This is just a little consumer hint.
Yesterday morning, I finally noticed that the wire leading to the MagSafe end of the power adapter for my MacBook Pro 13″ laptop was in the process of breaking. It certainly didn’t look safe to run power through. Oops. If you take a closer look at the photo, please disregard the layer of Duke’s fur spread out across the table top. I had hoped it wouldn’t show up in the picture, but unfortunately….
Anyway, a quick online search found many people complaining that these newer adapters aren’t as resilient as the earlier models, and frequently fail at the same point that mine did.
I’ve got several older power adapters from previous Mac laptops, but they don’t fit the current model. Different plug where it hooks up to the computer. It looked like my only choice was to buy a new one from the Apple Store, which carries a hefty price tag of $79.
But then I made a discovery. Browsing around on the Apple website looking for info on a new power adapter, I saw mention of a $9.99 adapter that lets you use an older power adapter on the newer models, and I ordered one, sight unseen. Picked it up later in the day. It’s just a tiny bit of metal. You plug your older adapter into one side, and plug the other side into your newer computer that requires the MagSafe 2 plug.
It provides more power than necessary for the smaller 13″ laptop, but I think these Mac laptops can handle it fine. At least I haven’t read about any flaming failures when using the larger adapter on this model.
Now I’m digging through old boxes looking for the power adapters from other earlier computers as additional backup.
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I believe AppleCare covers power adapter replacement as well.
You can fix those with UV glue.
I had the same problem in March with the power cord for my MacBook Pro. My screen also had to be replaced last October because the anti-reflective coating started wearing off. Thankfully in both instances Apple replaced/fixed it free of charge since I’m still under AppleCare (the Ala Moana Apple employees were very helpful). However, it’s been frustrating! Especially since my older 2009 model keeps chugging along without any of those issues.
Ah, I didn’t know that AppleCare covers the adapter. I’ll be back up to the Apple Store tomorrow!
Honestly, I wasn’t sure either but took my chances in the store fully expecting that I might have to pay for a new adapter. I brought the cord in, told them I had a rather recent MacBook and AppleCare. Hope you can get a replacement too!
My Macbook power cable has looked like yours for about a year now and still works fine. I’d keep using it. Just wrap some tape around that spot. Rubber collars to fix the frayed end are online too. I’ve had trouble with the Lightening cable for iPhone too – same frayed end… and that is how I discovered the strain relief collars for the Apple products as the after market lightening cables for my iPhone I had purchased that were longer and more sturdy now get rejected by Apple iOS software.
I enclose the cable in clear tubing, which I cut lengthwise with a razor-it helps keep the feline incursions to a minimum.
Fray looks just like the cable to my iPad.
The replacements I found only had a three-foot cable, but I wanted longer.
Now have a purple Duracell cable that’s 10-feet-long: perfect.
Happens to all kinds of cords that are used daily. I recommend having a few packets of sugru on hand. That stuff is easy to use and will fix this back to new.