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Mass recall of Apple AC Wall Plug Adapters 2003-2015 due to shock hazard

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Re: Mass recall of Apple AC Wall Plug Adapters 2003-2015 due to shock hazard

#21

Post by johnthedebs »

This failed on me recently (a couple weeks ago) and I was very surprised when it happened. It was a US 10-watt(?) adapter that came with a 3rd-gen iPad I bought a while back.

The adapter is two pieces that fit together (like Apple's macbook adapters), and the piece that inserts into the outlet broke into two pieces when I tried pulling it out one day. The way it split, half was stuck in the wall and half was still connected to the little power brick in my hand. The piece that was still in the outlet had two bits of exposed metal that were clearly just extensions of the prongs in the socket. I removed it very carefully realizing what would happen if I touched the bits of metal and threw it out.

That said, it looks like they don't list the US as affected on that page :-/.

Re: Mass recall of Apple AC Wall Plug Adapters 2003-2015 due to shock hazard

#22

Post by aikah »

jacknews wrote: post #4

How about a recall of the entire adapter. I have 4 or 5 of them, all which have disintegrated cables. Either the famous problem where the cable/sleeve detaches at the adapter or the plug end, or on a couple of them, the entire plastic cable housing has disintegrated and sloughed off, leaving bare shield wire. This after just a year or so in every case. Absolute disgrace, Apple.

lol, Dont get me started on the magsafe and its easily breakable pins. it can also destroy the plug on the macbook itself. And there is the heat ... It ruined 2 computers I had and Apple refused to fix them for free ...

Re: Mass recall of Apple AC Wall Plug Adapters 2003-2015 due to shock hazard

#23

Post by garrettheaver »

tedmiston wrote: post #13
jacknews wrote: post #4

How about a recall of the entire adapter. I have 4 or 5 of them, all which have disintegrated cables. Either the famous problem where the cable/sleeve detaches at the adapter or the plug end, or on a couple of them, the entire plastic cable housing has disintegrated and sloughed off, leaving bare shield wire. This after just a year or so in every case. Absolute disgrace, Apple.

Maybe I'm the exception here, but in a decade of using MacBooks, I've never experienced the power adapter falling apart. I remember this a lot back in the PowerBook days, especially those clearish gray translucent adapters.

Same. I still have an adapter from a 2006 MacBook Pro which is used daily and not a hint of damage on it bar scuff marks.

Re: Mass recall of Apple AC Wall Plug Adapters 2003-2015 due to shock hazard

#24

Post by garrettheaver »

aikah wrote: post #22
jacknews wrote: post #4

How about a recall of the entire adapter. I have 4 or 5 of them, all which have disintegrated cables. Either the famous problem where the cable/sleeve detaches at the adapter or the plug end, or on a couple of them, the entire plastic cable housing has disintegrated and sloughed off, leaving bare shield wire. This after just a year or so in every case. Absolute disgrace, Apple.

lol, Dont get me started on the magsafe and its easily breakable pins. it can also destroy the plug on the macbook itself. And there is the heat ... It ruined 2 computers I had and Apple refused to fix them for free ...

Easily breakable pins? I honestly can't imagine what I'd have to transport an adapted beside to break those pins. Any hints?

Re: Mass recall of Apple AC Wall Plug Adapters 2003-2015 due to shock hazard

#25

Post by hartator »

johnthedebs wrote: post #21

This failed on me recently (a couple weeks ago) and I was very surprised when it happened. It was a US 10-watt(?) adapter that came with a 3rd-gen iPad I bought a while back. The adapter is two pieces that fit together (like Apple's macbook adapters), and the piece that inserts into the outlet broke into two pieces when I tried pulling it out one day. The way it split, half was stuck in the wall and half was still co…

Yes, I wonder why the US is not listed as well. Maybe it's different issues?

Re: Mass recall of Apple AC Wall Plug Adapters 2003-2015 due to shock hazard

#26

Post by overcast »

jacknews wrote: post #4

How about a recall of the entire adapter. I have 4 or 5 of them, all which have disintegrated cables. Either the famous problem where the cable/sleeve detaches at the adapter or the plug end, or on a couple of them, the entire plastic cable housing has disintegrated and sloughed off, leaving bare shield wire. This after just a year or so in every case. Absolute disgrace, Apple.

The Apple ones are trash, I gave up and went with the Monoprice flat ribbon lightning cables. Last forever, flexible, cheap, and work. http://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=12859

Re: Mass recall of Apple AC Wall Plug Adapters 2003-2015 due to shock hazard

#27

Post by sehugg »

tedmiston wrote: post #13
jacknews wrote: post #4

How about a recall of the entire adapter. I have 4 or 5 of them, all which have disintegrated cables. Either the famous problem where the cable/sleeve detaches at the adapter or the plug end, or on a couple of them, the entire plastic cable housing has disintegrated and sloughed off, leaving bare shield wire. This after just a year or so in every case. Absolute disgrace, Apple.

Maybe I'm the exception here, but in a decade of using MacBooks, I've never experienced the power adapter falling apart. I remember this a lot back in the PowerBook days, especially those clearish gray translucent adapters.

I've had frayed insulation with multiple MacBook adapters and Lightning cables. I wonder if it is climate related; I live in a hotter and more humid place than Cupertino. In any case there is no excuse for the insulation being so fragile when $5 USB cables never have this problem.

Re: Mass recall of Apple AC Wall Plug Adapters 2003-2015 due to shock hazard

#28

Post by debaserab2 »

rahimnathwani wrote: post #20
jacknews wrote: post #4

How about a recall of the entire adapter. I have 4 or 5 of them, all which have disintegrated cables. Either the famous problem where the cable/sleeve detaches at the adapter or the plug end, or on a couple of them, the entire plastic cable housing has disintegrated and sloughed off, leaving bare shield wire. This after just a year or so in every case. Absolute disgrace, Apple.

I haven't experienced this, and I wonder which of these is the reason: 1) I don't wrap/unwrap the cable around the plastic clips each day. 2) When I do wrap the cables, I'm careful to (i) leave a little slack before I start winding, and (ii) grip loosely so as not to cause twisting stress 3) I remove the magsafe by pulling the outer edge upwards, rather than pulling outwards in the opposite direction to the magnetic…

I suspect you're correct about it being 2 and 3. I've never had a failed iPhone, iPad, or MacBook power adapter that was apple manufactured.

My wife on the other hand goes through about one phone charger every 6 months. Absolute disregard for how the cable is positioned (like if the cable is being crushed or snagged by an object).

I guess growing up with those brittle NES controller cords taught me something.

Re: Mass recall of Apple AC Wall Plug Adapters 2003-2015 due to shock hazard

#29

Post by garrettheaver »

rahimnathwani wrote: post #20
jacknews wrote: post #4

How about a recall of the entire adapter. I have 4 or 5 of them, all which have disintegrated cables. Either the famous problem where the cable/sleeve detaches at the adapter or the plug end, or on a couple of them, the entire plastic cable housing has disintegrated and sloughed off, leaving bare shield wire. This after just a year or so in every case. Absolute disgrace, Apple.

I haven't experienced this, and I wonder which of these is the reason: 1) I don't wrap/unwrap the cable around the plastic clips each day. 2) When I do wrap the cables, I'm careful to (i) leave a little slack before I start winding, and (ii) grip loosely so as not to cause twisting stress 3) I remove the magsafe by pulling the outer edge upwards, rather than pulling outwards in the opposite direction to the magnetic…

Same as. 3x MagSafe connectors in 10 years (3 laptops). All still working perfectly and in good condition despite daily use.

Re: Mass recall of Apple AC Wall Plug Adapters 2003-2015 due to shock hazard

#30

Post by marshray »

blackguardx wrote: post #12

It looks like it is only the international adapter part. Everyone complains about Apple's strain relief, but a lot of engineering went into making that as good as it is (which is less than average). It is hard to make robust stuff look sleek and well designed. Some companies err on the side of robust. Apple goes the other way.

Why does it matter how much engineering went into it if the result is worse than average?

How could anyone call that 'well designed'?

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