Laptop burning smell

[Sir Chuffy]

Hi,
i was recently using my laptop and noticed a burning smell come from it with a small wisp of smoke coming from the power adapter, where it plugs in to the laptop. When I took out the adapter the end had melted. I know that I need a new power adapter (can PCSpecialist supply these?) but will the laptop be okay to use. I have been able to get it to boot since then but I only had it on for about 10 seconds to check.
Thanks.

 

[Bhuna50]

Does the laptop work on the battery and are you able to download HWMonitor and check the temperatures?

Is this a PCS laptop - if so please post the spec from your order page.

Spare adapters can usually be purchased if they are still available via your PCS account page - either go into your account and look at the Update part of it:

button on the right hand side

Or look at the menu options under Order Details

HOWEVER, I would check that your machine is not the cause of the overheating first otherwise you might burn out a new one or even burn the motherboard out.

Is it still under warranty?

 

[Sir Chuffy]

Does the laptop work on the battery and are you able to download HWMonitor and check the temperatures?

Is this a PCS laptop - if so please post the spec from your order page.

Spare adapters can usually be purchased if they are still available via your PCS account page - either go into your account and look at the Update part of it:
View attachment 21301 button on the right hand side

Or look at the menu options under Order Details

View attachment 21302

HOWEVER, I would check that your machine is not the cause of the overheating first otherwise you might burn out a new one or even burn the motherboard out.

Is it still under warranty?

Thanks, I didn’t know about the spare parts listed there. The end of the adapter has melted, see bad picture, and hasn’t worked on the battery for a while. It was one of those things that I was going to get round to replace but never did. 🤷🏼‍♂️ It’s nearly 5 years old so is well out of warranty. There is a new adapter listed as a spare part replacement.

 

[Bhuna50]

I would open the back of the laptop first and check for any visible signs that there is no internal damage - otherwise you could be spending £50/60 on a new adapter for a laptop that might now be broken / not working.

Have you dusted / cleaned it out recently?

There is a possibility that this was caused by the laptop overheating so will only happen again if it hasnt already damaged it. What version was it?

I had an old Defiance II that ended up burning out and the motherboard was broke. Sadly so was the keyboard and it had to be written off.

You may want to consider actually sending it in for PCS to look at - it might be worth the £35 pick up/return fee for them to look at it and give you an assessment if there does look like any damage internally.

 

[ubuysa]

I can't imagine that a problem generating enough heat to 'melt' the charger plug has not also damaged the laptop itself. I'd get someone who knows what they're doing to check it out - preferably PCS.

 

[Sir Chuffy]

I’ve had a look in the hole where the adapter goes and it looks fine. I might take the chassis apart to see if there’s any visible sign of damage.

 

[Sir Chuffy]

When you mention it hasn't worked on battery for a while, do you mean it won't charge or the battery refuses to work even when charged? I only ask as if it's that it won't charge, then that may have pointed to the adaptor being faulty...whether that would explain it burning is a different matter

No, the battery is dead and won’t hold charge. I used it for too long with adapter plugged in and killed it.

 

[Sir Chuffy]

Have taken the laptop apart this morning. Would appreciate your thoughts on the attached picture. To me the surround looks slightly melted but not sure whether the black on top should be there, or whether that’s melted plug. Thanks.

 

[ubuysa]

Have taken the laptop apart this morning. Would appreciate your thoughts on the attached picture. To me the surround looks slightly melted but not sure whether the black on top should be there, or whether that’s melted plug. Thanks.

That black is melted plug - I bet you'll not be able to insert anything in there, it clearly wouldn't be able to make contact in any case. As I said earlier, the amount of heat energy required to melt that plug and the case next to it is likely to have been catastrophic for any electronic components nearby.....

 

[Sir Chuffy]

That black is melted plug - I bet you'll not be able to insert anything in there, it clearly wouldn't be able to make contact in any case. As I said earlier, the amount of heat energy required to melt that plug and the case next to it is likely to have been catastrophic for any electronic components nearby.....

Surprisingly, it still works. I did only try it for about 30 seconds as I needed to get an important document of the HDD. By the time I had finished it had got very hot again so I turned it off and haven’t used it since.

 

[ubuysa]

Surprisingly, it still works. I did only try it for about 30 seconds as I needed to get an important document of the HDD. By the time I had finished it had got very hot again so I turned it off and haven’t used it since.

If it were mine I'd consider it dead TBH - especially if it got 'very hot' in a fairly short time....

 

[Sir Chuffy]

If it were mine I'd consider it dead TBH - especially if it got 'very hot' in a fairly short time....

Have contacted a local pc repair shop to see if they can do anything with it. Really don’t want to have to buy a new laptop atm.

 

[Martinr36]

Have taken the laptop apart this morning. Would appreciate your thoughts on the attached picture. To me the surround looks slightly melted but not sure whether the black on top should be there, or whether that’s melted plug. Thanks.

I think you can safely say that, that is dead

 

[Bhuna50]

Thats definitely dangerous - its got so hot, its even warped the metal - not just melted the plug, but that small metal casing around the adapter socket looks like its melted/warped/discoloured too.

I would definitely make sure you do not try your adapter / plug again yourself as it is a fire / electrical risk to you.

See what your local guy says.

At worst, its a new motherboard - which basically means a new laptop really.

At best, he might have a similar adapter connection point and a new charger he can replace it all with, soldering it onto the motherboard.