Korszun

Q: My MacBook Pro 15" will only charge with a 45w charger!

i Have a late 2013 15" MBP Retina A1398. A couple of weeks ago it stopped charging from the regular 85w charger. Bummer but no big deal since it charges fine with my wife's 45w charger from her MBA - I can charge the battery at least until I can afford a replacement.

 

The charger had blown the 3A fuse in the AC plug so i replaced the fuse, upon plugging back into the mains the charger audibly popped like there was a short or something inside the charger failing, the computer wasn't connected to the DC side.  I replaced the fuse again and plugged in again just to check i wasn't imagining the symptoms - same result.  I naturally assumed this was the fault of the 85w charger so I bought another (genuine but used unit) from eBay to replace it straight after i got paid.

 

It arrived today and it won't charge or power the computer either.  The seller describes the charger as used but 100% working so I can return it from ebay but my main concern is my computer.

 

Am I just unbelievably unlucky to find 2x85w chargers which have failed or is there something going wrong inside my computer?  The computer still charges from my wife's 45w charger absolutely fine.

 

Can anyone help?

15" MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.7)

Posted on Mar 10, 2016 12:09 PM

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Q: My MacBook Pro 15" will only charge with a 45w charger!

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  • by ManSinha,

    ManSinha ManSinha Mar 10, 2016 12:13 PM in response to Korszun
    Level 6 (10,250 points)
    iPhone
    Mar 10, 2016 12:13 PM in response to Korszun

    Try the E Bay charger on your wife's computer - it won't damage anything and you can verify if it works

  • by Korszun,

    Korszun Korszun Mar 10, 2016 3:05 PM in response to ManSinha
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 10, 2016 3:05 PM in response to ManSinha

    Yes, thanks.  Good suggestion.  I have tried this and verified it doesn't charge my wife's computer either.

     

    A curious thing though:

    I know the AC cord on my wifes computer works fine as it powers the 45w charger no problem

    However the 45w charger doesn't charge either computer with the ebay charger AC cord.

    So I thought, OK it's just the AC cord.  But try the ebay charger with my wife's AC cord and still nothing, on either computer.

     

    I'm flummoxed!

  • by ManSinha,

    ManSinha ManSinha Mar 10, 2016 3:17 PM in response to Korszun
    Level 6 (10,250 points)
    iPhone
    Mar 10, 2016 3:17 PM in response to Korszun

    Sorry - I don't mean to be flippant but maybe you received a double dud - bad cord and bad charger

     

    You know you can also plug the brick directly into the wall socket

     

    Any way  now you can ask the E Bay seller for a refund or replacement -

  • by BobTheFisherman,

    BobTheFisherman BobTheFisherman Mar 10, 2016 4:42 PM in response to Korszun
    Level 6 (15,334 points)
    Mar 10, 2016 4:42 PM in response to Korszun

    Korszun wrote:

    <snip>
    The computer still charges from my wife's 45w charger absolutely fine.

     

    Can anyone help?

    From: Find the right power adapter and cord for your Mac notebook - Apple Support (emphasis added by me.)

    Power adapters for Apple notebooks are available in 29W, 45W, 60W, and 85W varieties. You should use the appropriate wattage power adapter for your Apple notebook. You can use a compatible higher wattage adapter without issue, but it won't make your computer charge faster or operate differently. Lower wattage adapters will not provide enough power.

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Mar 10, 2016 5:33 PM in response to BobTheFisherman
    Level 9 (60,931 points)
    Desktops
    Mar 10, 2016 5:33 PM in response to BobTheFisherman

    The usual symptom seen when underpowered is that the computer will not charge and run simultaneously.

     

    If the supplied power is especially low, it may go into slow motion or go to sleep.

  • by Korszun,

    Korszun Korszun Mar 10, 2016 11:13 PM in response to ManSinha
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 10, 2016 11:13 PM in response to ManSinha

    Yes, you're right.  This does seem like the most likely explanation.  I will return the charger.

     

    My question though is somewhat different.  Given that I have now tried two 85w chargers (my original and the ebay one) and neither has worked; is this just very unlucky or os this a symptom of something wrong with my computer?

  • by Korszun,

    Korszun Korszun Mar 10, 2016 11:15 PM in response to BobTheFisherman
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 10, 2016 11:15 PM in response to BobTheFisherman

    I'm only using the 45w charger to charge the battery while the computer is switched off.  this seems to work fine

  • by ManSinha,

    ManSinha ManSinha Mar 11, 2016 6:24 PM in response to Korszun
    Level 6 (10,250 points)
    iPhone
    Mar 11, 2016 6:24 PM in response to Korszun

    Korszun wrote:

     

    Yes, you're right.  This does seem like the most likely explanation.  I will return the charger.

     

    My question though is somewhat different.  Given that I have now tried two 85w chargers (my original and the ebay one) and neither has worked; is this just very unlucky or os this a symptom of something wrong with my computer?

    Given that your computer charges with a 45W charger - I would think not

    BUT that said - I would be leary of buying from the same seller on E Bay

    I have two spare chargers that I bought on E Bay - both 85 W and both have been working great for several months - I used the terms "Genuine Apple" in my search and looked for one that has the Apple logo on it - see if you can get one of those - they go for 40-50 bucks including the extension cord