What fresh Hell is this... ?

I just plugged my laptop into the cord that I always plug it into--


And it (the plug that goes into the laptop, itself) started SMOKING.


I immediately unplugged it from my laptop, and then unplugged the cord from the powerstrip.

Anyone know why the f*ck that may have happened?

I am

Posted by cowpuncher
Where *exactly* was it smoking? Right where it plugs into the laptop...

Yes-- right where it plugs into the laptop.

I thought the computer, itself, was smoking at first.

Posted by seraph
Defective power supply?

Something gave out somewhere, anyway . . .

I don't know-- everything else seems to be doing fine. o.O

Posted by Montgomery

Posted by cowpuncher
Where *exactly* was it smoking? Right where it plugs into the laptop...

Yes-- right where it plugs into the laptop.

I thought the computer, itself, was smoking at first.

click to expand

But it was the cord-- not the computer.


the cord

Posted by cowpuncher

Posted by Montgomery

Posted by seraph
Defective power supply?

Something gave out somewhere, anyway . . .

I don't know-- everything else seems to be doing fine. o.O

Do you have it plugged in to another supply right now... and it's working fine?

click to expand

Noooo-- I haven't plugged it into anything else.

Should I?

Posted by cowpuncher
If you have another compatible supply... yes.

Then, if it works fine - Throw away the supply that smoked.

If it starts smoking again... your AC adapter wasn't the problem, and your computer needs to get fixed in a repair shop.

Does "supply" mean another cord? 🙂

Posted by cowpuncher
Montgomery - Basically we will call the thing you plug into the 120VAC your "AC Adapter" for the purpose of this thread from here on out, for clarity. That would be your "power cord"... the thing you plug into the wall, which has a rectangular plastic box in the middle of it... which takes AC wall current and turns it into some DC voltage, with a plug that goes to your computer.

We will call the part of your computer it plugs into, which is inside your computer the "Power supply". That's the part that takes that DC voltage and regulates it, for running your computer,a nd charging your battery.

So basically, yes, if you have another "AC Adapter" that is compatible with that computer, try it, and see if smoke happens again. If it does, the problem is internal in your computers "power supply". If not, and everything works hunky dory... your problem is the other AC adapter, toss it.

It's simply troubleshooting things down to the point where we know if your AC Adapter/power cord is the problem, or if the problem is internal to your computer's "power supply" board inside.

Seraph - Yes, correct voltage, correct plug type, etc.

Easy, trigger -- we can't all be as technologically savvy as you.

And thanks. 😄