Watch this and you'll see why.
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?
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Since when is 24 Volts with low currents (several Amps) dangerous!
It's too low for it to be dangerous....
The point is that Apple has acted on the problem with respect to the wall plug issue, but remains steadfastly silent and unhelpful on the issue regarding cables. That seems like quite an inconsistency to me. We've gone through several MacBook adaptors (3 in a year) because the cables have lost insulation due to insufficient strain relief at the ends. They've expensive and it's a hassle. If you look at the Apple store reviews of the adaptors, you'll see the average for some models is one star, and almost universally people report problems with the cables...
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).
Okay, but the point of my original post was to answer someone's claim that just because Apple acted on the power adapters in question doesn't mean that the issue was widespread. Apple acknowledged that there was a potential safety related design/build issue, and they replaced it. I was trying to explain that any smart company with a potential safety related design issue, no matter how small would take care of it in order to minimize liability.
Regarding the MacBook power supply, I am aware of the complaints by way of these boards. But I swear I have never had anyone I personally know experience the issue. I myself have been using my MacBook Air in bed every morning for 5 years with the power cable attached, and the cord still looks like new. Where, exactly is the cord fraying for you?
Can't be all that rare, if there's a recall.
...Perhaps yours are fine because they stay plugged in to the same socket their whole life and are never used in a way that puts stress on the chord (ie there is ample slack and you don't travel with them) but in other cases the chord deteriorates at the stress point near the power supply much faster than it should.
Moving the adapter often, such as packing it into laptop bags requiring you to wrap the chord around the adapter, causes the cable to break down where it exits the power supply. This is normal use yet the cable doesn't last and it renders the entire adaptor broken, which is environmentally wasteful.
The adapter and its cable is poorly designed and Apple should fix it, if not for safety then for environmental reasons.
after a better check i have only one to replace: my wife's macbook airAll the adapters with a 4 digit code are affected.
I have at least 3 to replace.... they are working fine but I'm not going to take risks on my life.
Tried to follow the recall instructions and went to see a Genius today. He directed me to Apple Support, as there are no replacement parts in the field...
Did 4 recall so far, my refurb 11' Macbook air 2015 isn't affected but my 2014 13' is... + ipads
had to do the recall one by one so that means they are going to send 4 boxes and I'll have to resend 4 boxes?
That's kinda wasteful...
Microsoft with their AC cord recall doesn't require you to ship back your cord, you can recycle it anywhere.
By the way you don't even need to look for the "EUR" logo, just look at the plug itself, if there's a seam, it's affected, the new EUR ones are made in one piece of plastic (like unibody macs... unibody plugs).
I know i know...just one of those days.I would have thought you were half a million times better than that, Pat.
That's not uncommon practice. They do that at times..and may possibility replace it. I remember one time when MR member had somewhat similar situation ..in a sense that he had to post it to them.Anyone else a little confused by the last two paragraph's here - it sounds like they want me to put my iPad into the mail and post it to them. All this was is the charger adapter that's unsafe.
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Has someone already got tracking numbers for the shipments? My plugs are still to be sent... been a week now.