Just wondering...

Is it OK to leave the AC adapters used by many gadgets plugged in while it
isn't connected to anything? For example, AC-DC charger for a cellphone
left plugged under my desk with the end of the cord on the desk in a handy,
out of the way location.

I assume that an AC-AC adapter should be OK, but an AC-DC might have
problems since it has the rectifier and filter caps always trickling a bit
of current through them. Even worse would be the switching supply of a
laptop when the laptop was elsewhere.

Other than the obvious electrical spikes that could damage anything, is it
bad to leave these things plugged in?

Just a word of warning... Several fires have started from
adopters left
plugged in while not used. Some have a temp sensitive fuse
inside the
transformer, but the newer ones with switched supply have
usually no heat
sensitive fuse to my knowledge.



Noozer wrote:

Just wondering...

Is it OK to leave the AC adapters used by many gadgets plugged in while it
isn't connected to anything? For example, AC-DC charger for a cellphone
left plugged under my desk with the end of the cord on the desk in a handy,
out of the way location.

I assume that an AC-AC adapter should be OK, but an AC-DC might have
problems since it has the rectifier and filter caps always trickling a bit
of current through them. Even worse would be the switching supply of a
laptop when the laptop was elsewhere.

Other than the obvious electrical spikes that could damage anything, is it
bad to leave these things plugged in?

"Noozer" wrote in message
news:Ek8Vc.145803$M95.38964@pd7tw1no...
Just wondering...

Is it OK to leave the AC adapters used by many gadgets plugged in while it
isn't connected to anything? For example, AC-DC charger for a cellphone
left plugged under my desk with the end of the cord on the desk in a
handy,
out of the way location.

I assume that an AC-AC adapter should be OK, but an AC-DC might have
problems since it has the rectifier and filter caps always trickling a bit
of current through them. Even worse would be the switching supply of a
laptop when the laptop was elsewhere.

Other than the obvious electrical spikes that could damage anything, is it
bad to leave these things plugged in?



I'm not sure what Wal-Mart has to do with it, but the older types of
transformers used coils of lacquer-coated wire which would virtually last
forever if the lacquer did not break down over time by oxidation, shorting
out the wires, creating a short-circuit and setting it on fire. The newer
types use switching circuits, but are no safer in my opinion. Best to
unplug them when not in use.