Power brick/ charging problem 2011 MBA.

My wife's 2011 13" MBA has suddenly stopped recognizing the charging cable when attached to the air, and so not charging at all. No recognition LED at all orange or green, nothing. I've done all the ususal stuff, switched power plugs, took off the extension cable, put it back on, ect, ect...
I was about to go see Apple but realized I have a 27" Apple LED display for my Mac Mini. I attached the charging cable from that display and walla! It took and started charging immidiatly. So that tells me its NOT the Air itself thats the problem, its the charging cable somehow. Its either the power brick and that cable or both of them. I looked up my year long Applecare ( I didnt purchase the additional 2 years ) and saw that I have at least until Dec 8th to get it in there to have the cable replaced after they do their own testing....but we know what the problem is. I bought the Air from MacMall, not Apple so they are assuming that its Dec 8th but its later than that and I can find my reciept from Mac Mall and find out and bring it with me.
ANYWAY....is or HAS anyone had any problems like this at all? With any other Mac? I have the new retina and my magnetic power adapter is different so I can't test it that way but it did work via the display. I guess I'm asking if anyone has any experience with ths issue?
Thanks!
Seattle

If I understand you right, you have already proven that it's the charger which is defect. So, go and have the charger replaced. Depending on what caused the defect you may get a new one under warranty.
If it's no hassle, take the MBA with you to test it on site with a new charger.
Other than that and FWIW, I'm sure you'll find other people who found their charger dead one day. Why, would that help?

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Power brick

The cable from the mag connector down to power brick, appears to have design problem. The cable connecting to the power brick thas problem with cracking or breaking. No matter how careful you with handle the cable and power brick, this problem does occur.

Yes this seems to be true. I had one fail with no rough handling.
If you are still under warranty Apple will send you a new one or over the counter:
Genius reservation http://www.apple.com/retail/geniusbar/
on-line https://getsupport.apple.com/GetproductgroupList.action
check warranty https://selfsolve.apple.com/agreementWarrantyDynamic.do

Macbook Pro (Early 2011) charging problems

Hey Guys,
The Macbook Pro was bought in July of 2011 which is only a few months old .When I plug in my magsafe to charge the macbook pro it turns green, then orage to show that it is charging. However, after a few mintues of charging the orange LED light goes off and it stops charging, then the orange light comes on to charge for another few mintues then stops charging. I have been aren't to charge the macbook pro
Is the charger broken? I cant find or see anything tearing in the charging cable or anything broken with the power brick.
Thanks

First try resetting the SMC...
Reset SMC of a MacBook or MacBook Pro’s with an internal battery:
* Shutdown your MacBook/Pro
* Connect the power adapter to your Mac
* On the MacBook/Pro’s keyboard, hold down the Shift+Control+Option keys and the Power button at the same time
* Release all keys and the power button at the same time
* Boot your Mac as usual
Then try resetting the PRAM...
Resetting the PRAM
You reset the PRAM by rebooting a Mac and then immediately hold down theCommand+Option+P+R keys, you will then hear the Mac reboot sound again, signifying your PRAM has been reset. You must hit the key combination before the grey screen appears otherwise it won’t work.
If those two tricks fail, take the adapter and the laptop to the applestore. IMO it sounds like a battery issue and not a charger problem.

Macbook Pro 13 (Early 2011) Charging Problems

Recently I noticed that when I charge my macbook pro, the LED light on the magsafe would go green then orange to show that it is charging. However after a few minutes or seconds the orange LED light will go off (Stops Charging) and the whole process of charging starts again, green light then orange then nothing...
I already tried resetting the PRAM and SMU. I also tried using different wall sockets for charging and it yielded the same results. However, when i borrowed my friends mac charger, my MBP manage to charge without any problems. When he used my charger the charging problem also occurred.
So i decided to bring it to an Apple Authorized service provider sine they are no Apple Retail Stores in Thailand. I told the guy at the AASP that my charger was probably broken/faulty, but he said it was the receiver sensor of the macbook pro (The place where i connect the magsafe to my MBP ). He used a different charger (At the counter)and the LED lights when from Green, Orange then yellow and said the MBP needed to be sent to Singapore to be repaired and it would take 10 - 14 days. I said OK since my MBP was still in warranty and it would be free. Next day he called and said he fixed it by resetting something and that I could pick it up. At the AASP, the macbook pro didnt show any charging problems so i brought it home to charge.
Now it has the same charging problem as before...

Do you have another power adapter to try? If so, can you use the power adapter that came with this mac?
Do you have another MBP? If so can you use this power adapter on that MBP?
Are you using another pointing device or is it the one built right into the laptop? If you are using another pointing device try purchasing a new one or disconnecting or reconnecting or even try on another computer.
You might be only able to get buy for the next few month until you graduate until you can get your computer fixed. If all else fails go buy yourself a $8 mouse from a place, it will work until you can get this fixed... or buy apple mice if that is a big deal to you.
Here is one for only 3.18! http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Gear+Head-Computer+-+OM3800U+Mouse/3933383.p?id=1218 443155891&skuId=3933383
Or if you want the one I have used: (M515 @ home or HP Wired Mouse-- Its kind of old) This isn't the exact one but they discontinued that one: http://www.logitech.com/en-us/mice-pointers/mice/devices/mouse-m100 so for $10 you get a mouse and your computer works.

Can i use my old ipod firewire power brick to charge my iphone?

i have a power brick from an old 20g b&w ipod. it looks like a laptop brick, but smaller. it has a FW socket and says it puts out 12v 67a.
i'm going on a trip and would like a spare charger. will this work for my iphone 3g or will it fry it?
thanks!
btw - i did a search on this topic and found similar threads, but none addressed this particular FW charger.
Message was edited by: bscepter

Ingo2711 wrote:
No, the iPhone 3G cannot be charged from a FireWire-based power source.
http://manuals.info.apple.com/enUS/iPod_touch_2.2_UserGuide.pdf, page 33
i'm getting a 404 error on that link for the ipod touch manual. but i looked at p.33 of the iphone user's guide, and it does say that you can't use a FW charger. it doesn't say why, however.
i see that the iphone charger is 5w/1a. what happens if you use a 12w/67a charger with a device that's configured for the former?
according to somebody in this thread, the device being powered "requests" only the power it needs, so you can use a more powerful charger (a MBP charger for a MB, for example) - but you can't use a less powerful charger to charge a device that needs more power (a MB charger for a MBP, for example).
(for instance, can you charge a macbook with a macbook pro brick - i know you can't do the reverse)
Message was edited by: bscepter

Can I charge my ipod with an iphone power brick

I have a recently purchased iPod Shuffle and expect it is a 4th generation. It came with a charger that fits into the earphone port and attaches to a USB port for charging. Can I use the power brick that comes with an iPhone 4 and attach my iPod charger to the USB port on the brick and charde the iPod without damaging the iPod?

Yes.
B-rock

Power brick problem

Hi
I have had my current Mac mini since last September and haven't had any problems with it, so far. Earlier today, I wanted to clean my keyboard so I shut down the mini for the first time, in months. When I tried to start it again, a little later, it wouldn't power up.
I checked and re-checked all the connections and found out that the white cord that goes from the power brick to the mini is extremely loose at the power brick end. In fact, you almost have to look at with angry eyes and it won't power up. I don't know why it's so loose as I have never messed with this cable/connection and can't imagine it having been forced in any way.
Now, I have managed to get it to work but I have a question for the experts who hang around these forums...
I have an first generation Mac mini that sits on a desk doing nothing, for the moment. Could I use this mini's power brick with the newer mini ? I have checked the specs for for both machines and for the older one, 85 watts is specified while 110 watts is specified for the latest mini, that came out in August 2007.
I'm no electrician so before before messing anything up, I prefer ask people who know about this sort of things.
thanks

Specifically to address the question:
I have an first generation Mac mini that sits on a desk doing nothing, for the moment. Could I use this mini's power brick with the newer mini ? I have checked the specs for for both machines and for the older one, 85 watts is specified while 110 watts is specified for the latest mini, that came out in August 2007.
The older power adapter (supplied with PPC minis) cannot be used to power the new (Intel) minis reliably since the new mini has higher maximum load. What that means is that while an Intel mini would generally power up and run with an older adaptor, it'll typically crash or simply go off once it's running. At the very least it will not be stable, and at worst could result in damage.

30" cinema dead: power brick, graphics card, or other problem?

so, everything was going fine, then I hear a power surge beep through my Ups, and my apple 30" display goes black. checked all connections, plugged in a spare monitor. checked and changed power connections, and all other advice from initial troubleshooting. computer seems ok, it shows both the apple cinema display and other monitor are active in the system preferences. but the power brick is cold, and no power is getting to the cinema display.
What are my next steps to see if my power brick has failed or some other problem has arrived?
Thanks in advance.

Determined that one of my internal harddrives p**ped out at the same time. This may indicate a power surge ran through the machine. Apple hardware test hasn't been able to complete testing, it locks up after a few minutes.
I know these monitors and in the under $500 range nowadays, but it has been such an awesome monitor, I would hate to see it die.
How to determine what is wrong with the monitor?

I have a 2011 MBA currently running OS X 10.9.2. The household power in this area is erratic and subject to surges and full cut-offs. Do I need a UPS, is auto shut-off available?

Will the battery protect the MBA in the event of a power issue? Will the MBA interface with a UPS with a USB connection? Will this allow auto shut-off if the MBA is asleep? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

If you are using your computer during a brown-out you won't notice a thing because it has a battery. If there is a power-surge one of two things will happen: 1) the power adaptor will handle it, perhaps getting fried in the process or 2) it will be overwhelmed and the computer will also fry. Plugging the power adaptor into a high quality surge protector is a very good idea. Note: surge protectors do 'wear' out. Some have warning lights that indicate this has happened but the techs at work don't trust them. They recommend that you give yourself a new surge protector on your birthday.

TS2634 ipad 3 charging problem?

I have a ipad 3 that has a charging problem as of late. It will not charge while it is on. I first have to turn my ipad off and then plug it in and then the ipad will turn itself back on and will charge. Thats the only way i can get it to charge.It wont connect to my pc anymore to connect to iTunes. When I connect it to my pc I get a USB not recognize by this device or some USB error. I tried the same thing by turning the ipad off first and connecting it to the pc. It just turn on and I receive the same message on my pc. What should I do? I'm thinking I may need another USB cable but I'm not sure yet. Please help!

IF the reset doesn't help, try swapping out the cable.
Also, your ipad is best charged plugged into the wall with the supplied charging brick.
Usually charging/syncing problems are one of four things
Bad power brick
Bad USB cable
Bad outlet
In your situation you may also want ot restart your computer, use a different USB port.
If none of that swappage and restarting fixes it then you may want to make an appointment at your local apple store because it's possible that there's something worng with the port on your iPad. And that is beyond a user fix.

Power brick plugs...

Hey everyone,
I have an iBook g4, which I love taking on the go. When it's tied down at home, I use the plug cable, when It's with me mobile I prefer to use the plug tip that plugs right into the power brick, which brings me to my problem.
I lost the plug tip. Now here's my question:
I have a power adapter for an iPod charger that looks identical in every way, and fits perfectly as well. Can I use that with the power brick to charge my iBook on the go? I never use the iPod charger, so it's no loss to me.
Is this safe, or am I going to fry the charger? My guess is since it only carries AC into the brick, it would be universal, but I don't know...
Any ideas?
-joe

As John said, it will work. You can also use generic figure-8 power cables that come with devices such as radios or purchased individually from radio shack etc.

MBP power brick caught fire - what to do?

L.S.,
This evening my MBP was charging in the study, while I was in the living room, when I noticed a scorching smell. As i went into the study I heard and saw small sparks coming from the powerbrick cord. I janked the cord from the socket, but I'm afraid to use it. The plastic of the cord was molten and blackened ans some wire metal is sticking out.
I tried to call technical support here in The Netherlands, but they are closed all ready. I'm in dire need of using my laptop this weekend, but that would require me to buy a new power brick. I'm thinking about trying to fix it, but then again it might just lead to more trouble down the road. I'm not very fond of the thought of buying a new one, as this was not the result of misuse or anything. Unfortunately my MBP is 14 months old, so out of warranty.
It's hard to describe what happened, but I have the pictures of what is left of the power cord. Is it fixable?
http://www.destigter-photography.com/1.jpg
http://www.destigter-photography.com/2.jpg
http://www.destigter-photography.com/3.jpg
Thanks for your help!
Sebastiaan

A faulty power supply is not something to play around with. I would NOT suggest that you attempt to repair it. You may be able to repair the cable, but you may not resolve the underlaying cause of what caused this in the first place. You'll be opening yourself to some potentially serious hazards. If your MacBook Pro is still under warranty... and it does not appear that you damaged the cable causing the problem, Apple is usually very good with offering replacements. The last thing they want is news that their power supplies are catching fire.

ZEN VISION:M CHARGING PROBLEM - H

[color="#ff0000"]ZEN VISION:M MP3 PLAYER CHARGING PROBLEM?My MP3 player was charging perfectly for the first 4 weeks of its life with me. I usually charged using the USB port on my computer. When connected, the player would come to life and the CHARGING ICON would appear and flash until the unit was fully charged and the CHARGED ICON would come on. Worked well. Now when I connect the player to the computer, instead of the CHARGING ICON coming on, the unit immediately begins playing music or going to the last mode it was in before being shut down previous to connecting for charging.
I have tried a reset of the whole player but that did not make any difference. I?encounter the same problem when connecting the player to the car?charger/power adapter. Can anyone give me some assistance? Cure?Thanks,? David B.

Lobsterboat wrote:
[color="#ff0000"]ZEN VISION:M MP3 PLAYER CHARGING PROBLEMMy MP3 player was charging perfectly for the first 4 weeks of its life with me. I usually charged using the USB port on my computer. When connected, the player would come to life and the CHARGING ICON would appear and flash until the unit was fully charged and the CHARGED ICON would come on. Worked well.Now when I connect the player to the computer, instead of the CHARGING ICON coming on, the unit immediately begins playing music or going to the last mode it was in before being shut down previous to connecting for charging. I have tried a reset of the whole player but that did not make any difference. I encounter the same problem when connecting the player to the car charger/power adapter.Can anyone give me some assistance? Cure?Thanks, David B.
I have exactly the same problem, but its because i've had to re-install windows and it wont deect it atall. Ive emailed creative support waiting for supply. i hope i get an answer soon

Syncing and Charging Problem with 1st gen iPod nano

I purchased a 1st generation iPod nano via eBay about 3 months ago and have developed an interesting syncing and charging problem. When I plug the nano to my iMac, frequently neither the computer nor iTunes will recognize it. I have done "the five R's" with occasional success. I've tried jiggling the cable in the computer port and sometimes it works in getting iTunes to recognize the nano, sometimes it doesn't. Even when I am able to get iTunes to recognize the nano, I have frequently found that the nano hasn't charged up at all. In fact, a couple of times I found it almost totally drained of power after having been connected to my computer. Yes, I have the most recent version of iTunes installed on my iMac and my iMac, by the way, is relatively new - having been purchased in May of this year. What is interesting is that I've taken my nano to work and it has absolutely no problem charging up on my Dell (yuk!). For the record, I do not have iTunes installed on my work computer and I am not allowed to add any apps to my work computer without the consent of my supervisor. The chances of getting iTunes installed on my Dell at work are pretty much nil. Any suggestions on how I can fix the problem?

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Charging Problems with Brand New iPhone 4S

My iPhone 4S was finally shipped today and I opened it up and turned it on with no problems. However, when I went to go charge it as it was about 50% battery life using a wall outlet and the given power source with the 4S, the iPhone would not charge. Battery icon in top right hand screen would not show lightning bolt to even show there was a connection. I tried using my USB cable from my iPod Touch and the same scenario occured. My next solution was to use a different outlet, and about 7 outlets later and running around the house the same conclusion occured.
I know theres not a problem with either of the USB cables because when I connect them from my iPhone to my laptop, the phone charges. The phone only charges in outlets when I apply a strong force of the USB cord into the given power source connected to the wall outlet.
Should I just simply bring this wall power source charger back to my Verizon Wireless store or an Apple store for an exchange of chargers or for them to see if If gone mad?

It does sound like you have a bad power adapter. I would take it back to a Verizon store if you ordered it through Verizon or if you ordered it from Apple, take it to your local Apple store.

Power brick/ charging problem 2011 MBA.

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