I have the same problem except it hasn't burned, just gets very hot. I keep a heat-absorbing mat under the laptop and when it gets too warm even with that, I sit it on a large gel cold pack (like you would put on a sprained knee). I put the gel pack in a pillow case to absorb the condensation/ice crystals that are on it when you first take it out of the freezer.

I also replaced the battery with the recall, but only a year ago since I wasn't notified by apple and thought I had a different battery. I also replaced my 45W adapter with another 45W last year - since I'm having these problems I thought maybe I should get a 65W. From your description it sounds like that won't help - thanks for saving me that expense.

The fan hardly ever comes on even when it feels really hot. I can tell when it's getting into trouble because besides getting hot, it gets really slow - 5 minutes on the cold pack and it's fine but I still keep it on there.

I have also noticed the light on the D/C plug glowing red instead of amber or green sometimes lately. From looking online, I think my D/C-in board (holds the jack the D/C plug goes into) is loose and has some bad connections - the red goes away if I move the plug around just so. I can wiggle the D/C-in jack up and down a little so I think it's loose.

I know Mac says it's not a laptop, it's a portable computer, but I like to use my laptop on - my lap, of all things - and I like to sit in a relaxed version of the lotus position. The D/C connection is very vulnerable to being bent up or sideways in this position, since it comes straight out to the side. I reinforced the D/C cord with electrical tape at the plug, since this is where it broke the last time, but now the problem is with the jack or in-board instead.

I have started using it only on the battery in my lap, plugging it in only on a flat surface to charge it, and using cooling pads as I said, but am wondering if I could replace the whole D/C setup with a magsafe, which is why I came on this forum.

Sorry I can only commiserate, not solve your problem at this point, but for now you can buy a gel cold pack for $10 or so and keep it going.You could also look into one of those things with the fans.

Margaret

[quote|margaretmiz]I have the same problem except it hasn't burned, just gets very hot. I keep a heat-absorbing mat under the laptop and when it gets too warm even with that, I sit it on a large gel cold pack (like you would put on a sprained knee). I put the gel pack in a pillow case to absorb the condensation/ice crystals that are on it when you first take it out of the freezer. I also replaced the battery with the recall, but only a year ago since I wasn't notified by apple and thought I had a different battery. I also replaced my 45W adapter with another 45W last year - since I'm having these problems I thought maybe I should get a 65W. From your description it sounds like that won't help - thanks for saving me that expense. The fan hardly ever comes on even when it feels really hot. I can tell when it's getting into trouble because besides getting hot, it gets really slow - 5 minutes on the cold pack and it's fine but I still keep it on there. I have also noticed the light on the D/C plug glowing red instead of amber or green sometimes lately. From looking online, I think my D/C-in board (holds the jack the D/C plug goes into) is loose and has some bad connections - the red goes away if I move the plug around just so. I can wiggle the D/C-in jack up and down a little so I think it's loose. I know Mac says it's not a laptop, it's a portable computer, but I like to use my laptop on - my lap, of all things - and I like to sit in a relaxed version of the lotus position. The D/C connection is very vulnerable to being bent up or sideways in this position, since it comes straight out to the side. I reinforced the D/C cord with electrical tape at the plug, since this is where it broke the last time, but now the problem is with the jack or in-board instead. I have started using it only on the battery in my lap, plugging it in only on a flat surface to charge it, and using cooling pads as I said, but am wondering if I could replace the whole D/C setup with a magsafe, which is why I came on this forum. Sorry I can only commiserate, not solve your problem at this point, but for now you can buy a gel cold pack for $10 or so and keep it going.You could also look into one of those things with the fans. Margaret[/quote]

Is it the plug itself that's heating up?

(this would be the sign of a bad connection)

Or the charger body itself.

(This would mean the the charger is overloaded somehow)

Or the battery?

(bad batt/ battery connection)

My guess there's something environmental involved since it's happening at home but not at the shop.

The techs had it set on a nice clean level bench with an outlet right close by when they tested it.

Do you have the charger plugged into a long cord? Are you in an older building?

(Low voltage can cause AC stuff to heat up. Long cords cause the voltage to drop, older buildings can have really nasty electrical systems.)

[quote|marcucco]Is it the plug itself that's heating up? (this would be the sign of a bad connection) Or the charger body itself. (This would mean the the charger is overloaded somehow) Or the battery? (bad batt/ battery connection) My guess there's something environmental involved since it's happening at home but not at the shop. The techs had it set on a nice clean level bench with an outlet right close by when they tested it. Do you have the charger plugged into a long cord? Are you in an older building? (Low voltage can cause AC stuff to heat up. Long cords cause the voltage to drop, older buildings can have really nasty electrical systems.)[/quote]

I agree with marcucco on investigating the power situation. Try putting a power filter or UPS on the line. Or you could test the voltage-- low voltage could definitely cause something like this.

[quote|Kyle Wiens]I agree with marcucco on investigating the power situation. Try putting a power filter or UPS on the line. Or you could test the voltage-- low voltage could definitely cause something like this.[/quote]

Most folks don't have a "Multi Meter" hanging around, it's an electronics tool to test voltage.

If you now somebody who's an electrician or into electronics or fixes cars, you may be able to borrow one from them, or ask them to run the test for you.

You need to have at least 110 volts in whatever you're plugging the charger into.

If you're using an extension cord, check that too.

If the cord is getting warm, you'll need to find a heavier duty one.

[quote|marcucco]Most folks don't have a "Multi Meter" hanging around, it's an electronics tool to test voltage. If you now somebody who's an electrician or into electronics or fixes cars, you may be able to borrow one from them, or ask them to run the test for you. You need to have at least 110 volts in whatever you're plugging the charger into. If you're using an extension cord, check that too. If the cord is getting warm, you'll need to find a heavier duty one.[/quote]

Thanks for the suggestions. I do live in an older house, and plug it into power strips. My boyfriend is handy and I'll have him check the voltage. It is both the adapter and the body of the laptop that get hot, but not just the battery, also middle/back part. The plug itself doesn't really get hot, just glows red sometimes.

I also took a suggestion from another thread and downloaded a program called G4FanControl. This gives you the ability to monitor and reset temperature sensor controls to activate ibook/macbook fans at lower temperatures. Normal human body temperature, 98.6 F = 37 C. One of my temperature sensors was set at 85 C = 185 F! The specs I see on the operating temperature for the ibook only goes up to 90 F = 32 C, but this perhaps refers to the environmental temperature, not the internal temperature.

The URL for the G4FanControl is http://www.andreafabrizi.it?g4fancontrol.... There was a very clear explanation with screenshots and graphs showing the temperature differentials before and after running the program. This program does exactly what it claims and costs $7.99 [You need an extra free download for OS 10.5 Leopard].

It was very simple to download and started to work immediately. I realized I didn't know what the fans sound like when they're going full speed, because they have never done it. I have been experimenting with the temperature settings so it isn't going on high all the time. I would be interested to see what you guys have to say about it.

I will still check out the voltage. I think between the two the problem will be handled, at least for now.

Thanks a lot for your help!

Margaret

[quote|margaretmiz]Thanks for the suggestions. I do live in an older house, and plug it into power strips. My boyfriend is handy and I'll have him check the voltage. It is both the adapter and the body of the laptop that get hot, but not just the battery, also middle/back part. The plug itself doesn't really get hot, just glows red sometimes. I also took a suggestion from another thread and downloaded a program called G4FanControl. This gives you the ability to monitor and reset temperature sensor controls to activate ibook/macbook fans at lower temperatures. Normal human body temperature, 98.6 F = 37 C. One of my temperature sensors was set at 85 C = 185 F! The specs I see on the operating temperature for the ibook only goes up to 90 F = 32 C, but this perhaps refers to the environmental temperature, not the internal temperature. The URL for the G4FanControl is http://www.andreafabrizi.it?g4fancontrol:download. There was a very clear explanation with screenshots and graphs showing the temperature differentials before and after running the program. This program does exactly what it claims and costs $7.99 [You need an extra free download for OS 10.5 Leopard]. It was very simple to download and started to work immediately. I realized I didn't know what the fans sound like when they're going full speed, because they have never done it. I have been experimenting with the temperature settings so it isn't going on high all the time. I would be interested to see what you guys have to say about it. I will still check out the voltage. I think between the two the problem will be handled, at least for now. Thanks a lot for your help! Margaret[/quote]

I use a similar fan control program in my Intel iMac.

I jack the speeds up when I'm running processor heavy stuff like games and reset them to normal for browsing or writing.

Keep in mind a fan only has so many revolutions in it.

Speeding up the fans won't help if your burning out chargers tho, that's a separate issue.

[quote|marcucco]I use a similar fan control program in my Intel iMac. I jack the speeds up when I'm running processor heavy stuff like games and reset them to normal for browsing or writing. Keep in mind a fan only has so many revolutions in it. Speeding up the fans won't help if your burning out chargers tho, that's a separate issue.[/quote]