Dell should stop selling bad power supplies (mine was a Lite-On manufactured PS) with their laptops.

 

[AndrewR]

Ok, it seems that it gets hot when the computer is actually running off of it but not when it's simply charging the laptop. As soon as I shut the computer down, the adapter started cooling off and finally wound being quite cool.

I'll probably call Dell just to see what they say.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Its fine. Power adapters get hot, esp cheap ones.

 

[Abhi]

AndrewR, I had a similar problem a year ago. My adapter was getting insanely hot.

I called up Dell and asked them to replaced the adapter, to which they refused. I immediately told them that they were subjecting my house to a fire risk. 48 hrs later I had a new adapter....

 

[andrewbabcock]

Originally posted by: Abhi
AndrewR, I had a similar problem a year ago. My adapter was getting insanely hot.

I called up Dell and asked them to replaced the adapter, to which they refused. I immediately told them that they were subjecting my house to a fire risk. 48 hrs later I had a new adapter....

Way to stick it to them lol.

 

[BladeVenom]

It also depends on the location of the adapter. Is it in in an area with decent air circulation?

 

[Abhi]

Originally posted by: andrewbabcock

Originally posted by: Abhi
AndrewR, I had a similar problem a year ago. My adapter was getting insanely hot.

I called up Dell and asked them to replaced the adapter, to which they refused. I immediately told them that they were subjecting my house to a fire risk. 48 hrs later I had a new adapter....

Way to stick it to them lol.

And the ****ers at Dell Support kept telling me, it recognizes fine in the BIOS, it charges your battery, hence it HAS to be normal.... It was NOT!

The adapter was getting soo hot that I had to use insulation in order to pick it up... It never did that in its 1st 11 months of service. Normally it got warm, not untouchable hot! The new one also gets warm, not hot. Btw, I am in India so its 220 V here...

 

[andrewbabcock]

Originally posted by: Abhi

Originally posted by: andrewbabcock

Originally posted by: Abhi
AndrewR, I had a similar problem a year ago. My adapter was getting insanely hot.

I called up Dell and asked them to replaced the adapter, to which they refused. I immediately told them that they were subjecting my house to a fire risk. 48 hrs later I had a new adapter....

Way to stick it to them lol.

And the ****ers at Dell Support kept telling me, it recognizes fine in the BIOS, it charges your battery, hence it HAS to be normal.... It was NOT!

The adapter was getting soo hot that I had to use insulation in order to pick it up... It never did that in its 1st 11 months of service. Normally it got warm, not untouchable hot! The new one also gets warm, not hot. Btw, I am in India so its 220 V here...

Are you from india originally?

Also, the warranty repairs must be pretty fast?

 

[Abhi]

Originally posted by: andrewbabcock

Originally posted by: Abhi

Originally posted by: andrewbabcock

Originally posted by: Abhi
AndrewR, I had a similar problem a year ago. My adapter was getting insanely hot.

I called up Dell and asked them to replaced the adapter, to which they refused. I immediately told them that they were subjecting my house to a fire risk. 48 hrs later I had a new adapter....

Way to stick it to them lol.

And the ****ers at Dell Support kept telling me, it recognizes fine in the BIOS, it charges your battery, hence it HAS to be normal.... It was NOT!

The adapter was getting soo hot that I had to use insulation in order to pick it up... It never did that in its 1st 11 months of service. Normally it got warm, not untouchable hot! The new one also gets warm, not hot. Btw, I am in India so its 220 V here...

Are you from india originally?

Also, the warranty repairs must be pretty fast?

Yes dude, am from India.

The repairs are decently fast.

 

[AndrewR]

Well, I just found out my laptop is under a complete care warranty so I can probably get the adapter replaced. It seems fine when I'm not running off it though.