Macbook battery charger problem

[swf]

Macbook 2.4 running 10.6.8

The charger for this unit is behaving strangely. I noticed 3 days ago that the green light was out. I tried it on a different Macbook that was partially discharged and it didn't work there either. Next I tried changing the cord to the block, still didn't work. I tried the charger from the other Macbook and it charged OK, so its not the computer. After leaving the defective charger unplugged and disconnected overnight, it again began working. After a day plugged into the Macbook, it quit working again. The overnight disconnect fixed it again. Acts like it is overheating, but I don't feel any excess heat. Any ideas?

No AppleCare remaining. So I'll probably need to replace the charger. Any one have any experience with the generic 60W units available online or should I go the my local Apple store for a genuine Apple product for twice the price?

[Speedy]

Buy a knock-off. Just don't use it while bathing.

[cbelt3]

Apply the following steps:

1- Remove the battery and unplug the charger
2- Using a dry toothbrush and a vacuum cleaner, brush and vacuum the Magsafe port on the macbook and then the charger.
3- Reinstall the battery, plug in the charger, and see if that works.
The magsafe port, with it's nice little magnet, really likes to attract metallic particles, which can produce shorts. The charging circuit detects them and refuses to accept power (rather than go kaboom).

If that isn't it, and you have an Apple store close by, go ahead and go in to the store and ask them to check the Magsafe charger. Apple has had a 'silent recall' on those units for some years. YMMV.. you may get a free brand new charger. You may not.

OWC (our sponsor) often sells refurbished Magsafe chargers. I've bought them in the past (our kittehs like to nom on the cables), and they work great.

Do NOT purchase a generic Magsafe charger. It's just not worth murdering your Macbook, or the battery. Apple's design and manufacturing tolerances are a lot tighter than the specs they publish. And Cheap Chinese Junk is usually just that.

And finally, there is no legal way for anyone to build Magsafe connectors without a license from Apple. And Apple doesn't license it. So any 'generic' adapter either contains a grafted Magsafe connector from a dead charger, or an illegal copy.

[swf]

Thanks cbelt. Don't think the battery pull will work as this unit has the non-removeable battery. Will take it to the Apple store. If that doesn't work I'll try the OWC refurb route.

[cbelt3]

It's Ok, as long as your using a toothbrush and a vacuum to clean the magsafe port you don't need to pull the battery.

[RAMd®d]

And may sure somebody lets us know if you get electrocuted so we have fodder for great jokes.

Nothing says mirth like somebody else's death.

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Speedy wrote:
Buy a knock-off. Just don't use it while bathing.

http://forums.macresource.com/read.php?1...sg-1595416