When you plug in your USB charger, a weird sound occurs. Does this noise sound like a hissing sound or an ultrasound? You are not alone in this situation. Know from now that this noise can be natural but also reveal a dysfunction which requires care on your part or that of a professional. So, without waiting, find out what to do when your USB charger whistles. We will first see the factors that can lead to the appearance of this parasitic noise. Then, in a second step, we will see the solutions to remove this hissing sound on your charger.
Why is your charger whistling?
When your USB charger whistles, the noise comes from the vibration of the components generated when the transformer converts the alternating current into direct current. A hissing noise is therefore normal in an electrical circuit. However, it is not meant to be loud enough to be heard by the human ear. That is why, several more or less important or dangerous causes may explain why you hear the hissing sound:
- a poor quality charger (low-end or counterfeit)
- a genuine charger with a manufacturing defect or damaged component
- a faulty electrical outlet
- a faulty device charging port
If you wheezing is very loud, bothers you, intensifies, or other side effects are occurring (burning smell, slow loading, overheated, etc); the noise may then be due to a dysfunction requiring support. Proceed to the troubleshooting steps below to try to find the exact cause of the problem and the solution to resolve it.
Note: If you just bought a original usb charger, the noise may be related to a manufacturing defect. In this case, contact the brand support or the after-sales service of the retailer from whom you bought it to request a diagnosis and, if necessary, a replacement of the charger.
What to do when your USB charger whistles due to a malfunction?
Check your power supply
When your USB charger whistles or emits ultrasound, the first thing to do is to make sure that the mains plug is not defective. To do this, plug your charger into another wall outlet. If the hissing continues, the problem is with the charger or your charging device. In the opposite case, if the ultrasound stops, its origin comes from the catch. In this case, it will have to be checked to avoid any risk of short circuit. To do this, contact an electrician. He will be able to carry out a diagnosis and, if necessary, secure the socket.
Check your USB charger
Be aware that in the vast majority of cases, when a charger whistles, the problem is a fault on the adapter or on the charging cable. To check if the problem is with the charger, try plugging your charger into another compatible device. If the noise continues, the problem is with the charger. On the other hand, if the hissing stops, the problem is with the device. In this case, go directly to the last part of our article.
Note: Consider test cable and adapter separately to determine the exact origin of the problem. Indeed, a damaged cable can cause a false contact which then causes the whistling of the USB charger.
If the ultrasound or hissing sound is coming from your USB charger, then be aware that it can be caused by:
- un damaged component or power supply inside
- a bad quality linked to a counterfeit or low-end charger
- un incompatible charger
In any case, it will certainly be better for you to replace your charger to avoid damaging your device or causing a .
Replace your USB charger that makes noise
If your whistling USB charger is the original, the noise can then come from an unsoldered or defective component or from a damaged power supply. In this case, it is strongly recommended to replace your charger to avoid any damage caused by a short circuit. If your charger is still under warranty, contact the brand support or dealer store. Otherwise, you will unfortunately have to buy a charger.
If your whistling USB charger is not original (it was not supplied with your device or is not approved), then it may be bad quality or incompatible. In the case of a low-end or counterfeit charger, the whistling sound most certainly comes from poor sound insulation linked to poor quality components or materials or even from poor assembly of parts which, suddenly, vibrate more strongly. It is advisable to replace the charger because the safety standards of a counterfeit charger are much lower than an official charger.
So that you had an original charger or not, check that the charger is compatible. That is, it has the same charging capacity as your original charger (the amperage must be similar). Also check that the power (Watt) is the same or higher.
If you need to replace your charger (adapter and / or cable) make sure that the new charger is qualitative, compatible and at best authentic to prevent damage or hiss again.
Call a professional
If the problem persists, the hissing sound of the USB charger may then come from the device in charge. More particularly of his charging port. In this case, it is strongly recommended to use the trademark from your whistling device or After-Sales Service from the supplier you bought it from to perform a diagnosis. Indeed, it can be a question of a false contact which turns into a short circuit, which can be dangerous for your device but also for you.
Read also: My garage remote control no longer works, what should I do?
