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Apple Launches Exchange Program for 5W European USB Power Adapter

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MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
63,489
30,726



Apple today launched a exchange program in 36 countries for certain models of its 5W European USB power adapter, which the company says may overheat and pose a safety risk in some cases, reports German site iFun (Google Translate).

apple_5w_european_adapter.png
The affected adapters, which are identified as Model A1300, originally came with iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, and iPhone 4S models that shipped from October 2009 to September 2012. Apple is allowing users to bring in the affected adapters to an Apple Retail Store or participating Apple Authorized Service Provider, and will give a new adapter after a corresponding iPhone serial number is verified.

The program differs from Apple's third-party USB charger takeback program, which launched last year in over thirty countries. That program allows users to trade-in a third-party USB charger for a discount on an official Apple charger, and was created following the electrocution of a Chinese woman that may have been caused counterfeit iPhone charger.

Article Link: Apple Launches Exchange Program for 5W European USB Power Adapter
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2014/06/13/exchange-program-5w-euro-usb-adapter/
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OlivierK

macrumors newbie
Jun 2, 2014
12
3
Belgium
I got one of those, I guess I should go and get a new one. Although I have been using it for 2 years so far and no problems...
 
Last edited:
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peterh988

macrumors 6502a
Jun 5, 2011
625
1,028
Just had a look, not affected, but needed an electron microscope to read the number!
 
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foobarbaz

macrumors 6502a
Nov 29, 2007
873
1,953
Must indeed be rare if it took that long to discover.

I still have some power adapters in original packaging. Does anybody know if I can tell if they're affected without opening them?
The model number isn't on the outside, but the copyright says 2012 and the schematics seem to depict iPhone 5 and Lightning style, so I guess I'm good.
 
S

SwissMac2

macrumors member
Jan 18, 2010
65
2
Switzerland
I have one of those iPhones but my adaptor looks nothing like the illustration - it certainly doesn't have a rhomboid shape but is the old block shape like the one the first iPhone shipped with in Europe.

It looks like your graphic artist created an illustration of what his charger looked like (using a US model) and linked it with an article about a European model. I mean, Europe is just like Kansas, isn't it?
 
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pmontanarella

macrumors 6502
Oct 12, 2012
321
7
Vancouver, Canada
SwissMac2 said:
I have one of those iPhones but my adaptor looks nothing like the illustration - it certainly doesn't have a rhomboid shape but is the old block shape like the one the first iPhone shipped with in Europe.

It looks like your graphic artist created an illustration of what his charger looked like (using a US model) and linked it with an article about a European model. I mean, Europe is just like Kansas, isn't it?
Click to expand...

Actually they exist. It's just the image is from a weird perspective.

Link (italian store)
 
Menel

Menel

Suspended
Aug 4, 2011
6,351
1,356
SwissMac2 said:
I have one of those iPhones but my adaptor looks nothing like the illustration - it certainly doesn't have a rhomboid shape but is the old block shape like the one the first iPhone shipped with in Europe.

It looks like your graphic artist created an illustration of what his charger looked like (using a US model) and linked it with an article about a European model. I mean, Europe is just like Kansas, isn't it?
Click to expand...

It's from the Agerman source article, because presumably that's what they look like.
 
2

294307

Cancelled
Mar 19, 2009
567
315
OlivierK said:
I got one of those, I guess I should go and get a new one. Although I have been using it for 2 years so far and no problems...
Click to expand...

It is foolish to think you will be OK just because it hasn't overheated over the last two years. You should get it replaced as should anyone that has an affected adapter. Don't take chances.
 
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foobarbaz

macrumors 6502a
Nov 29, 2007
873
1,953
SwissMac2 said:
I have one of those iPhones but my adaptor looks nothing like the illustration - it certainly doesn't have a rhomboid shape but is the old block shape like the one the first iPhone shipped with in Europe.
Click to expand...

I don't know about Switzerland, but in Germany the adapters that shipped with 3GS and later look exactly like this.

It looks like your graphic artist created an illustration of what his charger looked like (using a US model) and linked it with an article about a European model. I mean, Europe is just like Kansas, isn't it?
Click to expand...

Are we talking about the illustration they copied straight from Apple's exchange website?
 
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odedia

macrumors 65816
Nov 24, 2005
1,043
149
Next recall must be this disaster:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4766577?tstart=0
 
Martin81

Martin81

macrumors regular
Oct 14, 2013
210
102
Germany
I got one of those Power Adapters.

Will visit my local Reseller next week. But I wonder, why they want the serial number of my iPhone. Bought the effected Power Adapter separately.
 
pauliaK

pauliaK

macrumors regular
Jan 16, 2012
142
56
Banff, AB
Martin81 said:
I got one of those Power Adapters.

Will visit my local Reseller next week. But I wonder, why they want the serial number of my iPhone. Bought the effected Power Adapter separately.
Click to expand...

Perhaps it's like 1 exchange per phone. They would make a note of your IMEI or something.

And if it's the case I wonder whether they would replace mine since I'm in Europe now and have bought an European charger separately though my phone itself is from Canada and I bought it factory unlocked from an Apple store, so it came with American charger.

I doubt it's a problem since I had my iPad replaced in Canada which I bought in US, just curious though.
 
Sandstorm

Sandstorm

macrumors 6502a
Sep 27, 2011
697
1,714
Riga, Latvia
Martin81 said:
I got one of those Power Adapters.

Will visit my local Reseller next week. But I wonder, why they want the serial number of my iPhone. Bought the effected Power Adapter separately.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I actually have 2 of those A1300 ones as my spare chargers. But why would I need to hunt those old serial numbers from iPhones I don't have anymore (one 4 lost, one 3G given away)?

If the adapters are not safe, just exchange them. Definitely will visit my local Apple authorised service provider and try to exchange them anyway. :rolleyes:
 
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foobarbaz

macrumors 6502a
Nov 29, 2007
873
1,953
I once had to replace Apple headphones that I bought without a device under warranty.

They just wanted *any* device serial number (even from a MacBook), because I guess that's how they connect the "repair" to your customer data or maybe that's how their internal accounting works.

It sounded like I could have gotten it replaced without any serial number, too, but then they couldn't have done it automatically through their system (maybe requiring permission from the manager or something).
 
D

Dezmond

macrumors member
Apr 16, 2014
67
81
Got one of these with my iPhone4. Haven't noticed any problems so far but might trade it in if I've got the time.
 
bushido

bushido

Suspended
Mar 26, 2008
8,070
2,755
Germany
SwissMac2 said:
I have one of those iPhones but my adaptor looks nothing like the illustration - it certainly doesn't have a rhomboid shape but is the old block shape like the one the first iPhone shipped with in Europe.

It looks like your graphic artist created an illustration of what his charger looked like (using a US model) and linked it with an article about a European model. I mean, Europe is just like Kansas, isn't it?
Click to expand...

well jokes on you. the charger has been this tiny since the iPhone 4 at least in Germany and Spain
 
Wayfarer

Wayfarer

macrumors 65816
Jun 15, 2007
1,225
601
That redesign of the "CE" though! Newsworthy because graphic design tickles my fancy.
wink-smiley.png


Now it is consistent and harmonious with the other icons.
thumb_smileyvault-cute-big-smiley-animated-053.gif
 
K

Kuray

macrumors regular
Jul 24, 2010
135
1
"It was also sold as a standalone accessory."

So you can replace it if you bought it separately. But they may require you proof of receipt. Than you can request receipt if you bought it from Apple Store.


I will replace the charger and frayed cable with my friend's serial number
 
O

OlivierK

macrumors newbie
Jun 2, 2014
12
3
Belgium
bbnck said:
It is foolish to think you will be OK just because it hasn't overheated over the last two years. You should get it replaced as should anyone that has an affected adapter. Don't take chances.
Click to expand...

That's not what I meant. I meant that it's not my number 1 priority of things to do today... I am obviously going to get it replaced
 
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