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#1 2009-03-23 1:26 pm
- macandal
- Member
- From: San Francisco, CA
- Registered: 2000-09-22
- Posts: 309
Frayed magsafe power adapter
I've been having problems with my original magsafe power adapter. It appears it's frayed (computer end). I have to wiggle the cord so that it charges the computer. I never abused it (i.e., I never bent it or mistreated it or anything) so I'm a little surprised that it happened. Maybe this is a common situation and I'm only now realizing it. Anyway, I guess it's time to get a new one. I have a couple of questions, though, before I go out and buy one:
1. Are there any other brands (besides Apple) that makes a better, more resistant cord?
2. The Apple adapter is so big and heavy, I was wondering if there was a smaller, lighter kind of this thing? I have been bringing my MBP with me more often and I definitely feel the weight.
Thanks.
PowerMac G4 (Gigabit Ethernet) 450Mhz DP
1.5 GB RAM
OS 10.4.9
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#2 2009-03-23 2:47 pm
- avkills
- demyelinated brain matter
- Registered: 2001-05-09
- Posts: 7094
Re: Frayed magsafe power adapter
The new 85W adapters are smaller. I still have the bigger one also.
-mark
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#3 2009-03-23 2:53 pm
- macandal
- Member
- From: San Francisco, CA
- Registered: 2000-09-22
- Posts: 309
Re: Frayed magsafe power adapter
avkills wrote:
The new 85W adapters are smaller. I still have the bigger one also.
-mark
Ok. Have they taken care of the fraying problem? Thanks Mark.
PowerMac G4 (Gigabit Ethernet) 450Mhz DP
1.5 GB RAM
OS 10.4.9
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#4 2009-03-23 3:55 pm
Re: Frayed magsafe power adapter
If you are still under warranty with apple care just stop in, or call and they will replace it for you with the newer one.
MacBook Pro 17|2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo|4 GB 1067 MHz DDR3|320 HD @ 7200 RPM|NVIDIA GeForce 9600 M GT 512 MB
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#5 2009-03-23 4:16 pm
- pottymouth
- Uncreative
- Moderator
- From: JP, MA
- Registered: 2002-02-06
- Posts: 17408
- Website
Re: Frayed magsafe power adapter
macandal wrote:
Have they taken care of the fraying problem? Thanks Mark.
Never have and apparently never will. I've Owned 2 Pismo Powerbooks, a G3 iBook, a G4 iBook, 2 G4 Powerbooks, and most recently a MacBook Pro. All but the Macbook Pro have had that problem eventually. The MBP is a couple years old so I expect it's coming soon.
You should see the mess I've made of my wifes iBook. I cut an inch off the cord and hacked the plug open to get at the frayed ends of the wires then soldered it back up. Before wrapping the whole thing in electrical tape I epoxied some plastic cable ties onto it for extra strength. It's ugly as hell but the power doesn't cut in and out.
If they can't make a plug that doesn't wear out, they should at least put a plug at both ends so you could just buy a new wire instead of a whole new adapter. Are you listening, Apple?
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#6 2009-03-23 4:19 pm
- pottymouth
- Uncreative
- Moderator
- From: JP, MA
- Registered: 2002-02-06
- Posts: 17408
- Website
Re: Frayed magsafe power adapter
Aaron_R wrote:
If you are still under warranty with apple care just stop in, or call and they will replace it for you with the newer one.
Yep. The one on my last PowerBook started doing it after 9 months. All I had to do was bring it down to the Apple Store so they could see there was no damage (the guy told me they usually just look for cat or dog teeth marks) and they replaced it on the spot.
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#7 2009-03-23 9:48 pm
- SomeOneOrOther
- 3-yr-old switcher
- From: Ottawa, Ontario
- Registered: 2004-01-05
- Posts: 521
Re: Frayed magsafe power adapter
pottymouth wrote:
macandal wrote:
Have they taken care of the fraying problem? Thanks Mark.
Never have and apparently never will. I've Owned 2 Pismo Powerbooks, a G3 iBook, a G4 iBook, 2 G4 Powerbooks, and most recently a MacBook Pro. All but the Macbook Pro have had that problem eventually. The MBP is a couple years old so I expect it's coming soon.
You should see the mess I've made of my wifes iBook. I cut an inch off the cord and hacked the plug open to get at the frayed ends of the wires then soldered it back up. Before wrapping the whole thing in electrical tape I epoxied some plastic cable ties onto it for extra strength. It's ugly as hell but the power doesn't cut in and out.
If they can't make a plug that doesn't wear out, they should at least put a plug at both ends so you could just buy a new wire instead of a whole new adapter. Are you listening, Apple?
They're trying to be environmentally friendly, but I guess they don't mind a few more adapters going into the garbage. 
MacBook, 13", early 2008.
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#8 2009-03-23 10:33 pm
- Aqua OS X
- Shark Sandwich
- From: Oakland, CA
- Registered: 2000-06-05
- Posts: 12669
Re: Frayed magsafe power adapter
Ohh Apple power adapters, you've been crappy for years.
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#9 2009-03-23 10:45 pm
- user
- Your plastic pal who's fun to be with
- From: I'm not getting you down, am I
- Registered: 2001-10-15
- Posts: 16027
Re: Frayed magsafe power adapter
A string went into a bar and ordered a drink.
The bartender said, "Get out of here, we don't serve string!"
So the string went outside, lopped himself over himself, pulled tight, then pulled on his end until the fibers hung all around him. He went back into the bar and ordered a drink.
The bartender squinted at him and asked, " Say, are you STRING?"
"Nope, I'm afraid not..."
Aw, he's no fun, he fell right over.
Unless you become as little children, there's no way you will believe this crap.
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#10 2009-03-24 7:20 am
- mrreet2001
- Member
- From: NW Ohio
- Registered: 2005-05-25
- Posts: 4334
- Website
Re: Frayed magsafe power adapter
user wrote:
A string went into a bar and ordered a drink.
The bartender said, "Get out of here, we don't serve string!"
So the string went outside, lopped himself over himself, pulled tight, then pulled on his end until the fibers hung all around him. He went back into the bar and ordered a drink.
The bartender squinted at him and asked, " Say, are you STRING?"
"Nope, I'm afraid not..."
That ones going in the books ... lol
2.66Ghz QuadCore-Nehalem w/24"LED CD ---2.2Ghz BlackMB---15" 2.4Ghz MBP(work)
Dual 2.3Ghz G5 (4G Ram, 2x 250G HD)(10.5 server)--- 400Mhz G4 PM (10.4 Server)
1.5GHz Powerbook---1.6Ghz G5 iMac
"So he fels down in a poisoning gas."
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#11 2009-03-24 10:34 am
- General_K
- Intentionally Left Blank
- From: /home
- Registered: 2004-11-18
- Posts: 489
Re: Frayed magsafe power adapter
I guess I'm either very gentle on things, or extra lucky. My third Mac portable here, and I've never had a power adapter go south on me. I even had a PowerBook G4 for just over 3 years, and sold it with the original adapter still intact. 
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#12 2009-03-24 1:32 pm
Re: Frayed magsafe power adapter
pottymouth wrote:
You should see the mess I've made of my wifes iBook. I cut an inch off the cord and hacked the plug open to get at the frayed ends of the wires then soldered it back up. Before wrapping the whole thing in electrical tape I epoxied some plastic cable ties onto it for extra strength. It's ugly as hell but the power doesn't cut in and out.
If they can't make a plug that doesn't wear out, they should at least put a plug at both ends so you could just buy a new wire instead of a whole new adapter. Are you listening, Apple?
Nice 
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