is it safe to use laptop charger with exposed wires

alexonhisown

Hi. I have just noticed the cable is protruding from laptop charger (probably due to tripping over cable) and a few wires have become exposed and broken. Just wondering if it is safe to use like this. I am afraid to plug it in.

bonzodog2

If that's the side that goes to the wall socket, don't plug it in.

gouche

I'd look at getting a replacement tbh.

At least throw a bit of electrical tape around it.

zarquon

It's only the ground wires that are exposed so no chance of shorting against another wire. Wrap some electrical tape individually around the white wire and then wrap some more around the whole exposed cables together and it should hold up for another while.

alexonhisown

bonzodog2 wrote: »

If that's the side that goes to the wall socket, don't plug it in.

No. Its the side that goes from charger block to laptop

alexonhisown

zarquon wrote: »

It's only the ground wires that are exposed so no chance of shorting against another wire. Wrap some electrical tape individually around the white wire and then wrap some more around the whole exposed cables together and it should hold up for another while.

Thanks. But do you think its ok to do that even with the broken bits of silver wire.

Soundman

zarquon wrote: »

It's only the ground wires that are exposed

No it isn't. That is the live cable.

Overheal

.....don't lick it.

hfallada

Its grand, just tape it with insulation tape. The wire wont tell you. We sometimes found our dog with sparks in her mouth from chewing my laptop cable( my sister cant understand not to leave it all over the place) and she is grand.

Timfy

Whilst the safest option by far is to replace the charger, if money's tight you could use some fine nosed wire snips to remove the loose "threads" and then carefully wrap the individual wires with insulation tape... wrap each individually and then wrap around all the wires. Then superglue the retaining grommet back in place.

Not ideal but this would offer a permanent solution.

NB never scrimp when buying insulation tape... those 10 rolls for a euro ones tend to shrink and lose adhesivity after a while. Quality tape will be rated to around 60 degrees or so and stays sticky to the bitter end!