Increased fan speeds during charging ??

[Joko]

Can anybody tell me if it's normal for the MBP's fans to spin much higher and more erratically when charging? It seems to behave once fully charged, but prior charging while running apps increases fan speeds significantly.

I've tried many things to try fix it, pram etc but it still does it. It sometimes gets stuck at 6000rpm even after quitting any apps with nothing unusual in the activity monitor.

The only way to bring the fans down is to unplug the charger, it has done this with 2 different chargers.

Is this behavior normal?

Thanks.

 

[snaky69]

I don't know if it's normal as I don't own my MBP yet, but I can tell you that charging a battery does generate quite a bit of heat, maybe that's why your fans are acting up?

 

[jofus]

My fans spin right around 2000rpm when charging (and when idle with no charger hooked up). I'm on a 15" Penryn 2.5.

 

[creator2456]

Do you have any fan controlling software installed? Some allow you to set defaults for power status changes (charging, battery only, and charged).

 

[Joko]

Do you have any fan controlling software installed? Some allow you to set defaults for power status changes (charging, battery only, and charged).

Thats interesting, thanks. I didnt know that. I dont have any at the moment. I've only heard of SMC which i tried and didnt seem to have much flexibility.
Any others you'd recommend?

 

[sjb]

My Penryn MBP fans stay at the idle speed of 2000RPM when charging. What revision of MBP do you have? You don't have it on a bed or other surface that would trap heat while charging, do you?

 

[DaveTheGrey]

It sometimes gets stuck at 6000rpm even after quitting any apps with nothing unusual in the activity monitor.

This is definitely not normal! Call Apple.

 

[Dustman]

Define erratic. When plugged in, it will run a little bit hotter because of the power supply doin it's work (especially when charging)

 

[Joko]

Thanks alot for the replies.

To put it another way: Lets say i run the machine at 75% CPU when disconnected, fan speeds will run up to about 4000RPM max. As soon as I connect the adaptor it shoots up to 6000RPM in less than 2 minutes usually. And often the only way to bring the fan speeds back down is by disconnecting the power and its back to 2000RPM in a matter of minutes.

Ok by erratic fan behavior I mean that it has even done this first thing in the (cold) morning. Basically, even when temps are low it will do it.

Confused..

 

[e12a]

When the computer is plugged in it generally runs hotter than being unplugged. I'm not totally sure, but something is down clocked when unplugged. I'd like to think it is the GPU (expose is choppier unplugged)

Also, the added heat of the battery charging is going to up the temperature.

 

[Joko]

Yeah I'm sure there is more heat coming into the machine while charging, but for the fan speeds to rise so far compare to what i've researched on MR so far seems too high. Like I said sometimes it does it even when the machine is cold, from boot up.

 

[e12a]

hmm sounds lke you need to take it in. Have you tried a clean install?