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Having owned several Apple notebooks which utilize the MagSafe adapters I've seen my share of failures.
Anything in from stuck pins which prevent the computer from charging to my cats deciding the adapters are made out of some rare form of addictive kitty-crack and shorting out the cord by chewing on it.
I used to buy new MagSafe adapters but that got expensive fairly quickly. Then I decided to splice out the shorted sections of cord; which did work but left me with relatively short cords for charging the computer. Next, I decided to figure out how to crack open the adapter and replace the entire cord and that's the process I'll demonstrate with this instructable.
Be careful and make sure the adapter is completely discharged. Capacitors can hold a charge for a while so it's best to leave the adapter unplugged for a bit prior to working on it.
Materials/Tools needed:
Needle Nose Pliers
Soldering Iron
Solder
Desoldering Braid
Flux (optional)
Super glue
Clamp(s) or even a heavy book will do.
Replacement MagSafe cord- I found mine on eBay for like $16.
Anything in from stuck pins which prevent the computer from charging to my cats deciding the adapters are made out of some rare form of addictive kitty-crack and shorting out the cord by chewing on it.
I used to buy new MagSafe adapters but that got expensive fairly quickly. Then I decided to splice out the shorted sections of cord; which did work but left me with relatively short cords for charging the computer. Next, I decided to figure out how to crack open the adapter and replace the entire cord and that's the process I'll demonstrate with this instructable.
Be careful and make sure the adapter is completely discharged. Capacitors can hold a charge for a while so it's best to leave the adapter unplugged for a bit prior to working on it.
Materials/Tools needed:
Needle Nose Pliers
Soldering Iron
Solder
Desoldering Braid
Flux (optional)
Super glue
Clamp(s) or even a heavy book will do.
Replacement MagSafe cord- I found mine on eBay for like $16.
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Signing UpStep 1Opening the adapter
Some other tutorials online have used things like a Dremel and a cutting wheel to cut the casing apart or they used a screw driver to gouge the plastic apart. This not only makes reassembly more difficult but makes the reassembled adapter a bit ugly. We're actually going to use a pair of needle nose pliers and some leverage to crack open the case along its two halves. This leaves really no deformed plastic and makes the adapter much easier to reassemble.
Flip open the cord winding ears and insert the plier ends as the picture shows.
Open the pliers until you hear a satisfying pop and then do the same on the other winding ear.
This will typically separate the two halves almost completely but the case will still be held together near the wall plug and along that back seam. To get those to release you'll need to grab the two halves and pull them apart until those also pop apart.
Flip open the cord winding ears and insert the plier ends as the picture shows.
Open the pliers until you hear a satisfying pop and then do the same on the other winding ear.
This will typically separate the two halves almost completely but the case will still be held together near the wall plug and along that back seam. To get those to release you'll need to grab the two halves and pull them apart until those also pop apart.
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Thanks for the instructions. I got my early MBP t-connector MagSafe adapter apart, but the circuit board is completely different than the one in your photos. The wires go deep underneath the PCB instead of connecting right at the edge where the wire goes into the brick. I can't figure out where they go. If I send you a pic, can you help?
I'm not an electronics expert, but I can solder a wire if I can find the right spots. I'm worried if I rip the whole power supply block apart, I'll break some shielding solder points and other connections that I won't notice when I do it.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
If you wrap the cord around the device, start wrapping a few inches away from the end and leave a loose loop; don't pull it snug to "look nice."
I put a glob of silicone caulk, some Shoe Goo, hot-melt glue, masking tape, scotch tape -- anything -- that will spread the bend further along the cord. Make sort of a pyramid shape, with the peak an inch or more away from the end. You'll find a "strain relief" on many cords -- just duplicate the effect.
Kinking the cord right at the plug or power supply is what you'll avoid. By making it bend gently there, then gradually flexing along the next inch or two, you will never have a cord fail this way.
You should never pull any cord by the cord itself. That's why they put a grip on the end. It was not designed to be pulled by the cord.
As for pets, don't give them rubber chew-toys.
Cary
Sometimes these things just break though.