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    My Melted MagSafe Power Connector

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by Zappy, May 25, 2006.

  1. Zappy

    Zappy Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hey guys, just when the mooing and buzzing was bad enough it got worse. While I was using my MacBook Pro I noticed smoke coming from my MacBook Pro. I quickly went to pull it out and got a nice electric shock. Afterwards when I looked it I saw that my MacSafe Cable was melted. I call apple while they'll send me a new cable, they haven't offered any sorta of apology and were very defensive.

    Heres a picture: http://flickr.com/photos/42272546@N00/152910732/
     
    Zappy, May 25, 2006
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  2. duffyanneal

    duffyanneal Notebook Deity

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    Looks like the cable was stressed fairly heavily at the strain relief. Haven't had anyone tugging at the cable have you (friends checking out the magsafe)? Once stressed enough at least one wire shorted out to either ground or another wire and caused the meltdown. BTW, the output of the adapter is only 16.5V. Saying it would be nearly impossible to get shocked would be an understatement. That isn't enough voltage to penetrate the resistance of your skin unless you had an open wound or happened to be submerged in a tub of salt water while removing the plug.
     
    duffyanneal, May 25, 2006
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  3. Zappy

    Zappy Notebook Enthusiast

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    Actually the MBP previous i wasn't as careful and it got bent up, however with the latest one i was actually preaty careful to try and prevent it was getting bent up and the time i did pay attention it melted.
     
    Zappy, May 25, 2006
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  4. Ice-Tea

    Ice-Tea MXM Guru NBR Reviewer

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    Never mind. Got it wrong.
     
    Ice-Tea, May 25, 2006
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  5. LostCause

    LostCause Notebook Guru

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    I'm pretty sure Tig welders can output as low as 15 VAC or VDC...and they are designed to penetrate steel. My welding teacher purposely struck an arc between the electrode and his finger and kept it there for a few minutes. He was making a point...voltage alone doesn't mean anything. 15V or even 50V+ to your body won't do anything, if the amperage is low enough. I don't know the current output of a macbook power adapter, but it is possible that it could give a shock.

    I agree with Duffy, there definately was a short.
     
    LostCause, May 25, 2006
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  6. RadcomTxx

    RadcomTxx Notebook Deity

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    your right about voltage not as much as a problem as current, but i want to add that ac voltage/current penetrates the body much easier then dc power. the mbp's adapter prolly can output upto around 2A, which would give a pretty strong feeling shock to the hand.

    and don't welders work by basically shorting out when touching the melting drawing very high levels of current through the whole piece of material to melt the metal at the point of contact to make the weld (point of having the one electric clamp on the workpeice)
     
    RadcomTxx, May 25, 2006
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