If your iPhone or Android phone charger has ever felt warm to the touch after use, you might be wondering why this is occurring and whether it is cause for concern. What you should know is as follows.
Electronics typically generate some heat
Any phone charger will occasionally become heated. Your charger produces heat as it transforms AC power from your outlet into DC power for your phone charger. The charger makes use of an electrical component known as a transformer to carry out the AC/DC conversion. Eddy currents and other losses, which are a byproduct of how transformers operate, as well as the normal process of carrying electricity, cause heat to be produced by transformers.
A transformer will typically emit more heat the more current it delivers. It’s normal for a phone charger to feel a bit warm to the touch while it’s in use because that just means it’s working as it should. You may have an issue if it isn’t only warm, or if it suddenly becomes extremely warm when it hasn’t previously.
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How warm is too warm?
It’s an obvious indication that something is amiss if your charger gets so hot that it’s uncomfortable to grip or touch. This can be caused by a fault with the charger’s internal components or a loose connection with the outlet. Genuine, high-quality chargers feature safeguard circuitry that will turn them off instantly if something goes wrong. However, this circuit can be broken or you might be using a subpar or fake charger.
If your charger feels uncomfortable hot, disconnect it from the outlet and check the prongs that plug into the wall outlet for any obvious evidence of debris or blockages. Additionally, make sure the charging port on your phone is clean, and check the charger’s USB port (if it has one) for any signs of lint or dirt accumulation.
Try again after cleaning the port, and if it still generates heat, try an alternative cable to determine whether the issue is still there. Nevertheless, there are several situations, which we’ll explain below, when you don’t want to take any chances by experimenting with various cables.
How Soon Is a Hot Charger a Fire Risk?
If your charger or charging cord exhibits any of these warning indications, stop using it right once and get a replacement. If your charger is broken, you could try contacting the manufacturer’s customer service department to request a replacement.
- Melting can be seen in the charging cord or plastic charger.
- A strange odor emanating from the charger, such as that of burning plastic or smoke.
scorch marks (burn markings in the color of black or brown) on the charger, cable, or outlet it is plugged into. - A fresh or extraordinary level of heat that comes on suddenly.
- The cable or charger has physical flaws like fraying or fractures.
Additionally, keep in mind to charge your phone far from any combustible or flammable materials. That applies to all chargers, including ones that are in good operating order.
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Keep to premium, name-brand chargers
As we briefly mentioned above, a hot phone charger may be the result of a low-quality or fake component. These components do not adhere to safety norms and laws that protect us. Online retailers like Amazon.com and Ali Express now offer a lot of fake and potentially dangerous electrical devices, which is a well-known industry problem. This covers USB, cable, and wireless phone chargers.
If the charger you bought is broken, ask for a refund and think about getting a new one from the company that made your phone, like Apple or Samsung. If you decide to buy a third-party charger from Amazon, be sure to stick with well-known name brands like Anker or seek guidance from our shopping guide. You can’t rely only on Amazon evaluations since, according to a new investigation, 42% of them are fraudulent. Wishing you success and a safe journey!
