Computers & Electronics

Car charger gets warm - safe?

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  • Feb 28th, 2014 12:32 pm
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Deal Fanatic
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Jul 29, 2005
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Mississauga

Car charger gets warm - safe?

I bought those cheap bullet car chargers from China for $0.50. It seems to work well, but the tip of the charger gets warm after a while when plugged in and I also noticed a smell. Wondering if its safe to use?
My food blog - Reggie The Food Critic.
12 replies
Deal Expert
Feb 24, 2007
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pic?

Any charger will get warm when under load. Smell??
Deal Guru
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Dec 1, 2004
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I find those cheap chargers very fuzzy. I don't use them anymore. As they get hotter, they don't even put out the advertised amps anymore. Look at Amazon for better car chargers. I get mine from http://www.wirelessemporium.com/ and I never had any issues anymore, including charging my tablet
Deal Expert
Feb 24, 2007
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This is a charger/adapter which basically converts +12Vdc to USB (+5 Vdc). It is definitely normal to get a warm when under load.
Newbie
Nov 24, 2011
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NIAGARA FALLS
Cheapo like that will probably have 3 components in it, 1 being a 5v regulator. Most likely only 7805 reg which only good for .5 amps. Do you have a newer phone/iPad that ur using on the charger? I have noticed more and more 2amp charges coming out to charge these devices at a quicker rate. If you are using a newer device it may be trying to overdraw on the charger causing excessive heat to be generated. This is common but lifespan will go down on the charger. I like to say if you can keep your hand on the case for a couple seconds or more your fine. Human pain threshold is around 50 degrees Celsius and most electronics are rated at 85, good electronics at 105.
Deal Addict
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Dec 15, 2001
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Toronto
Personally I wouldn't.

I got a Monster USB 2.1a Car Charger from NCIX for 8.99 (on sale). CE approved, solid quality. Why risk a few dollars...
Deal Fanatic
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Jul 29, 2005
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Ahhh okay good, as long as it lasts a few months without anything exploding will be perfect.
My food blog - Reggie The Food Critic.
Deal Fanatic
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Jan 4, 2011
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West Vancouver
It will explode very soon. Beware.

Happened to a friend of a friend.
Deal Addict
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Feb 18, 2007
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the smell part worries me
Poor Grammar and being long winded don't fit well together, Oh well.
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Sep 24, 2005
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i don't know about exploding, but it could fry a fuse in the car.

but being warm is normal. smell? not so much.
“Children see magic because they look for it.”
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Nov 12, 2011
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Raggie wrote: Ahhh okay good, as long as it lasts a few months without anything exploding will be perfect.
Cheapo chargers are the worst, they will cause fire, I worry about you
Deal Fanatic
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Jul 29, 2005
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Is 'Cheapo' the name of these things because I've seen it used twice on here now.

Anyhow, I bought a bunch of these things and tried a different one today to see if it was any better. I was checking it every five minutes; didn't get as warm maybe because I was pulling it out every five minutes. I think the smell is because its cheap, not really a burning or melting smell.
My food blog - Reggie The Food Critic.

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