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Yes, that's right. A laptop power supply.
This afternoon I was playing Minecraft on my ASUS laptop. As many Minecraft players know the game is written in Java which, on high settings, can force quite a high demand on the computers CPU. After two hours of playing my laptop popped up a notification of "[switched to] Battery Mode". Check that power supply is still in laptop, still in wall, however no green "power" LED on the power transformer. Pick up the transformer and it is insanely hot to the touch, causing the floor to be very warm underneath it. I guess there's some sort of temperature cut-out on the supply to stop it catching fire but what does one do with a flaming-hot power transformer? This has never happened to me before (unsurprisingly) and since unplugging it from the wall and laptop I have just left it to cool. I've not used it since so has it been fried? The laptop itself is running fine (using it now). I was thinking about replacing the supply anyway but is there a "best" way of cooling one down, just in case?
Granted it's probably not going to happen to many people (and now I will know to play with more breaks, and probably on my desktop instead) but still...for science?
tombull89
Posted 2011-08-01T17:20:54.057
Reputation: 6 533
replacing it with a higher amperage/wattage power supply should ensure that it runs cool – Blaine – 2016-07-11T09:24:16.440
This is an old post, and many people have suggested ways to do what was asked. Realize, though, that what is getting hot has a lot of insulating material between it and the outside--a plastic shell, captive air, the parts may be potted in plastic, etc. If components are actually overheating, anything you do cooling the outside will be too little, too late to have a real effect on the components that are overheating. So it doesn't really help, and could mask an actual problem, or even create a hazard. – fixer1234 – 2016-11-06T03:37:24.003
Get a plastic or metal bowl (maybe one from the kitchen?) that has a reasonably flat bottom, fill it with some water and put it on the top of your adapter. Glass ones or think plastic ones will not work because they conduct heat poorly.
You can also get a large piece of metal foil and put it under the adapter to help both sides cool.
Warning: Don't fill too much water as the bowl may topple over. – billc.cn – 2011-08-01T17:30:08.147
3I would simply put a pen under each end of the PSU. Just getting it up off the floor should help immensely. – EBGreen – 2011-08-01T17:32:15.523
My Dell power supply does this all the time on my alienware. I have the m11x so I can fit it on my cooling mat next to my laptop. My suggestion would be to get a laptop cooler that is larger than your laptop and then lay the adapter next to your laptop.... This might also depend on the size of your cord from adapter to the wall, I know dell sells them up to 12 feet which is nice or this purpose. – Supercereal – 2011-08-01T18:09:27.083
7A bowl of water on or near a PSU is a disaster waiting to happen (IMHO) – Linker3000 – 2011-08-01T18:45:02.507
Frankly, this sounds like there could be something wrong. I would consider replacing it. – KCotreau – 2011-08-01T19:45:16.830
@KCotreau the power supply is more than 2 years old and I think replacing it is probably for the best. – tombull89 – 2011-08-01T21:01:04.837
@billc.cn, thanks for your option although I really don't want water anywhere my laptop PSU. – tombull89 – 2011-08-01T21:01:13.730
@Kyle my laptop is a (long discontinued) ASUS model but I could always try ebay and amazon for extended compatibles. Thanks all for your advice. – tombull89 – 2011-08-01T21:01:27.083