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MBP charger light issues

D

dinko

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Sep 18, 2007
4
0
Atlanta, GA
Hello,

I have a 3 months old MBP SR and recently I have noticed that the charge light on the magsafe adapter turns off after a while. It used to stay green when the laptop was charged but now it turns off. It usually happens when I put the computer to sleep. After a while the charger light turns off. Not a huge issue but I was wondering if other people were seeing something similar and if there was something I could do to get the light back on (I think it looks nice).

Thanks,
Romain
 
dinko said:
Hello,

I have a 3 months old MBP SR and recently I have noticed that the charge light on the magsafe adapter turns off after a while. It used to stay green when the laptop was charged but now it turns off. It usually happens when I put the computer to sleep. After a while the charger light turns off. Not a huge issue but I was wondering if other people were seeing something similar and if there was something I could do to get the light back on (I think it looks nice).

Thanks,
Romain
Click to expand...

Haven't heard about it happening before. Mine just stays green even if its at sleep mode. Interesting.
 
dinko said:
Hello,

I have a 3 months old MBP SR and recently I have noticed that the charge light on the magsafe adapter turns off after a while. It used to stay green when the laptop was charged but now it turns off. It usually happens when I put the computer to sleep. After a while the charger light turns off. Not a huge issue but I was wondering if other people were seeing something similar and if there was something I could do to get the light back on (I think it looks nice).

Thanks,
Romain
Click to expand...

Actually, it could be a major issue. Your mbp still charges correctly, and you can still use the mbp while it's plugged in right (without a drop in battery life)?

If there are no other problems, I have to ask about the consistancy of the problem. Does the light not turn on, or go off, every time you put it to sleep? Does it happen at certain times more than others? Is there any dicernable pattern? Does it only happen at random?

My final thought, because this is a bit puzzling, is to talk to Apple. Any way you slice it, the light shouldn't be turning off while the Magsafe is plugged in.
 
It happens on mine too. I assumed it was no biggie as it still shows the plugged in icon on the top.
 
Mine does the same thing after I wake it from sleep. The light is green and stays green but after a while, the light shuts off. The computer still says it is connected to power. If I unplug it and plug it back in, the light comes back on. Weird. Doesn't seem to be affecting anything except my curiosity.
 
My MacBook has done this for months, but seems to work fine otherwise.

The battery is healthy etc and still holds more charge than it did when it shipped :) (according to Coconut Battery)
 
I am a bit reassured that some people have had this for month and that it has not been affecting anything. Yes, the laptop still holds a charge and I can use it while it is plugged in (with no light) without a decrease in the battery charge level. This is a pretty consistent problem. It does it almost everytime I leave it plugged in for a while while it is charged. I guess I'll hop over to an Apple store one day when I have time. It's only 15min away and I can get a definite answer on it (hopefully). I'll take pictures to show the genius because it does take a while to turn off.
 
dinko said:
I guess I'll hop over to an Apple store one day when I have time. It's only 15min away and I can get a definite answer on it (hopefully). I'll take pictures to show the genius because it does take a while to turn off.
Click to expand...

Do it before your Applecare runs out. I think the easiest thing for Apple would be to give you a new adapter.

Good idea with the pictures. Those "geniuses" can be stuborn at times.
 
CalBoy said:
Do it before your Applecare runs out. I think the easiest thing for Apple would be to give you a new adapter.

Good idea with the pictures. Those "geniuses" can be stuborn at times.
Click to expand...

Even if your applecare runs out, consult your credit card to see if they'll cover it for you (like a double warranty guarantee). Cards like AMEX will usually reimburse you for whatever charges it takes to fix something.
 
atsang said:
Even if your applecare runs out, consult your credit card to see if they'll cover it for you (like a double warranty guarantee). Cards like AMEX will usually reimburse you for whatever charges it takes to fix something.
Click to expand...

This is true. My Mastercard has a similar policy, which is why I didn't bother to buy Applecare:D
 
This has also been happening with my ~1 year old MB power adapter. I assumed that it was meant to happen, but I guess I'll bring it to an Apple store and have it checked out.
 
I have the same issues with mine(bought in July)...When I first plugin the light turns on and sometimes turns right off. Other times it stays on for a while(few minutes up to a few hours). I keep meaning to go to the Apple Store, but haven't quite made it yet.

It seems like when I first got it it didn't have this problem, but i first noticed the change at the end of August
 
I have the same issue, though i think it has something to do with the wiring.

I dont pull the magsafe by the wire ever. I just tilt it up or down to disconnect it. But if i were to straighten the wire to the magsafe head it seems like it messes up the light and shuts off, but its still registered as connected and charging (if needed).

strange thing is that if the lights off and registers as charging, nothing happens. The time to charge varies but never really decreases.

this started happening a few months ago. When it was new it didnt behave like this.
 
I had the same issue with the green light going off after a while. Removing it and plugging it back in fixed it.

Apple sent me another cable and the issue seems to have been fixed.

Daze
 
Same issue here

I too have returned a 85W Mag-safe adaptor with the same problem. The green light would disappear and still be on. It also would stay green even after I un-plugged it sometimes. Weird stuff. I later noticed some minor corrosion on the electrical pins of the Mag-safe adaptor. I went to the Genius Bar and had them check it out. They tried to tell me it was working fine, but I insisted they give me the benefit of the doubt and replace it. I wasn't comfortable using it as who knows what fire hazard it could have been? :eek:
 
Ok, I don't want to be a hypochondriac, but it just happened to me:eek:
I woke my mbp from sleep, and the magsafe light was off. I unplugged it, and plugged it back in, and presto, it was back to normal. What is going on? This is some weird phenomenon.
 
Heh, funny this.... I've had this problem for about a week and a half or so now. I havent done the recent Firmwre update cause it wont let me (upgraded HDD formatted in Apple's default setting) So I dont really know where the issue came from.

Im still under warrenty though, might make a mention of it =/

Recall maybe?
 
dinko said:
Hello,

I have a 3 months old MBP SR and recently I have noticed that the charge light on the magsafe adapter turns off after a while. It used to stay green when the laptop was charged but now it turns off. It usually happens when I put the computer to sleep. After a while the charger light turns off. Not a huge issue but I was wondering if other people were seeing something similar and if there was something I could do to get the light back on (I think it looks nice).

Thanks,
Romain
Click to expand...

Same here with Macbook (non Pro)! Mostly the system doesn't charge either if this is the case. Though when i just pull and reconnect it works perfect.
 
Mine does it too, it's a known fault.

Given the rumours that Apple are redesigning the adapter yet again I think I'll hold out for new ones before making a fuss. Otherwise the same problem will just happen over and over.

Mine has always done it, btw, normally after quite a while and seemingly randomly. It has nothing to do with improper removal of the magsafe from the MBP (ie pulling on the cord).
 
Right so what do we do then? I have about another month left of my apple care, do I get a new one or wait for this "new design". It is mildly annoying, but still charges fine.
 
Mt SR MBP does the same thing. A lot of times it will be cgarging and I will come back and the light will be off so I would unplug it and then plug it back in and the light would come back on and stay on. Its always fully charged when the light somehow goes off. It never happens during the time it is charging.
 
after last battery update

macbook pro is plugged in, LED light is green, 100% charge. the LED light will go out, but the menubar icon still indicates AC is plugged in.

if i disconnect and reconnect the plug, it goes back to green.

Again, never has happened to me until the last battery firmware update.
 
This hasn't happened to me. Yet. And I did the battery firmware update.

However, I AM noticing now that when my MBP is charging (as it's doing now), the amber light on the connector is slightly flickering, whereas before it would be solid and steady. The MBP doesn't seem to be noticing any trouble though.

So far I've only noticed this on the larger, older magsafe adapter that came with my MBP. I haven't had the opportunity yet to try the new and smaller 85W magsafe that I bought a couple weeks ago (partly so I keep one MagSafe at my desk and one in my carrying case for when I travel, and partly to have a backup at the ready in case something goes wrong with one of them).

Incidentally, I was mildly annoyed that my local Apple Store seems to be hoarding the adapters. They had none on display and I had to ask a rep if they had any in stock. He reluctantly said yes, that they keep them in the back because they're in short supply, and did I really need one?

Realistically, I didn't feel I truly needed it until he asked me that. If they're going to hoard adapters, that's only going to make me MORE worried and more motivated to stock my own spare. So suddenly, yes, I very much needed one, here'smyVisathankyou!

Apple REALLY needs to fix this. There's really only one reason for them being in short supply, and they've known it for a while now. Out of the $79.00 cost, would it really hurt their profit margins to add a few cents worth of a little more rubber for strain relief, like on the old "power ring" adapters who had it and clearly haven't had these issues?

EDIT: Now suddenly, the light is steady amber again, no flickering. I didn't even touch it. What the hell?!
 
jedijoe said:
macbook pro is plugged in, LED light is green, 100% charge. the LED light will go out, but the menubar icon still indicates AC is plugged in.

if i disconnect and reconnect the plug, it goes back to green.

Again, never has happened to me until the last battery firmware update.
Click to expand...

That's when mine started doing it also. Hmmmm!
 
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