They are really stiff. The only one I don't have a problem with is my iPad one. My iPhone, Watch, MBP, and Apple TV are all really stiff to get out.
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Apple Recalls Some International Wall Adapters Due to Risk of Electrical Shock
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How does one touch a part that is supposed to be hidden when it is connected to the part that fits in the wall socket?
Since 2003? That's 13 years ago. And how does a person break the (how old?) adapter / plug as in that tweet image?
Most people would think it is just time to replace.
Since 2003? That's 13 years ago. And how does a person break the (how old?) adapter / plug as in that tweet image?
Most people would think it is just time to replace.
Um, yes it can. You're a multinational, multibillion dollar company. You have a couple of complaints from customers that the devices shocked them. You test and verify that, because of a design flaw you can replicate the issue. You recall immediately, because not doing so increases your liability exponentially.
And, we should all drive on the left!
I have just noticed that Apple are recalling the European plug as there has been some safety issues with them.
I contacted Apple and eventually they found out that they need to change my plug but they want to put a charge on my credit card of over €87 until I sent it back. I am a couple of hours from an Apple shop and once the replacement is delivered I can't charge my 2015 MacBook Pro and I have to ask the courier to wait while I open the pack and then reseal it all and then hope that it gets back to them in a few days OR they will charge me €87.12 - This is awful as it is their manufacturing fault so be warned. €87.12 for this plastic little plug is a RIP OFF.
I contacted Apple and eventually they found out that they need to change my plug but they want to put a charge on my credit card of over €87 until I sent it back. I am a couple of hours from an Apple shop and once the replacement is delivered I can't charge my 2015 MacBook Pro and I have to ask the courier to wait while I open the pack and then reseal it all and then hope that it gets back to them in a few days OR they will charge me €87.12 - This is awful as it is their manufacturing fault so be warned. €87.12 for this plastic little plug is a RIP OFF.
Apple today issued a voluntary recall for certain two-prong AC wall plug adapters designed for use in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Continental Europe, New Zealand, and South Korea, due to the risk of electrical shock if touched in very rare cases. Apple has also advised customers to stop using affected plug adapters.
Apple is offering a new, redesigned adapter for free to affected customers.The recalled wall plug adapters shipped with Macs and some iOS devices sold between 2003 and 2015, and were also included in the Apple World Travel Adapter Kit. Apple says an affected wall plug adapter has 4 or 5 characters or no characters on the inside slot where it attaches to a power adapter.
Affected adapter prong types
Redesigned adapters have a 3-letter regional code in the slot, such as EUR, KOR, AUS, ARG or BRA. Apple says other wall plug adapters, including those designed for the U.S., Canada, China, Hong Kong, Japan, and the U.K., and Apple USB power adapters, are not affected by this program.
Apple's AC Wall Plug Adapter Exchange Program provides instructions on how to identify your wall adapter and initiate the exchange process.
Article Link: Apple Recalls Some International Wall Adapters Due to Risk of Electrical Shock
Well you may be having a laugh; but statistics prove that it is fractionally safer to do so. Apparently this is due to humans being more commonly right-eye dominant.
The Romans rode on the left, the French being the French (mainly thanks to Napoleon) rode on the right and introduced this where they were able to have influence.
They look pretty beefy. The UK plug is probably the best other than the size, it is a monster.
The plug size is probably not necessary in places that use 110 or 120 volt standard.
I think like 75% of the world drives on the right side. Although, prior to the US declaring its independence, it was common practice to travel on the left side.
I worked in the UK for a number of years and on more than one occasion saw flames shoot out the top of a UK 3-pronged plug (from the fuse I suspect) while I was plugging in a device. I've always been a bit nervous of them since then.
[doublepost=1454008631][/doublepost]This is going to be a major for me... I need to ask Apple if they can supply 2000 replacements in advance.
[doublepost=1454008704][/doublepost]
Haha yes, and they also used to pronounce Z "zed" and spell colour with a U. Thanks Mr Webster.
I still would have been quite surprised if something this dangerous happened with $1 adapters developed in China. Dammit, I'm asking not to fry, I don't want the moon.
I used the chat facility - but they did not know what was on their web site until I gave them the link to MacRumors web site
yikes... 2003 to 2015 ? That's not really small footprint by any margin, particularly when they are also included in travel kits.. Why did it take so long its always the question i ask...
I mean, that's 12 years.. without any notice. i would have not continue with anything for that long let alone an adapter, so with any luck most may not even be using.
Just proves even if u get "approved" ones u cannot be safe either, no matter rare or otherwise. so people continue to buy the cheaper ones.... u'll be fine.... not too cheap, but i'm just waiting for my $10 HDMI cable to break that i bought last year... nope,, seems to be fine.
I mean, that's 12 years.. without any notice. i would have not continue with anything for that long let alone an adapter, so with any luck most may not even be using.
Just proves even if u get "approved" ones u cannot be safe either, no matter rare or otherwise. so people continue to buy the cheaper ones.... u'll be fine.... not too cheap, but i'm just waiting for my $10 HDMI cable to break that i bought last year... nope,, seems to be fine.
Meanwhile, those of us who have to replace the AC adaptor for MacBooks because of crappy strain relief on the power cable, which exposes wires dangerously, can just eat cake (once the feeling in our arms returns).
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The iPhone charger is a well-engineered power supply. It doesn't do anything other than provide a constant 5V@1A supply of power to the 5V and ground pins on the USB in as safe a way as possible: http://www.righto.com/2012/05/apple-iphone-charger-teardown-quality.html It's a super impressive circuit, but all of the IC's in the design are dedicated to controlling the MOSFETs (electrical high-voltage switches) to stabilize the AC to DC conversion.
You can also check the schematic made up here (also on that page): http://arcfn.com/files/charger-schematic.pdf
If you look at the data pins (pins 2 and 3) on the schematic's second page, you can see that they are only connected up to a constant 2V power: V=IR
5V -> GND with 124.4kΩ = 40µA
5V - (40µA * 75kΩ) = 2V
If you were to lick the lightning cable like you would lick a 9V battery, you would feel a slight shock. It's constantly supplying power. This is also why you are asked to unplug adapters while you're not using them. They will constantly be loosing charge due to the safety resistors (and other components) that leak capacitor charge.
It's not greed if they don't address it in software. The charger's device information isn't available to an iPhone. The incompatible hardware message comes from the IC in the lightning cable itself as there is a small chip in every MFi cable that checks to make sure that data isn't corrupted during transmission.
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I'm not going to speak to whether that's a big issue, because frankly I don't know. I do know that I own 5 different MacBook AC adaptors, ranging from 5-7 years of age, my girlfriend has 1, and my stepdaughter has another, and I have never seen any of them start to fray.
But what does that have to do with my original post, really?
Australia/New Zealand uses 3 pins as well but Apple chose to only use two in their products.
I suppose this is all true. Unfortunately a lot of equipment for the UK is supplied without the plug attached. This forces consumers to attach the power plug themselves. Not always a good idea...
12 incidents since 2003...
"... Immediately..."
LOL.
Actually, unless Apple changed the design in 2003, after the first failure, and the remaining 11 failed late last year, I would call Apple management's actions incompetent, greedy and unethical.*
* I say this as a person who has quite a big emotional and financial investment in the company.
Hahahahahaha
Apple always says don't use the cheap Chinese knock-offs. I've never had a problem with the cheap knock-offs. I buy all sorts when I'm in China. 25 ft lightening cables that you can't normally buy, adapters etc. The cables and adapters I've tried are great. Never had a problem.
Calling the kettle black.
The knock-offs are no different in tech. The only difference is that the knock-offs are actually worth the money.
Apple always says don't use the cheap Chinese knock-offs. I've never had a problem with the cheap knock-offs. I buy all sorts when I'm in China. 25 ft lightening cables that you can't normally buy, adapters etc. The cables and adapters I've tried are great. Never had a problem.
Calling the kettle black.
The knock-offs are no different in tech. The only difference is that the knock-offs are actually worth the money.