It is customary to observe a spark when plugging in charger. The spark is referred to as arcing. When you connect the plug to the power outlet, it sparks at times. The reason is that the area of contact is not sufficient. So, you see electric current coming out. Therefore, you might even observe small impaired indications on the plug.
When you take the case of any laptop, there will always be a presence of an inrush current. It is this current that shows up in the form of a spark. This particularly happens when the plug’s prongs initially get in touch with the receptacle contacts.
The other causes include:
- Deformed or rusty outlet
- Moisture in the outlet
- Dust in the outlet
- Outlet oxidation
How to Stop Laptop Charger Sparks When Plugged In?
It is ordinary to observe minor sparking when plugging in. However, do you feel that the sparks are more severe? Otherwise, do you see that there is a discoloration in the outlet? Has the spark deformed your charger?
If you see that the charger is deformed, it is better not to utilize it again. To ensure your safety, change the extension cord or outlet. Here are certain things you can do:
- Try using a high-quality extension cord or outlet
- If you have been using either of these for long, it might be time to change them.
- Before you connect the AC adapter, check for the presence of any foreign material
- There should not be any inappropriate material either in the outlet or the plug
Where Does It Spark When Plugging in Charger?
Spark when plugging in charger often appears in the higher/mid-end adapters. This is the place, where a capacitor is employed for keeping the interference down. The captivator is responsible for initiating the inrush power and generating the spark.
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Why do Laptop Chargers Spark?
Some of the factors that causes spark when plugging in charger are:
- Switched-mode power supply
- Presence of in-rush power
- Loose wire is a common cause
- If you connect more devices to an outlet using a multi-plug, it might spark
- Any extra appliances or devices you plug into the same outlet can create a spark
- This can happen even when you unplug some devices
- Faulty outlet
- Exposed wires can cause a spark
Remember that a spark when plugging in charger can happen due to the fault in the outlet as well. So, just because you see a spark, you should not conclude that the laptop adapter is faulty.
Does Inductance Create Laptop Charger Sparks When Plugged In?
Yes, inductance can be the reason for the spark when plugging in charger of your laptop. All wire loops will have a small inductance. For instance, a transformer can also have inductance.
- When you take the case of a transformer, it carries a magnetic turf.
- When you unplug or plug the cord, power flows/ceases. This creates changes in the magnetic turf
- When the mag field changes, the inductor induces an opposing current.
- This leads to a spark.
My Laptop Charger Sparks When Plugged in USB C – What to Do?
The best thing you can do when you face this issue is to contact your laptop manufacturer. Most laptop manufacturers these days have a support system. You can first contact the manufacturer for phone support. You can explain the situation. Then, you can follow what they suggest you to do. If you have recently bought your laptop, do not procrastinate calling customer support. Do it as soon as possible to get the best guidance before the warranty ends.
What To Do When My Laptop Charger Sparked Not Working?
You can try recharging your laptop battery with a different adapter. You can also try recharging some other laptops with the same charger. Check whether the pin inside the charging port is either broken or bent.
Let us consider that the battery in your laptop is removable. In this case, you can follow the steps listed below:
- Turn off your laptop
- Get rid of the laptop off any docking station or port replicator
- Make sure to separate all peripherals connected externally. Examples include printers, displays and USB storage devices.
- Remove the adapter from your PC
- Get rid of the battery from the appropriate compartment
- Now, you have removed the battery. Also, you have unplugged the power cord. Now, press the power button on your laptop for about 50 seconds
- This move will help with draining any leftover power from the capacitors of your PC.
- Now, place the battery in its compartment. Also, plug the adapter into the laptop
- Make sure not to connect any peripherals to your laptop at this stage.
- Now, press the power button to turn on your PC
- Do you see the start menu? If so, with the help of arrow keys choose the start Windows
- Now, hit enter
- Once you see the Windows open, connect every peripheral that you disconnected previously.
- Make sure that you connect one peripheral at a time
- Slowly connect one peripheral after the other
- Now, your system is reset.
- After this, it is better to run a Windows update.
- Also, many sure to run the assistant app that your laptop manufacturer has provided
- This move will help all device drivers to become up-to-date.
Do you still find that the charger is not working? If so, you can contact your laptop manufacturer for help.
How do I know if my laptop charger is damaged?
It is an indication that the cooling system in your laptop is not functioning properly. The burning smell from any laptop is an indication that the system is overheating.
- Immediately turn off the computer when you smell burning
- Let the laptop cool for around 10 to 15 minutes
- If you continue to use the laptop after it produces a burning smell, the overheating problem will worsen things.
- If the system continues to overheat, it can damage the internal components and hard drive.
How Do I Know If My Laptop Charger Is Damaged?
You can know this with the help of a multimeter. This device will help you check the voltage at the output.
- Place the red probe on the multimeter on the internal pin of the charger
- Place the back or negative probe at the outside of the charger pin
- Does it deliver the needed voltage? If so, your charger is in good condition.
- If it does not show, it is an indication of damage
Conclusion
So, now, you know that spark when plugging in the charger is normal until the spark is not too much. However, to make sure that everything is fine, you can take your PC to the service center of the manufacturer. When you go, make sure to carry the laptop adapter and wire. They can help you ensure that there is no issue with the charger and the PC.
