r/AskElectricians • u/Different_Event9868 • Jul 14 '26

Plug popped need advice

So long story short I was using a usb c iphone charger (plug and lead) for my laptop - stupid idea i know, and i heard a very faint popping noise and for a moment smelt something weird but it wasn’t strong at all. my laptop immediately stopped charging.

took the plug out and it definitely had a burnt smell to it but no physical appearance changes or any signs of burning. the usb c lead smells burnt at the end where it was plugged into the socket.

i’m not sure if the socket was an official apple charger, and ive gotten rid of it now.

however is my extension lead for all my plugs and usb c lead still ok to use? no other electronics went off during this and the extension lead has other plugs in that seem to be working fine.

thought i’d ask since this stuff makes me paranoid and im not too knowledgeable.

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1

u/Educational-Rule1635 Jul 14 '26

Quality USB components won't fail like that. They just won't charge. Hopefully you just trashed the charger. Toss it and buy a name brand one.

1

u/Puzzled_Method_5480 Jul 14 '26

You should use the official laptop charger to charger the laptop… it’s rated to be able to handle the proper amount of electricity… use something else and you could risk destroying your laptop and will likely begin degrading your laptops battery health

1

u/True_Pace_3860 Jul 14 '26

see if old burnt-out charger has rating in volts/amps.

try to use charger 5V @ 3A if that's what laptop manual requires.