My MBP charger cable has somehow split - can I repair it?

[Cattywampus_]

Hi

I just came to use my rMBP and after 15minutes of use I look down at see that the plastic sheath on the charger is has a 1-inch split and the inner metal is on show. It looks like it has been shredded. I cannot understand how it could possibly of happened, but it has.

So my question is is is safe for me to just wrap a load of electrical tape around it and continue using it or is this an accident waiting to happen?

I have attached a couple of images to try and show the damage.

Thanks

 

[Samuelsan2001]

The internal bit looks in tact so I would say yes and would recommend sugru to do the repair.

https://sugru.com/buy?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-KXarYK21gIVir3tCh2nAQw3EAAYASAAEgLNGPD_BwE#all

 

[PBG4 Dude]

The internal bit looks in tact so I would say yes and would recommend sugru to do the repair.

https://sugru.com/buy?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-KXarYK21gIVir3tCh2nAQw3EAAYASAAEgLNGPD_BwE#all

Couldn’t you just get a $5 can of Plasti-Dip from Harbor Freight and paint that on?

Otherwise, there’s always the old standby, black electrical tape, LOL.

OP, if your laptop is still under warranty, Apple may replace the charger as it is also covered under the warranty.

 

[Samuelsan2001]

Couldn’t you just get a $5 can of Plasti-Dip from Harbor Freight and paint that on?

Otherwise, there’s always the old standby, black electrical tape, LOL.

OP, if your laptop is still under warranty, Apple may replace the charger as it is also covered under the warranty.

I recommend it because it’s easy to use very flexible sticks brilliantly and is a fairly permanent fix. Of course the OP can fix it using whatever they like but I like sugru for these little jobs myself.

 

[Audit13]

I have an 85w Magsafe 1 charger and there are a few splits like that in my cable. I covered them with electrical tape and have continued to use it for many months.

I intend to buy some shrink tube from a local supply shop to make it properly seal the electrical tape around the splits.

You can also purchase just the cable and replace it yourself but that requires opening the adapter and soldering in the new cable.

 

[New_Mac_Smell]

Electrical tape, does wonders, comes in different colours too.

Once you have a nice rainbow style cable on the go, consider a replacement. Or you can just buy a new lead from eBay, take the thing apart and repair it, but where's the fun in that? http://www.ebay.com/itm/AC-Adapter-...ple-Macbook-Air-Pro-45W-60W-85W-/252968269522

 

[Apple fanboy]

Heatshrink should be the best repair. Should be able to buy it in white to.

 

[ZapNZs]

I've always used heat shrink tubing for superficial damage to the outer rubber casing.

IMO Apple will replace the whole charger as it looks like the outer casing material just sporadically failed.

 

[Cattywampus_]

Thanks guys.

The MBP is close to 4 years old so am waaaaayyyy out side of the warranty period. Also I live in the UK so I think some of the products recommended to me might not be available here.

I do have good ole electrical tape though, and so I have a wrapped a metric-****-tonne of it around the cable

I will see how it goes. I hate the idea of having to spend £80 on something that technically still works, but the whole 'worrying about getting electrocuted' thing may actually sway to me to eventually replace it.

Thanks again.

 

[jbachandouris]

Thanks guys.

The MBP is close to 4 years old so am waaaaayyyy out side of the warranty period. Also I live in the UK so I think some of the products recommended to me might not be available here.

I do have good ole electrical tape though, and so I have a wrapped a metric-****-tonne of it around the cable

I will see how it goes. I hate the idea of having to spend £80 on something that technically still works, but the whole 'worrying about getting electrocuted' thing may actually sway to me to eventually replace it.

Thanks again.

I have taken in out of warranty chargers to the Apple Store for replacement before without issue, but this is the US. If you have a local store or call Apple Care, it wouldn't hurt to ask. The worst they can say is no.

 

[New_Mac_Smell]

Thanks guys.

The MBP is close to 4 years old so am waaaaayyyy out side of the warranty period. Also I live in the UK so I think some of the products recommended to me might not be available here.

I do have good ole electrical tape though, and so I have a wrapped a metric-****-tonne of it around the cable

I will see how it goes. I hate the idea of having to spend £80 on something that technically still works, but the whole 'worrying about getting electrocuted' thing may actually sway to me to eventually replace it.

Thanks again.

Aye that the way to do it, looks more authentic.

If you do want to get heat shrink then pop down to Maplin. However you won't get it over the connector so you'd need to slice it in order to wrap it around, large tubing that would go over the connector wouldn't shrink enough. And if you cut it, it can sometimes just not work. Worth a try if you're popping past a store though, go play with the remote control disco lighting gimmicks they stick in the entrance, and get yourself a USB mug warmer or other useless rubbish whilst you're there

 

[ZapNZs]

Thanks guys.

The MBP is close to 4 years old so am waaaaayyyy out side of the warranty period. Also I live in the UK so I think some of the products recommended to me might not be available here.

I do have good ole electrical tape though, and so I have a wrapped a metric-****-tonne of it around the cable

I will see how it goes. I hate the idea of having to spend £80 on something that technically still works, but the whole 'worrying about getting electrocuted' thing may actually sway to me to eventually replace it.

Thanks again.

Apple may still replace this out of the warranty as a measure of good will. It might not hurt to ask.

If not, UL-listed electrical tape would certainly work as long as the inner positive wire is not damage (which I assume it is not as the outer ground wire that is woven around the inner wire appears to have absolutely zero damage.)