Macbook Pro power melted!
Hey, I baught my Macbook Pro in March and just recently the power cord melted! I've been on hold with apple for 30 minutes and cant reach anyone! It stopped charging my laptop now!!! NOO!! I'll try to post some pics before the battery dies, but ive never posted pic before so im not sure how. Oh and the pics are from my phone so theyre not great quality...ya i dont know how
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Hey, I baught my Macbook Pro in March and just recently the power cord melted! I've been on hold with apple for 30 minutes and cant reach anyone! It stopped charging my laptop now!!! NOO!! I'll try to post some pics before the battery dies, but ive never posted pic before so im not sure how. Oh and the pics are from my phone so theyre not great quality...ya i dont know how
eMail them to me. I'll make sure they're posted:
(I'm also a Macbook Pro owner.)
- Xidius
Jesus, I've *never* had anything like that happen in four PowerBooks and 14 years, and I don't consider myself to be easy on equipment. Either you've had a horrendous run of bad luck, BRussell, or there's something to the 'improper use' claim. Oy.
Happened to mine too. It's absurd. It's not a sure thing they'll replace it, either. They claim that it's improper use. I've had it happen probably once per year over the past 5 years that I've had powerbooks/macbook pros.
What, in your mind, was the improper use of the cord? Did it have something spilled on it?
This is supposed to be a low-voltage area, is it not? How the hell can that produce enough heat to melt something? This is a real puzzler to me.
Volts don't make heat, Amps do.
But I did notice the past week that the computer would heat up a little too much, even for macbook pro standards (well i guess i dont know the standard). the heat was averaging from 50-60 celcius, and up to 70-80 when i was pushing the computer. now its down to 20-30 after gettig the new power adapter. So i guess thats good news. But my question is, does anyone know if temperatures that high could damage the computer? Its got me thinking, maybe my computer got a little damaged from it.
I dunno, the guy on the phone told me that he never heard about this before, and he did sound pretty knowledgable about all macs.
But I did notice the past week that the computer would heat up a little too much, even for macbook pro standards (well i guess i dont know the standard). the heat was averaging from 50-60 celcius, and up to 70-80 when i was pushing the computer. now its down to 20-30 after gettig the new power adapter. So i guess thats good news. But my question is, does anyone know if temperatures that high could damage the computer? Its got me thinking, maybe my computer got a little damaged from it.
Actually, the temps you were getting before were normal. 20-30 while in use is not. 25 degrees C is about 77 degrees F. There is no way your processor temp should be at room temp while in use. It seems there is a known bug with the temp not being reported correctly when you bring your machine out of sleep. A restart should show the correct temperatures. Check out this thread on the Apple Support site...
http://discussions.apple.com/message...089200#3089200
Just out of curiosity, how were you removing your power connector? This problem comes up quite often when people tug on the cord to remove it. It eventually loosens the connection of the cables at the solder points at the plug. When you end up with just a few strands of the power cable still connected, the load can cause the wires to heat up quite a bit. Picture trying to run an air conditioner with a power cord made from speaker wire. When removing the power cable, it should be done by grabbing the plug and simply tilting it to remove it. The MagSafe connector is designed to protect your computer in case the power cord is accidentally yanked... Pulling the cord should not be the normal means of removing the connector.
Actually, the temps you were getting before were normal. 20-30 while in use is not. 25 degrees C is about 77 degrees F. There is no way your processor temp should be at room temp while in use. It seems there is a known bug with the temp not being reported correctly when you bring your machine out of sleep. A restart should show the correct temperatures. Check out this thread on the Apple Support site...
http://discussions.apple.com/message...089200#3089200
Just out of curiosity, how were you removing your power connector? This problem comes up quite often when people tug on the cord to remove it. It eventually loosens the connection of the cables at the solder points at the plug. When you end up with just a few strands of the power cable still connected, the load can cause the wires to heat up quite a bit. Picture trying to run an air conditioner with a power cord made from speaker wire. When removing the power cable, it should be done by grabbing the plug and simply tilting it to remove it. The MagSafe connector is designed to protect your computer in case the power cord is accidentally yanked... Pulling the cord should not be the normal means of removing the connector.
I think thats what did it. I didnt purposely pull the cord to remove it but i guess over time thats what happend. Thanks
Once per *YEAR*??
Jesus, I've *never* had anything like that happen in four PowerBooks and 14 years, and I don't consider myself to be easy on equipment. Either you've had a horrendous run of bad luck, BRussell, or there's something to the 'improper use' claim. Oy.
I'm happy for you that it hasn't happened to you, but if you browse Apple's forums or the product reviews for the PowerBook and MacBook power adaptors, they're filled with people who have had the same problem. I've also talked to dealers and to University IT people, and it is a very, very common problem for Apple's laptop users.
I'm sure people use them differently and I'm sure that how you use it effects whether this problem occurs. But I don't think the huge numbers of people with this problem are using their power cables in any improper way. Many products have cables that are plugged in and out regularly, and it only seems to be Apple's laptops that have this problem.
It's particularly annoying with this magsafe adaptor, because it's being marketed as *designed* to deal properly with being yanked out, and yet pulling it out "incorrectly" is what they say causes this.
In fairness, I've had to replace three of these, and twice they gave it to me under AppleCare. But once they didn't, and even the other two times they said "it's not really covered but we'll give it to you anyway because we're nice."
And I'd toss out there that MagSafe is designed to be protect against *accidental* yanking, not designed to be used *by* yanking. ie, a couple times a year, maybe, not every day. *shrug*
Wow. I'm just... amazed is all. Is everyone yanking them out by the cord, and not grasping the plug like they're supposed to? Or bending the cord over tight against the plug and putting tension on it that will wear down the connection over time?
And I'd toss out there that MagSafe is designed to be protect against *accidental* yanking, not designed to be used *by* yanking. ie, a couple times a year, maybe, not every day. *shrug*
No. The first one I thought was my fault, but after being super careful with and getting the same results with the others (the third seems to be on it's way), something else is up.
Btw, I don't know if you've used a MagSafe, but it's almost impossible to pull straight out (without feeling like you're gonna rip the cord in half), but the slightest disturbance from an angle will make it tumble out.
The problem started happening more frequently in the past week. However, over the weekend I was working on my laptop when I saw the screen on my macbook dim (the first sign that it was running on battery.) And sure enough the magsafe light was out and the laptop was on battery. So I went to pull the magsafe out and it was RED HOT!!! I mean, not just warm, this thing was HOT, I had to pull it out by the cord. I immediately unplugged it from the wall and my Mac and let it cool.
The next Day I went to the Apple store, and while I was standing at the Genius bar waiting to be next, the guy in front of me started explaining his problem and it was the EXACT same problem I had. Then the Mac employee then went into the stockroom and I asked the guy what he was experiencing, and he told basically the same story as me. When the employee came back, he said that they dont have anymore of the 60 watt adapters in stock, only the 80 (or 85 whatever the Macbook Pros use). He told him they will be in stock in a couple of days and they will call him.
Then it was my turn and I told the employee that I was having the exact same problem as the previous guy. The employee then checked out my laptop and adapter and tried pulling on the cable but of course could not duplicate the problem. But without hesitation, he said they would replace it an they will call me to come in and pick it up when the new ones arrive.
I am just curious about how many other people are having this problem, and is that why they were out of stock. I would think that an Apple store would have plenty of adapters on hand, and I find it odd that the guy in front of me was there for the same problem.
Do you know if the new adapters are built any different than the original ones? I mean, do I have to worry about this happening again with my new one?