 Ever wondered whats in a magsafe connector, magsafe take apart |
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 Mar 20 2008, 09:11 AM
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#1
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Apple Addict  Group: Members Posts: 15 Joined: 29-September 06 Member No.: 36  |
My second Macbookpro power supply failed! the first one was replaced under guarantee the second lasted 16 months with lots of care! I asked the Apple tech support guy if it would be better to mistreat the cable and get it replaced under guarantee every 12 months .... he declined to comment!
Well I thought I would take this one apart to see if it could be fixed. I thought it would be complicated as there are 5 pins on the plug. First you have to cut through the moulded plug, 
DSC_9858.JPG ( 82.55K )
Number of downloads: 214then you have the silicone like gel to remove and finally you find a little PCB.
DSC_9862.JPG ( 32.78K )
Number of downloads: 200It turns out to be rather simpler to fix that I thought. True the soldering is tricky but its just 1 power core with the earth shielding split and soldered on both sides of the PCB. I think the cable is broken about 1 cm from the end so I will have to trim it back and refix the connector. Now All I need is some solder ... the cupboard was empty DOH! So now its put back together and strapped up with gaffa tape! Marvelous stuff gaffa tape! might use araldite glue for the final fix. cheaper than the £59 or $120 it costs for the replacement in the UK. update .... good job I didn't try to fix it immediately as the new power supply died after 12 hours! kept blowing fuses! |
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Mar 20 2008, 10:19 AM
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#2
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 Currently present... Group: Moderators Posts: 1,478 Joined: 1-October 06 From: SG (currently) Member No.: 150 |
QC issues again. sigh.
btw, did you get acpp? |
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Mar 20 2008, 02:50 PM
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#3
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Apple Addict Group: Members Posts: 15 Joined: 29-September 06 Member No.: 36 |
acpp?
what does that mean? |
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Mar 20 2008, 07:14 PM
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#4
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Currently present... Group: Moderators Posts: 1,478 Joined: 1-October 06 From: SG (currently) Member No.: 150 |
apple care protection plan
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Mar 20 2008, 08:41 PM
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#5
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Apple Addict Group: Members Posts: 15 Joined: 29-September 06 Member No.: 36 |
no.... I remember the days when buying an apple meant it was reliable!
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Mar 21 2008, 07:37 AM
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#6
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Currently present... Group: Moderators Posts: 1,478 Joined: 1-October 06 From: SG (currently) Member No.: 150 |
e.g. Apple II
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Mar 25 2008, 05:50 PM
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#7
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Apple Addict Group: Members Posts: 15 Joined: 29-September 06 Member No.: 36 |
An update
My new power supply has arrived and works, and since they didn't ask for the old one back I took it apart to see if I could use the new magsafe lead. Its not easy! Firstly the whole assembly is glued together so you inflict serious damage on the plastic housing getting in! This alone kind of rules out repairs.
DSC_0221.jpg ( 146.39K )
Number of downloads: 133Secondly the innards are all glued up with a white cement so it looks a right mess. Its so tightly packed in there that there is no access to the end of the magsafe lead! Thats where I give up! Its not a serviceable unit!!
DSC_0219.jpg ( 160.04K )
Number of downloads: 148I think I will use a junction box to connect the new lead to the old power supply externally. This post has been edited by crispy: Mar 25 2008, 05:51 PM |
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Mar 26 2008, 05:24 AM
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#8
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Currently present... Group: Moderators Posts: 1,478 Joined: 1-October 06 From: SG (currently) Member No.: 150 |
certainly not advised to DIY!
thanks for the pictures!! |
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Mar 29 2008, 11:44 AM
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#9
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Apple Addict Group: Members Posts: 15 Joined: 29-September 06 Member No.: 36 |
The cable started to melt next to the magsafe connection, so I called it a day and dissected the lead!
It revealed that just the shielding had failed not the inner core! I guess this means that you could fix the lead by taking the plastic sheath off and repair the shielding. If you can get heat shrink tubing over the magsafe connector you could have a tidy fix. |
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Apr 2 2008, 11:12 AM
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#10
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 DNA, RNA, Proteins and Silicon Group: Administrators Posts: 5,342 Joined: 24-June 06 From: Earth/Europe/France/Alsace Member No.: 4 |
QUOTE (crispy @ Mar 29 2008, 12:44 PM)  The cable started to melt next to the magsafe connection, so I called it a day and dissected the lead! It revealed that just the shielding had failed not the inner core! I guess this means that you could fix the lead by taking the plastic sheath off and repair the shielding. If you can get heat shrink tubing over the magsafe connector you could have a tidy fix. could you send me the photos to my mailbox, I ahve to feeling Apple still has issues with the MagSafe... I have seen one MagSafe this week-end which was also going to die one day... linathael at macbidouille.com thanks |
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Apr 2 2008, 11:34 AM
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#11
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Currently present... Group: Moderators Posts: 1,478 Joined: 1-October 06 From: SG (currently) Member No.: 150 |
do we foresee another class action suit shortly?
cause i don't think Apple will issue a recall. |
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Apr 2 2008, 01:53 PM
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#12
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Apple Addict Group: Members Posts: 15 Joined: 29-September 06 Member No.: 36 |
I didn't take many pictures of the dissection but this pic shows the inner core is ok and the heat causing the cable to melt came from arcing across the failed shielding.
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Number of downloads: 142The final fix looks like this.. not the most pretty sight but it works and the bonus is that I have a new magsafe connector on a double length lead!
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Number of downloads: 118 |
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Dec 31 2009, 09:51 PM
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#13
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Green Apple Group: Members Posts: 1 Joined: 31-December 09 Member No.: 12,376 |
I created an account just to thank you guys.
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Jan 23 2010, 03:55 PM
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#14
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Currently present... Group: Moderators Posts: 1,478 Joined: 1-October 06 From: SG (currently) Member No.: 150 |
QUOTE (jaschen @ Jan 1 2010, 05:51 AM) I created an account just to thank you guys. Thank YOU! p.s. you chose a wonderful day to join ... well, everyday is probably a great day, but you chose Jan 1st, 2010! 
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