Here is a picture that shows descibed problem on such cable: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaako/2316658032/
I've always had that occur on the other end, where the wire meets the connector.
Redditor Explains Why Apple Continue Making Frail Power Cables
71–80 of 170 posts
Re: Redditor Explains Why Apple Continue Making Frail Power Cables
#72For me the problem is not that they bend and break, but that they melt! See: http://www.google.com/search?q=magsafe+melted But before I go into this, let me explain the engineering of a power cable. If you look at a power adapter cable for any non-Apple product, you'll notice some metal "spikes" where the plug transitions to the cable. These spikes are called a heat sink. The purpose of a heat sink is to prevent the…
Actually, I think using the proper gauge wire prevents the heat buildip and melting.
As the power cable becomes twisted and crinked, the wires fray, causing the same amount of current to run over less wire, turning the wire into a toaster heating element.
Re: Redditor Explains Why Apple Continue Making Frail Power Cables
#73Yep, I'm on my second adapter for my MacBook. First broke between the adapter and the cord going to my computer. The second sits beside me with that same spot covered in duct tape. It's REALLY frustrating since the replacement adapter was $80 and it's less than a year old.
Re: Redditor Explains Why Apple Continue Making Frail Power Cables
#74Why isn't the iPod/iPhone/iPad connector using the magsafe design?
The MagSafe design has four fairly large pins. The iPod Dock Connector has about forty tiny ones. It wouldn't work well mechanically.
Re: Redditor Explains Why Apple Continue Making Frail Power Cables
#75I understand the æsthetic decision, but there is no reason why Apple couldn't have made the wire that runs from the brick to your laptop detachable. That way I could actually replace it for a reasonable amount.
Detachable magsafe cables would also make it easier for third parties to sell power adapters, which is almost certainly why Apple power bricks are alone among major manufacturers in not splitting things this way.
Just put the same kind of DRM they put in the cable on the other side to auth with the brick.
Re: Redditor Explains Why Apple Continue Making Frail Power Cables
#76I understand the æsthetic decision, but there is no reason why Apple couldn't have made the wire that runs from the brick to your laptop detachable. That way I could actually replace it for a reasonable amount.
This. Over the past five years I have had to replace four Apple power adapters. Two caught on fire, one just stopped working, and one only worked when I duct taped it to death. They replaced all but one under warranty. But when I asked the Apple Genius in SoHo if this "whole catching on fire thing" happened often, he didn't say no. He just told me he wasn't allowed to answer that.
Hm, well, just to provide one counter example, haven't had a bad adapter in 8 years and half a dozen apple laptops. Not saying it doesn't happen of course :)
Re: Redditor Explains Why Apple Continue Making Frail Power Cables
#77Except, there are strain relief features built in to Apple power adapters. Power Adapter: http://cl.ly/0r2n2S2z1b3K0L1E0R3t LED Cinema Display Power Adapter: http://www.cl.ly/3i1B3R142q0S25223q2U These may not be adequate, but clearly Apple industrial design has taken a pass at the problem. Anybody have photos of older power adapters to see if that sheathing has always been there?
The Magsafe ones are far too elastic and thus too weak.
I'm typing this on a 2006 MacBook Pro, which still works nicely, but this is my third power supply. The first one died at the transformator junction, and the second one at the plug junction. The new connector, introduced with the MacBook Air, looks more sturdy, but the transfo junction is still as weak.
My brother experienced the same problem once (at the transfo junction).
Re: Redditor Explains Why Apple Continue Making Frail Power Cables
#78I recall seeing some (non-Apple) hardware with case-to-cable transition designed as an inverted strain relief. Instead of a semi-rigid tube extending from device, the function was performed by proper curvature of the hole itself; nothing extended beyond the profile except the cable.
I'm having hard time describing it properly, but the hole walls had specific profile, elliptical extending outward. Pretty much like the big end of a trumpet. The most you could bend the cable was to make it touch the hole wall, and that profile of the wall was good enough to prevent cable cracking.
One disadvantage is that this kind of solution takes up some space insede of the case...
Re: Redditor Explains Why Apple Continue Making Frail Power Cables
#79Why isn't the iPod/iPhone/iPad connector using the magsafe design?
USB carries both power and data, while MagSafe carries only power. This doesn't sound like a problem until you realize that the USB pins have to be unplugged in a strict order: data before power. This is enforced in the connector with varying pin lengths. With MagSafe, there is no guarantee of connection order.
Re: Redditor Explains Why Apple Continue Making Frail Power Cables
#80I understand the æsthetic decision, but there is no reason why Apple couldn't have made the wire that runs from the brick to your laptop detachable. That way I could actually replace it for a reasonable amount.
>I understand the aesthetic decision, but there is no reason why Apple couldn't have made the wire that runs from the brick to your laptop detachable. A detachable wire would violate Apple's aesthetic; thus, you can't detach it. You answer your own question. Does Apple not replace that for free like they do the iPhone/iPod chargers?
The part that goes to the wall is detachable. What about making the other side detachable violates the aesthetic? Or am I thinking of something else?