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Burnt charging port still working, is it safe?

T

to1986

macrumors regular
Original poster
Oct 15, 2009
166
2
Hi all,

I have a 2008 Aluminium unibody macbook. Over the weekend I realised my macbook had stopped charging. When I inspected the charging port is looked burnt:

Unknown.jpg


and it had done some damage to the charger as well:

Unknown_1.jpg



Strangely it started charging a little while later, and has been fine since. Two questions really:

1) Is it safe to leave it as is? Or am I going to get surprise electric shock or wake up to a burnt laptop?
2) Why does this happen?
 
1) I wouldn't leave it as it is. Could cause further and more costly damage. Either go to Apple or a qualified third party for repair, or do it yourself. Look up your model at ifixit to see if you can do it yourself, example : https://www.ifixit.com/Answers/View/182034/Charging+port+burnt+out,+is+there+an+inexpensive+way+to+replace+it

2) Could be you had accumulated debris in the port and/or the adapter. Could be one or more pins on the adapter were stuck. Could be the adapter had unseen damage. Etc.... Any of these conditions can cause arcing.
There's closeups and maintenance advice for adapters and power ports at Apple support -- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203207
 
rshrugged said:
1) I wouldn't leave it as it is. Could cause further and more costly damage. Either go to Apple or a qualified third party for repair, or do it yourself. Look up your model at ifixit to see if you can do it yourself, example : https://www.ifixit.com/Answers/View/182034/Charging+port+burnt+out,+is+there+an+inexpensive+way+to+replace+it
Click to expand...


So looks like it has given up one me. Unfortunately for me ifixit are out of stock. Any ideas for where else I can get the parts?

I found this one on Amazon, not sure if the parts are genuine or not, any thoughts:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01G1L9LT2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_cDx2xbD0FTZYE
 
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
to1986 said:
So looks like it has given up one me. Unfortunately for me ifixit are out of stock. Any ideas for where else I can get the parts?

I found this one on Amazon, not sure if the parts are genuine or not, any thoughts:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01G1L9LT2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_cDx2xbD0FTZYE
Click to expand...
I'm not sure what you linked to, I get redirected to the US site. Tried parsing out some of the address to get to UK, but ended up at a car adapter.

I've never done business with PowerbookMedic but they're mentioned frequently here at MR. While there, I did a search for Magsafe power port and came up with this, don't know your model # : http://www.powerbookmedic.com/xcart1/_search.php?is_hc=Y&mode=search&q=magsafe+power+port
 
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
rshrugged said:
I'm not sure what you linked to, I get redirected to the US site. Tried parsing out some of the address to get to UK, but ended up at a car adapter.

I've never done business with PowerbookMedic but they're mentioned frequently here at MR. While there, I did a search for Magsafe power port and came up with this, don't know your model # : http://www.powerbookmedic.com/xcart1/_search.php?is_hc=Y&mode=search&q=magsafe+power+port
Click to expand...

Thanks I did come across the PowerBookmedic site and saw a few good reviews on here, so that is one option, however ideally looking at buying within europe. Was having a look at the ifixit stores. This is the part on the US site:

https://www.ifixit.com/MacBook-Parts/MacBook-Unibody-Model-No-A1278-MagSafe-DC-In-Board/IF160-013

For whatever reason the same part doesn't have my macbook (Aluminium unibody 2008 listed as compatible), even though it says for A1278:

https://eustore.ifixit.com/en/Parts...tml?listtype=search&searchparam=magsafe a1278

Are the 2009 Aluminium macbook pro's parts compatible with my 2008 macbook? Its confusing as the picture they have is the same part number as what is listed by power book medic.
 
to1986 said:
Thanks I did come across the PowerBookmedic site and saw a few good reviews on here, so that is one option, however ideally looking at buying within europe. Was having a look at the ifixit stores. This is the part on the US site:

https://www.ifixit.com/MacBook-Parts/MacBook-Unibody-Model-No-A1278-MagSafe-DC-In-Board/IF160-013

For whatever reason the same part doesn't have my macbook (Aluminium unibody 2008 listed as compatible), even though it says for A1278:

https://eustore.ifixit.com/en/Parts/MacBook-Parts/Macbook-Pro/13/Unibody/Mid-2009/MacBook-Pro-Unibody-13-Model-A1278-and-15-Mid-2009-through-Mid-2012-MagSafe-DC-In-Board.html?listtype=search&searchparam=magsafe a1278

Are the 2009 Aluminium macbook pro's parts compatible with my 2008 macbook? Its confusing as the picture they have is the same part number as what is listed by power book medic.
Click to expand...
Although they use the same Model #, your 1rst link is to a unibody MacBook part, your 2nd is to a Pro part.

In that 1rst link it says this :
Features

This part is only for the MacBook Unibody model A1278. It will NOT work in a MacBook Pro model A1278.
Click to expand...
 
rshrugged said:
Although they use the same Model #, your 1rst link is to a unibody MacBook part, your 2nd is to a Pro part.

In that 1rst link it says this :
Click to expand...

Sigh, I guess I will get it from powerbookmedic then
 
Now that you have the correct part #, try a search. Maybe you'll hit a link for a reliable parts supplier in EU.

Good luck. Report back when you get fixed up, if you find the time.
 
rshrugged said:
Now that you have the correct part #, try a search. Maybe you'll hit a link for a reliable parts supplier in EU.

Good luck. Report back when you get fixed up, if you find the time.
Click to expand...

Ive come across a place called www.thebookyard.com

Ive posted a thread to find out if they are reliable or not, but they look legitimate.
 
I wouldn't plug that cable in. No point risking a house fire or burns at the worst if the battery goes runaway..
 
to1986 said:
So followed the ifixit guide with a replacement dc-board from www.thebookyard.com and here are the results - went surprisingly smoothly:[...]
Click to expand...
Sounds that your experience with the bookyard was good. Will pass it on. I looked at some of the replacement guides at ifixit, don't remember if it was your model, and that particular repair/replacement had many steps for dis/reassembly.

Well done.
 
rshrugged said:
Sounds that your experience with the bookyard was good. Will pass it on. I looked at some of the replacement guides at ifixit, don't remember if it was your model, and that particular repair/replacement had many steps for dis/reassembly.

Well done.
Click to expand...

Yes the 28 steps were rather daunting. It was the putting back together that was the tricky part! Thank you for your help
 
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