Question about laptop charger

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I've been reading about the chargers for MBP going bad.
Is that still an issue? Do I need to buy another in preparation?
Or is there something I can do to lengthen the life of this charger?
 
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Don't know. I've had mine over 3 years and no problems.
 

pigoo3

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Not exactly sure what was being read...or what exactly was being said about going bad. But usually the issue with the chargers (power supply) for Apple portable computers is the cable going bad.

The insulation on the Apple charger cable (the cable that goes from the charger to the computer)...tends to split or crack if the cable is bent at too extreme of an angle...and probably gets worse with age. This happens especially frequently at the first 1"-3" inches from the power supply...and 1"-3" inches from the part that connects to the computer.

Here's an example:

Screen Shot 2019-03-07 at 5.12.28 PM.png

There are products sold that help prevent this. But usually...if you're aware of what not to do...you usually don't have too much trouble.:)

- Nick
 
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pigoo3, thanks. Yes, that's what I've been reading about.
Was even thinking about wrapping those ends in a couple of rounds of electrical tape to help keep them stable.
I just wasn't sure what was causing the problem, so was concerned.
Thanks!
 

pigoo3

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Was even thinking about wrapping those ends in a couple of rounds of electrical tape to help keep them stable.

This is usually what many users end up doing AFTER they have a damage issue. But doing it BEFORE...certainly couldn't hurt.:)

I have one MacBook Pro charger that did this...and I used some white electrical tape (think I got it at Home Depot):

Screen Shot 2019-03-07 at 5.25.48 PM.png

Looks MUCH better than black electrical tape.:)

- Nick
 
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I've been reading about the chargers for MBP going bad.
Is that still an issue? Do I need to buy another in preparation?
Or is there something I can do to lengthen the life of this charger?

Hello Alaska - well, many different things can go wrong w/ the Apple chargers - my problem was fraying of the cord near the MagSafe connection - take a look at my experience HERE - received a free replacement under AppleCare warranty. I have two Apple laptops, MBPro & MBAir, the latter I take 'on the road' - so own two Apple chargers but dislike their LONG 2-part system, so I bought the charger below off Amazon, just the unit + a long cord w/ a MagSafe connector - easily packs and gives me plenty of cord length in the hotel room - always good to have a backup, BUT if you go this non-Apple route, read the comments carefully - there are SO many 'want-to-be' Apple accessories on the market which may fail to work or even be dangerous? Dave :)
.
Screen Shot 2019-03-07 at 5.38.03 PM.png
 
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Thanks pigoo3. I will use that instead!

And thanks Rad for the tip. I will buy something as backup, but don't want any cheap piece, even if this is a refurbished laptop.
 

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I have had my share of Mac laptop chargers fail over the years and not just the cable problem at the magsafe end that is being described here.
Some chargers just "died" for no apparent reason.
Trying to fix the charger is pretty near impossible, for one the case is sealed and has to be cut open, and a genuine Apple charger is really packed full of components compared to a third-party charger.
In general I found that Apple-branded chargers are not any more reliable than third-party chargers, but I prefer Apple-branded ones, even used ones on ebay, because of the control built into the power system that delays the power connection when you plug in the magsafe connector.

One can tell byobserving the LED on the magsafe connector, on the Apple-branded one the LED will only light up after a second or so after plugging the magsafe in, on the third-party ones there is no power delay control and the LED comes on immediately - on some the LED stays on even after one disconnects the magsafe.
I have never come a cross a third-party charger that has incorporated the power delay feature - if anybody has come across one I would sure like to know.

My comment re Alaska21's question about buying a spare would be - it depends.
If you are close to an Apple store and don't mind paying their price for the power adapter, you could just wait to see if you have a problem and if so, then get a replacement.
Some adapters I had have worked for years.
But if an Apple store (or dealer) is not readily accessible, I would definitely get a spare if you can't live without your Mac for a few days.
Remember, once the power adapter fails, the operating time of your MacBook is limited.
 

krs


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Hello Alaska - well, many different things can go wrong w/ the Apple chargers - my problem was fraying of the cord near the MagSafe connection - take a look at my experience HERE - received a free replacement under AppleCare warranty. I have two Apple laptops, MBPro & MBAir, the latter I take 'on the road' - so own two Apple chargers but dislike their LONG 2-part system, so I bought the charger below off Amazon, just the unit + a long cord w/ a MagSafe connector - easily packs and gives me plenty of cord length in the hotel room - always good to have a backup, BUT if you go this non-Apple route, read the comments carefully - there are SO many 'want-to-be' Apple accessories on the market which may fail to work or even be dangerous? Dave :)
.
View attachment 29508

Dave - Two questions about the MBa charger you bought
1. Does the LED come on right away when you plug the magsafe in or is there this short 1 second delay, and
2. Would this work with a 2017 MacBook Air? The Magsafe on the one I bought recently is thinner than the older MacBook pro I have, but I thought the magsafe connectors on the 2015, 2016 and 2017 MacBook Air are the same.
 
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Dave - Two questions about the MBa charger you bought
1. Does the LED come on right away when you plug the magsafe in or is there this short 1 second delay, and
2. Would this work with a 2017 MacBook Air? The Magsafe on the one I bought recently is thinner than the older MacBook pro I have, but I thought the magsafe connectors on the 2015, 2016 and 2017 MacBook Air are the same.

Hi Krs - the LED on the connector does light up immediately when plugging into either my MBAir or MBPro - the charger works on both laptops - not sure how important this observation is vis a vis your previous post but understand the concerns.

This particular 45W adapter w/ a MagSafe 2 switch plugs into both my laptops (MBPro early 2013 & MBAir early 2015) and charges each. Concerning my original Apple chargers (two), except for the cord fraying described in my previous post, both continue to work fine although I'm using the replacement one at a 'charging station' next to my den chair. Dave :)
 
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Some thoughts....

I've been through a lot of laptop chargers. The problem is that the wire is too large a gauge (very thin) and the insulation too skimpy, so in time, after being wrapped up over and over, it splits or has a discontinuity.

I've tried several things to lengthen their lives....bigger end grommets, shrink wrap...nothing helped a lot; it's simply a poor design.

I tried the knock off chargers on Amazon that RadDave recommends, and for a time I recommended them too. Because at first they seem insitinguishable from a genuine Apple charger. But these chargers only tended to last for much less than a year for me. Even worse, they tended to get VERY HOT while charging, and that made me afraid to use them without keeping them within eyesight. One even melted itself.

In the end, I now just replace a bad laptop charger with a genuine Apple charger. It's cheaper than replacing a house that's burnt down. But you don't have to settle for Apple's full outrageous prices. You can pick one up that has been packaged for a bulk buy. e.g.:

(get one for your specific model and year)

https://www.outletpc.com/lg7308.html

https://www.outletpc.com/hf4115-apple-45w-magsafe-power-adapter.html
 

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In the end, I now just replace a bad laptop charger with a genuine Apple charger. It's cheaper than replacing a house that's burnt down. But you don't have to settle for Apple's full outrageous prices. You can pick one up that has been packaged for a bulk buy. e.g.:

(get one for your specific model and year)

https://www.outletpc.com/lg7308.html

https://www.outletpc.com/hf4115-apple-45w-magsafe-power-adapter.html

Good prices - unfortunately they don't have a 45 Watt magsafe 2 for the 2017 MacBook Air and the 60 Watt one which would work is spending an extra $20.- for nothing.

Does this place get different Apple chargers very once in a while?
Right now I tend to buy used genuine Apple chargers as back up - did well with this so far.
 

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Some thoughts....

I've been through a lot of laptop chargers. The problem is that the wire is too large a gauge (very thin) ......

I'm glad you mentioned "very thin"

As an Electrical Engineer, we would say too small a gauge (even though the AWG numbers go up the smaller the cross-section of the wire is)
In Europe they measure wire gauges by cross-sectional area in square millimeters, there the value of the gauge goes down as the wire gets thinner.
 
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Good prices - unfortunately they don't have a 45 Watt magsafe 2 for the 2017 MacBook Air and the 60 Watt one which would work is spending an extra $20.- for nothing.

Does this place get different Apple chargers very once in a while?

I haven't noticed.

I know that Amazon sells genuine Apple chargers in bulk packaging for a good discount, I just can't put my hands on a link right now, and Amazon has too many Mac laptop chargers for me to go through them all quickly right now.

Or maybe it's eBay that has them? I don't remember. I just know that they are out there. Three cheers for the first person who finds us a link.
 
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Thanks for all the help and info.
If somebody posts a link for the chargers, will be nice. I gotta help a relative most of today, so will be gone/busy, but will leave Mac on.

Mike
 
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I have one MacBook Pro charger that did this...and I used some white electrical tape (think I got it at Home Depot):


On some of our Apple cables, at the first sign of any cable cracking trouble or even before I have been applying the hot glue gun glue (available in white or clear) around the cable and tapering it out while hot so that it acts as a strain relief for the cable at the ends.

It works well and looks good. Use some tools or gloves if needed, the glue is hot and can stick to your fingers if not careful.


- Patrick
======
 
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Interesting fix. I have a hot glue gun. May give that a try.
 

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On some of our Apple cables, at the first sign of any cable cracking trouble or even before I have been applying the hot glue gun glue (available in white or clear) around the cable and tapering it out while hot so that it acts as a strain relief for the cable at the ends.

It works well and looks good. Use some tools or gloves if needed, the glue is hot and can stick to your fingers if not careful.
- Patrick
======
That sounds like a great idea.

What gets me is that Apple has not come up with a better design by now - this is a problem with the chargers that has been there forever.

But what surprised me even more is the "Snuglet" that MacSales sells.
Now I have to spend another $15.- to fix a supposed flaw in the magsafe 2 design (although I must say, I have not encountered this issue)
For all Apple laptops with a MagSafe 2 Power Connector
Never be Powerless Again Old problem. New solution.
Apple originally developed the MagSafe 2 power connector to prevent laptops from getting accidentally yanked and damaged. Using a magnetic connection, Apple designed the MagSafe 2 to safely disconnect from your laptop even when a small amount of pressure is applied to the cable. Although this design works wonderfully if someone should trip over the power cord, it does however, create another concern.

If you own a MacBook Air, or MacBook Pro with Retina Display, you might have noticed the power cord disconnecting quite frequently even when you don't want it to. Regardless if you're using your laptop on your lap, or on a sofa or bed, the slightest movement will disconnect the MagSafe 2 power connector and stop your laptop from charging - before you know it, your battery is dead.

Now, there's a solution.
The Power is in Your Hands
Giving Power Back to the People
Introducing the Snuglet, a unique precision manufactured ring designed to sit inside your MagSafe 2 connector, providing a more snug fit to prevent your power cord from unintentional disconnections.

The Snuglet acts as a carrier for the magnetic field and keeps the power cable safely secured to your Apple laptop. Made using the finest materials and highest precision manufacturing methods, it delivers the perfect balance between retention strength and detachment force. Built to last, this handy device installs quickly, stays installed, and it's easy to remove for reuse on another laptop.

Get the Snuglet today and you'll never have to worry about your power cord accidentally disconnecting again!
 
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What gets me is that Apple has not come up with a better design by now - this is a problem with the chargers that has been there forever.


The problem is not really the design of Apples Power supply adapters and associated cables, but rather the cable specs as Randy mentioned, that failed to use proper good quality flexible insulation.

We have used some of the excellent Moshi Power adapters and cables and not one of their cables have shown any sign of cracking or deterioration. Unfortunately, they seem to have dropped some of their older Mac compatible products that were also cheaper and much better built than the Apple equivalents.

Actually, our local Canadian Dollar Store Carries most of the Apple type power cables one usually needs and they last and seem to be built better than any genuine "Apple cable".



- Patrick
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