I agree. But I mean I can't necessarily expect them to make a cable that lasts forever. Like I mentioned before, they make those things with pennies on the dollar producing billions of those things probably. I heard there's this trick where you wrap a paper clip around the wire where it attaches to USB or lightning plug and I've heard that works for people?
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Lightning Cables Failing Due to Corrosion, Cause Unclear
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I agree. But I mean I can't necessarily expect them to make a cable that lasts forever. Like I mentioned before, they make those things with pennies on the dollar producing billions of those things probably. I heard there's this trick where you wrap a paper clip around the wire where it attaches to USB or lightning plug and I've heard that works for people?
Well, its pretty obvious at my house. There are 2 groups of people.
My wife and kids destroy all cables. Laptop, phone, microUSB (yeah, that's right), lamp cords, etc. Apple, Belkin, no-name brands, etc. And they have animals that help out, rabbits, cats, etc.
Me, I've almost never had to replace any cable that I exclusively use. I may have damaged a vacuum cord once, a little foggy on that. And I've messed up a couple coaxes for cable/antenna use when pulling them through walls carelessly.
Now, as I've said earlier, Apple makes most of their cables too thin, with too little strain relief. Also, the cable insulation is often not really attached under the strain relief, compounding that problem. So, the family destroys Apple cables pretty quick. But the fault really does lie with the user. Regardless of what some here will say. If something is more delicate, treat it better. What I usually see is people allowing their cords of all types to be bent at ridiculous angles. Apple's are likely to fail faster than others, but none are going to stand up to that abuse.
Corrosion might be a different story, though. That's what makes this topic pertinent.
Never had a problem with any of Apple's iDevice cables.
The only issue I ever had with an Apple cable was with my 2000 Pismo Powerbook "yo-yo" cable which stopped working properly after 6 years of winding up and unwinding...
The only issue I ever had with an Apple cable was with my 2000 Pismo Powerbook "yo-yo" cable which stopped working properly after 6 years of winding up and unwinding...
Mmmmm......I can see.....
how a damaged costly cable can enrage a sizable group of people. If were generic USB 1.1 or even 3.0 cables......
how a damaged costly cable can enrage a sizable group of people. If were generic USB 1.1 or even 3.0 cables......
I think apple should provide unlimited replacements for unlimited time when they are charging a horrendously ridiculous price of 20 bucks per cable.
It is just pure greed on apple part to charge this price when I can get a usb2/3 cable from 50c to a dollar which is used by all the rest of the phones in the world.
It is just pure greed on apple part to charge this price when I can get a usb2/3 cable from 50c to a dollar which is used by all the rest of the phones in the world.
I now have two authentic Apple lightning cables that both have the center pin "corroded" and will only charge when inserted one direction.
Wow, these reviews are awful, surely Apple should be paying attention when so many people have the same problem
http://store.apple.com/us/reviews/MD818ZM/A/lightning-to-usb-cable
http://store.apple.com/us/reviews/MD818ZM/A/lightning-to-usb-cable
Most people aren't careful with cables and Apple cables are more fragile than most. I don't put any pressure on the contact points on my cables and they've never failed.
People that I've seen wrap their cables tightly always have frayed apple cables.
Yes, but it's only happens on one side of the plug...the other side, all the pins look fine
So you are saying all of those bad reviews at apple.com on these cables are due to insane use? Do you know all of these people or something?
Same known issue happened to my rMBP cable but at least they replaced. Also this laptop had never left the house and was well cared for
https://www.google.com.au/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=apple frayed cable
Well if they are going to fail regardless, I went ahead and bought 6 lightning cables for $10 shipped from China. They charge the phones and iPads that we have so thats all that matters.
No sense in paying $15-$20 for something that can't even last a year of normal use. We'll see how the chinese ones fare.
No sense in paying $15-$20 for something that can't even last a year of normal use. We'll see how the chinese ones fare.
You're forgetting to tell us about the part where you and your wife probably use your phones in bed, while plugged in, thereby creating the strain that causes the cords to bend, short out or even fray.
Never had a problem with any of my iPod/iPhone cords, including the several Lightning cables I own. You're doing it wrong.
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Less than a year, and/or they'll irreversibly damage your devices. Oh, they might be sturdier. And then they randomly stop working, or again, damage the charging mechanism on the phone or iPad.
Also, the problem with "normal use" of these cables is "normal people" bend the ever-living hell out of their cables.
Lightning Cables Failing Due to Corrosion, Cause Unclear
If gravity causes strain then they're useless. We don't bend the cables at the collar. It's far below that point and that's if we even use them in bed, which is less than 30% of the time. The cables are known to have short collars with weak connections. Pull one apart yourself and check. It's a crappy design which is a shame because the lighting connection itself is excellent.
If gravity causes strain then they're useless. We don't bend the cables at the collar. It's far below that point and that's if we even use them in bed, which is less than 30% of the time. The cables are known to have short collars with weak connections. Pull one apart yourself and check. It's a crappy design which is a shame because the lighting connection itself is excellent.
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Apple needs to recall these
1200 one-star reviews at: http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD818ZM/A/lightning-to-usb-cable
360 one-star reviews at: http://store.apple.com/uk/product/MD818ZM/A/lightning-to-usb-cable-1m
suggests that there is a major design flaw that can affect a lot of people. 3+ cables in 6 months! It strongly suggests that the cable design is not fit for general purpose use - which is ridiculous when there isn't an alternative way to charge the device! This is not an "optional" accessory.
1200 one-star reviews at: http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD818ZM/A/lightning-to-usb-cable
360 one-star reviews at: http://store.apple.com/uk/product/MD818ZM/A/lightning-to-usb-cable-1m
suggests that there is a major design flaw that can affect a lot of people. 3+ cables in 6 months! It strongly suggests that the cable design is not fit for general purpose use - which is ridiculous when there isn't an alternative way to charge the device! This is not an "optional" accessory.
I have 2 cables which are approaching 2 years old, still look brand new, how did I manage it?? don't use it when plugged in or if I do keep the lightning end straight and the cable loose not taught.
My other cables are a lot newer (5S, Air and rMini) and are also in mint condition, even the one I use in the car, which is plugged into the 5S when Im using it in the cradle for sat nav.
My other cables are a lot newer (5S, Air and rMini) and are also in mint condition, even the one I use in the car, which is plugged into the 5S when Im using it in the cradle for sat nav.
Yup
This is a common issue - and not surprising.
Because the contacts are exposed, unlike other connector types, they are prone to touching other surfaces.
This corrosion happens most commonly in cars if the cable is left plugged into a maintained charger (ie not switched off when the key is removed) and the cable touches even a remotely damp carpet (for example). Electrolytic action occurs which destroys the contacts that are 'live'. Like this:
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Damage can also occur if the plug comes into contact with grounded metal parts of the car, but that is less likely.
As for corrosion happening at home, when the plug has never apparently come into contact with anything wet, it only takes trace moisture to start the electrolytic action if the cable is left plugged into a live charger. It could even happen with traces of hand cream because the surface of the contacts is in the same plane as the supporting insulation
When I first saw one of these connectors when the 5 first came out, I immediately wondered if this would be an issue. You wouldn't normally leave live exposed wires with *any* voltage on them hanging around without expecting some consequences. A week later, because of careless unplugging in the car and leaving the cable plugged into the charger with the connector resting on a slightly damp carpet, my concern was verified. That was the first of them to go this way. Sadly, despite trying to remember to unplug the charger every time I leave the car, I have now destroyed 4 of them in exactly the same way. Doh.
An imperfect design.
This is a common issue - and not surprising.
Because the contacts are exposed, unlike other connector types, they are prone to touching other surfaces.
This corrosion happens most commonly in cars if the cable is left plugged into a maintained charger (ie not switched off when the key is removed) and the cable touches even a remotely damp carpet (for example). Electrolytic action occurs which destroys the contacts that are 'live'. Like this:
Damage can also occur if the plug comes into contact with grounded metal parts of the car, but that is less likely.
As for corrosion happening at home, when the plug has never apparently come into contact with anything wet, it only takes trace moisture to start the electrolytic action if the cable is left plugged into a live charger. It could even happen with traces of hand cream because the surface of the contacts is in the same plane as the supporting insulation
When I first saw one of these connectors when the 5 first came out, I immediately wondered if this would be an issue. You wouldn't normally leave live exposed wires with *any* voltage on them hanging around without expecting some consequences. A week later, because of careless unplugging in the car and leaving the cable plugged into the charger with the connector resting on a slightly damp carpet, my concern was verified. That was the first of them to go this way. Sadly, despite trying to remember to unplug the charger every time I leave the car, I have now destroyed 4 of them in exactly the same way. Doh.
An imperfect design.
Wow... I guess when you Apple users pay as much as you do for your products, you figure they're giving you solid gold for your money, huh?!! lol
Uhhhh, no... "they" don't just mean colour... they don't and wouldn't simply choose to describe connectors as 'gold', based merely on aesthetic appearances alone. It IS about the structural composition of materials used... especially since gold is very known to be quite commonly used in the manufacturing of electronics and circuitry... (especially those of better quality than their more cheaply made counterparts).
So it'd be misleading for a company like Apple to describe their connector material as being "gold" if it weren't actually comprised of real gold to any degree... (not that I'm say they wouldn't necessarily do such a thing for monetary gain... if it were actually the case and if they could feasibly get away with it... who knows?! But they wouldn't because of the potential lawsuits & implications involved for false or misleading advertising, whether intentionally or not... but that's moot anyways, because they are actually made with gold).
In many electronics and circuitry applications gold's quite commonly used to make switches, connectors, contacts, etc... thanks to its excellence & efficiency as a conductor, and also, as you'd addressed (though not quite accurately, really), because of its excellent and high resistance to corrosion.
So let's set the record straight while on that note... gold is NOT totally & completely impervious to corrosion! Granted, the instances in which it's possible are really very slim and so highly unlikely to occur... that is, under most normal conditions & environments!
(though I have to interject and point out that moisture on electrical contacts resulting from condensation forming from an overnight cold car environment, that's then warming up in the morning on one's way to work, for eg... and then subsequently connected to a device --that is, a live connection while still damp or wet!-- plus also then possibly subjected to that arcing issue posited-- if that theory is correct, would certainly NOT in my eyes be considered normal or usual conditions! And who knows what other metals might also be present with the gold to possibly form a reaction that could possibly cause corrosion?? ..but more on that point in a bit!)
Anyways, for the most part, yes... gold is generally very highly-resistant to corrosion... which is precisely why it's often chosen as a reliable material of choice for quality & dependability across a broad spectrum of industrial (or other) applications. And while not very likely to corrode, it's also not impossible either! -- and just to be extra clear: this is specifically in reference to pure gold that I'm referring to!
Which leads to the next & main point: here's the caveat which accounts for both your and the other user's confusion in the comment that you were replying to... because (AFAIK), when gold's used in electronics as a conductor, it's always as a plating... over top of another base metal. And so the thinness of which, plus the amount of gold used, would vary by application, and also in accordance with other factors as well (including manufacturing costs)... due in part to the astronomical cost of using pure, solid, gold alone, but also since pure gold would be far too soft to be very effective or practical to use.
Plus aside from being a plating and not pure or solid gold when used in electronics & circuitry (or most any of its other industrial applications, for that matter), I'd imagine that gold plating, too, would also need to be an alloy of sorts... as it's likely too soft of a metal to be feasibly used in its pure form even as a plating (though I could be wrong about that).
...and not to mention that the type & quality of base metal used underneath any given plating, as well as the relative composition & degree of purity of an alloy used for plating --in this case gold alloy... assuming that my hunch is correct-- would also vary according to factors like cost & function as well... and so hence, all of those other materials & factors would also determine or affect a "gold" connector's durability & resistance to corrosion!!
Sooo, hopefully this should clear up that confusion about this issue!.. lol
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Congrats on your first post reviving a 5-year-old thread just to attack forum users with a ridiculously verbose diatribe. Feel better?Uhhhh, no... "they" don't just mean colour... they don't and wouldn't simply choose to describe connectors as 'gold', based merely on aesthetic appearances alone. It IS about the structural composition of materials used... especially since gold is very known to be quite commonly used in the manufacturing of electronics and circuitry... (especially those of better quality than their more cheaply made counterparts).
So it'd be misleading for a company like Apple to describe their connector material as being "gold" if it weren't actually comprised of real gold to any degree... (not that I'm say they wouldn't necessarily do such a thing for monetary gain... if it were actually the case and if they could feasibly get away with it... who knows?! But they wouldn't because of the potential lawsuits & implications involved for false or misleading advertising, whether intentionally or not... but that's moot anyways, because they are actually made with gold).
In many electronics and circuitry applications gold's quite commonly used to make switches, connectors, contacts, etc... thanks to its excellence & efficiency as a conductor... and also, as you'd addressed (though not quite accurately) because of its excellent and high resistance to corrosion.
So while on that particular note, just to set the record straight: gold is NOT totally and completely impervious to corrosion, as is commonly believed! Granted, the instances in which it's possible are really very slim and so highly unlikely to occur (under most normal conditions & environments). So for the most part, it's generally very stable and highly-resistant to corrosion... which is precisely why it's often chosen as a reliable material of choice for quality & dependability across a broad spectrum of industrial (or other) applications. And while not very likely at all to corrode, it's also not impossible either! -- and also, to be extra clear: this is specifically in reference to pure gold that I'm referring to!
Which leads to the next & main point: here's the caveat which accounts for both your and the other user's confusion in the comment that you were replying to... because (AFAIK), when gold's used in electronics as a conductor, it's always as a plating... over top of another base metal. And so the thinness of which, plus the amount of gold used, would vary by application, and also in accordance with other factors as well (including manufacturing costs)... due in part to the astronomical cost of using pure, solid, gold alone... but also since pure gold would be far too soft to be very effective nor practical to use.
Plus aside from the fact that it's always used as a plating, and not pure or solid gold in electronics & circuitry... (or in most any of its other industrial applications, for that matter)... I'd imagine that even as a plating it'd also have to be an alloy of sorts... as it's likely too soft it its pure form... even as a plating (though I could be wrong about that).
...and not to mention that the type & quality of base metal used underneath any given plating, as well as the relative composition and degree of purity of an alloy used for plating, (in this case gold alloy... assuming my hunch is correct!)... would also vary according to factors like cost & function... and so hence, all of those other materials & factors would also determine or affect a "gold" connector's durability & resistance to corrosion!!
Sooo, hopefully this should clear up that confusion about this issue!.. lol