2011 Macbook charger broken; trying to find alternative

[johnveazey]

introduction and background:
Ok so hello, this is my first time on the website/forum and I wanted to ask a question regarding the macbook chargers. Mine has yet again broken, this time its the actual power brick but the cords are ok. I do not want to shell out another $80.00 for a charger and there are cheap generic brands but I want to avoid those as well. this is a early 2011 13" macbook.

My actual question:
If I just used an old HP/Toshiba brand charger that has a rating of 65w, input of the regular 100-240v, and an output of 19.5v and just unsolder the the L style cord from the apple power brick and soldered it to the toshiba/hp laptop, would I have any problems with compatible or even too much or not power enough going to the laptop? I've tried researching this, but it doesn't seem anyone else has ever had the idea just to use an old laptop charger from a previous laptop.


the apple chargers are also rated as a 60w with the only difference being an output of 16v instead of the 19.5v. I myself don't know much about the inner workings of these things, but can rewire something with ease. any information you might have, Please post here.

 

[AZhappyjack]

The MacBook, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro lines have circuitry to prevent over charging - the machines will only pull the wattage/amperage required to charge the devices. There is no harm with using an overpowered Apple charger (85w charger on a device with only requires 60w).

I am making the assumption that the regulating circuitry is in the computer (and not in the charger itself) - so it should work for non-Apple chargers, but I'm not 100% on that - and it's not my computer.

 

[johnveazey]

The MacBook, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro lines have circuitry to prevent over charging - the machines will only pull the wattage/amperage required to charge the devices. There is no harm with using an overpowered charger.

so it shouldn't be a problem to just grab an old toshiba charger and resolder the L-Tip to the power brick? I didn't know the actual macbook regulates the voltage, ok great thanks, that was quick and easy haha!

 

[brand]

I've tried researching this, but it doesn't seem anyone else has ever had the idea just to use an old laptop charger from a previous laptop.

People have had the idea but choose not to do it because it was a bad idea.

I myself don't know much about the inner workings of these things

This is more than enough of a reason for you not to do it.


I would recommend you buy a genuine Apple power adapter for your MacBook.

 

[johnveazey]

This is more than enough of a reason for you not to do it.

I don't much about electricity and how capacitors and all of that works. desoldering wires which would be the only thing I need to do and that can be performed by a child.

I would recommend you buy a genuine Apple power adapter for your MacBook.

I'm not shelling out another $80.00 for the 3rd time in a roll. If you're not here to provide help with the specific question I asked, then please leave the thread. I made it pretty clear I wasn't interested with a genuine charger replacement.

 

[brand]

If you're not here to provide help with the specific question I asked, then please leave the thread. I made it pretty clear I wasn't interested with a genuine charger replacement.

I did provide help. I recommended that you purchase a genuine Apple power adapter and that doing what you are trying to do is a bad idea, especially when you don't know what you are doing. You might not like the advise given but it is the best advise that you will get.

desoldering wires which would be the only thing I need to do and that can be performed by a child.

Please demonstrate for us.

 

[johnveazey]

I did provide help. I recommended that you purchase a genuine Apple power adapter and that doing what you are trying to do is a bad idea, especially when you don't know what you are doing. You might not like the advise given but it is the best advise that you will get.



Please demonstrate for us.

there's always person like you in a forum. you did not provide help BECAUSE I SPECIFICALLY said I dont want a genuine charger. please butt out of the thread. now if anyone can provide more details about perhaps using a toshiba/hp laptop charger with the L-Tip cord then post.

quit wasting my time but how something is a bad idea, I don't need your opinion.

 

[brand]

there's always person like you in a forum. you did not provide help BECAUSE I SPECIFICALLY said I dont want a genuine charger.

Someone advising you that what you are trying to do is a bad idea is still help whether you like it or not. Just because you said that you didn't want to pay for a new Apple power supply does not make your idea a better idea.

Just so you know, if you do decide to go against the very wise advise that has been provided to you the charging indicator light will no longer work on the MagSafe plug.

 

[Queen6]

Just search, no need to pay 80$, just giving yourself a headache for nothing, equally don't expect Apple original for $15.

http://www.amazon.com/Macbook-Laptop-Supply-Adapter-Charger/dp/B00URGB1SM?SubscriptionId=AKIAILSHYYTFIVPWUY6Q&tag=duckduckgo-osx-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B00URGB1SM

Q-6

 

[Samuelsan2001]

Just do a search on these forums and you'll see the issues that many people have had not using apple chargers,

All the other OEM's charge the same as apple do for their chargers as well, just search the lenovo or HP websites and see.

Basically a good well made well insulated charger that is not a fire risk and protects against surges etc is an expensive peice of kit.

By all means go ahead and do your fix with the toshiba one, however don't say you weren't warned that it was a bad idea, Nobody here will support you in this it is just a fire risk waiting to happen. Also if you can't get an apple charger to last longer than a year or 2 (I have owned a grand total of 2 in five years and both are still absolutely fine what do you people do to them???) your botched effort will last weeks at best...

 

[iConnected]

there's always person like you in a forum. you did not provide help BECAUSE I SPECIFICALLY said I dont want a genuine charger. please butt out of the thread. now if anyone can provide more details about perhaps using a toshiba/hp laptop charger with the L-Tip cord then post.

quit wasting my time but how something is a bad idea, I don't need your opinion.

I agree with @brand and @Samuelsan2001 - the best and most helpful advice by far is that you should buy a genuine Apple charger.

I'd also recommend buying it directly from Apple. This will make life easier should you find that it needs to be replaced at any stage during the warranty period.

 

[AZhappyjack]

As I said above, it's possible. But not for my rMBP.

Let me add what I thought was an unnecessary caveat: just because you can doesn't mean that you should.

 

[Big Ron]

I don't much about electricity and how capacitors and all of that works. desoldering wires which would be the only thing I need to do and that can be performed by a child.


I'm not shelling out another $80.00 for the 3rd time in a roll. If you're not here to provide help with the specific question I asked, then please leave the thread. I made it pretty clear I wasn't interested with a genuine charger replacement.

It is simple really, if you consider your MacBook to be worth more to you than the price of a genuine Apple charger, then buy an Apple charger. If you don't value your MacBook then 'chance your arm' and trust to luck and plug anything in. Just remember that when it all goes wrong - take a deep breath before posting your next thread with the title: 'Anyone know where I can get a cheap MacBook?'

 

[johnveazey]

I went ahead and did it without everyone's advice and its working perfectly fine as far as I can see; doesn't get any hotter than a typical charger and does the same job the $80 apple charger did. the L-tip light doesn't quite work properly for some reason but I saved $80 by just tinkering a little with an old charger I had from a previous laptop. you have to been naive to think that the genuine apple charger is built any better than another brands charger.