Apple Replacing Faulty MagSafe Power Adapters
Apple Replacing Faulty MagSafe Power Adapters
by , 8:45 AM EDT, August 20th, 2008
MacBook and MacBook Pro owners with frayed MagSafe power adapter cords are finally getting some relief now that Apple is replacing the damaged chargers. Adapters that are showing damage on the cord near the magnetic laptop connector may be eligible for free replacement even if the computer is out of warranty.
![]() Image courtesy of Apple Inc. |
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MagSafe adapters that are eligible for replacement show some type of separation between the white insulation on the power cord near the magnetic laptop plug. They may also appear discolored and the rummer molding may be deformed.
Users can take their power adapter to an Apple Retail Store Genius Bar or an authorized Apple Service Provider for replacement. Additional information is available at the Apple Support Web site.
Observer Comments
Wed Aug 20, 2008 10:31 am Subject: Rummer molding?
On this one I feel a little sorry for Apple - I know, big organisation, they can take it etc.
But I suspect that this sort of thing did not show up during the design process and comes as part of ageing of the material used in the connector and cable. It would be very sad if this gets the magsafe design a bad name, when in fact it is a great idea, it is just in this case there was s shortcoming in he implementation.
Elementary, my dear Watson: This was obviously the post of a right handed touch typer who, from the rest position in the bottom row, subconsciously used his right finger rather than move his left finger one key to the right. We lefties have superior intellects and so we know what rubber boldings are.
There is no Genius Bar close enough that I can get to without spending a whole day of travel and about the cost of a new adapter to get to it.
I found that through use the outer insulator of the cord would pull out of the rubber moulding (first versions had a shorter sleeve), this would stretch the shielding, which is also ground. When you pushed it back in it would invariably pull out again. I was always careful to pull on the connector and never the cord.
After many in and outs the wires of the shielding would part due to metal fatigue. When only 2 or three wires of the shielding were left they would get hot and melt insulation and the rubber moulding.
Desperate, I cut the rubber moulding away and crimped a copper sleeve over the shielding and this worked for quite a while.
Fortunately, someone who toasted a brand new MacBook by dumping Coke over her keyboard, gave me her 45w charger. It works just fine but runs a little warm.
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