Al_XB

Q: iPad went dead

My mini iPad suddenly failed while I was using it. It was in Airplane mode and had been operating for 2 hours without a problem when it went dead. It was plugged into a charging adaptor at the time.


Can a failed charging adaptor (3.1 amps) cause a mini iPad to fail suddenly?

Do all iPads have an overload protection circuit that can be reset?

  Adaptor Input 12-24V DC Output 5V = 3.1Amps  Source of power was 13V DC at the time.

iPad Mini, iOS 9.0.1

Posted on Jul 7, 2016 6:47 PM

Close

Q: iPad went dead

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by Ines Castillo,

    Ines Castillo Ines Castillo Jul 7, 2016 6:51 PM in response to Al_XB
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iPad
    Jul 7, 2016 6:51 PM in response to Al_XB

    have you try to HOLD lock and Home bottom press for 10 seconds maybe is not dead, once i was with my iPad 2 and something like that happen.

     

    hope that works!

  • by elcpu,

    elcpu elcpu Jul 7, 2016 7:33 PM in response to Al_XB
    Level 6 (16,232 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Jul 7, 2016 7:33 PM in response to Al_XB

    A failed charger should not cause damage to an iPad. The charging circuitry is inside the iPad and there is nothing to reset.

     

    Try the steps in this Apple article.

    If your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch won't turn on - Apple Support

  • by Al_XB,

    Al_XB Al_XB Jul 7, 2016 7:39 PM in response to Ines Castillo
    Level 1 (17 points)
    iPad
    Jul 7, 2016 7:39 PM in response to Ines Castillo

    Thanks Ines, but the mini iPad is definitely DEAD. I have already taken it in to see if it can be repaired and it is unrepairable.

     

    I can not obtain a reason for the failure of the mini iPad from the Apple Store probably because they do not know themselves without opening it up. Even if they send it to their engineers to see what caused the device to go dead, they tell me that they will not provide me with a copy of the report. I believe this may be a potential hardware design fault.

     

    I have also read many, many posts on this site about DEAD Apple Products and there does not appear to be a consistent answer for the cause of these numerous product failures. I believe my iPad became defective after the charging adapter failed. There are many fake charging adapters being sold in the market and this may be the cause of the many Apple product defects being reported. My question therefore relates to the circuitry of the mini iPad.

     

    Basically, if a charging adapter fails when the iPad is on and the iPad is subjected to 12, 24 or 120 Volts, does the iPad have an internal protection mechanism built in? What voltage/amperage would cause damage to the iPad? I am told that there is no one from Apple on this site but since this is a technical question, perhaps someone can answer it.

  • by elcpu,

    elcpu elcpu Jul 7, 2016 7:51 PM in response to Al_XB
    Level 6 (16,232 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Jul 7, 2016 7:51 PM in response to Al_XB

    Al_XB wrote:

     

    Basically, if a charging adapter fails when the iPad is on and the iPad is subjected to 12, 24 or 120 Volts, does the iPad have an internal protection mechanism built in? What voltage/amperage would cause damage to the iPad? I am told that there is no one from Apple on this site but since this is a technical question, perhaps someone can answer it.

     

    Did you read my reply? Again, the charging circuitry is inside the iPad and regulates the current from the charger. Even if you use a charger from a full size iPad, it would not damage your mini. I often charge my iPhone with my iPad charger.

  • by Al_XB,

    Al_XB Al_XB Jul 7, 2016 8:05 PM in response to elcpu
    Level 1 (17 points)
    iPad
    Jul 7, 2016 8:05 PM in response to elcpu

    Thanks elcpu, but I was told at the Apple Store that a failed charging adaptor could have damaged the mini iPad and cause it to go dead. The Apple Store could not confirm it was a defective product without opening it up. I am hoping that someone with more technical knowledge can provide me with a definitive answer on the impact of a failed charging adaptor.

     

    I also tried to hint at my experience in my response to Ines, but I have been informed that this forum is only meant for technical questions that can be answered by the community.  Therefore I am posting it as a strictly technical question. Previous posts on this subject were deleted for being non-technical or off-topic.  

  • by elcpu,

    elcpu elcpu Jul 7, 2016 8:22 PM in response to Al_XB
    Level 6 (16,232 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Jul 7, 2016 8:22 PM in response to Al_XB

    What is it that you are after? The Apple store told you that your mini is dead and is unrepairable. If you used a MFi Apple Certified charger it should not have damaged your iPad but the point is moot now since your device is dead. In the future make sure that you use Apple branded chargers and cables or MFi certified equipment.

  • by Al_XB,

    Al_XB Al_XB Jul 8, 2016 4:59 AM in response to elcpu
    Level 1 (17 points)
    iPad
    Jul 8, 2016 4:59 AM in response to elcpu

    I will have to get another iPad so this is not a moot point. I want to know why my iPad went dead in order to prevent the same situation from happening in the future.

     

    Supposedly iPads have overload protection in them, but I am not sure of the specifications or the design limits. Therefore I want to know if a failed charging adapter (3.1 amps) with a 10-24V DC source or even any 120V AC adapter could cause this failure. The charging adapter I was using was plugged into a cigarette lighter outlet with a 14V DC source and the adapter had all the proper certification stamps on it, but it could have been a fake. There are many variables to figure out what happened.


    If the iPad does protect itself, then this protection on my iPad may have been defective which would also be of interest to me. I assume that if the overload protection does work then pressing the home and start button is the only way of resetting it. This also needs to be confirmed as it is speculation on my part. Unfortunately I was not given clear answers to the cause of this iPad failure at the Apple Store. They were not prepared to let me know what happened but they did want it for analysis. I am hoping that someone with a better understanding of the electrical circuitry could provide me with some detailed insights. In that way I can take greater precautions in the care and handling of my iPad.


    Although this site does not have Apple technicians answering questions, I was hoping someone might have a technical answer.




     


  • by elcpu,

    elcpu elcpu Jul 8, 2016 7:49 AM in response to Al_XB
    Level 6 (16,232 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Jul 8, 2016 7:49 AM in response to Al_XB

    As I mentioned, if you used a MFi Apple Certified charger it should not have damaged your iPad. In the future make sure that you use Apple branded chargers and cables or MFi certified equipment.

  • by Al_XB,

    Al_XB Al_XB Jul 8, 2016 12:34 PM in response to elcpu
    Level 1 (17 points)
    iPad
    Jul 8, 2016 12:34 PM in response to elcpu

    I fully agreed with your comment.

     

    My question however still remains unanswered. When a charging adapter (certified or not) malfunctions and creates a power surge, can it cause a mini iPad to also fail suddenly?  This question applies to any charging adapter that fails be it a 14 V DC charging adapter or a 120V AC charging adapter.  I am looking for a technical response.

  • by Al_XB,

    Al_XB Al_XB Jul 10, 2016 8:15 PM in response to Al_XB
    Level 1 (17 points)
    iPad
    Jul 10, 2016 8:15 PM in response to Al_XB

    I have not been able to get a factual answer related to a malfunctioning charging adapter (MFI or counterfeit) causing a mini iPad or iOS product to fail. 

     

    I did find this article on chargers which was interesting but not adequate to clearly answer my question.

     

    http://www.macworld.co.uk/news/apple/are-cheap-non-apple-iphone-chargers-safe-el ectrical-charging-safety-faqs-apple-recall-3460975/

  • by Al_XB,Solvedanswer

    Al_XB Al_XB Aug 27, 2016 6:55 PM in response to Al_XB
    Level 1 (17 points)
    iPad
    Aug 27, 2016 6:55 PM in response to Al_XB

    I have been getting closer to an answer to my question by checking other sites. A question was asked about the Apple 12W USB Power Adapter here:


    http://www.apple.com/ca/shop/question/answers/product/MD836LL/A/what-are-the-dif ferent-usb-power-plug-watt-ratings-and-which-one-is-the-highest/QCDCFT9TYA2YU2UX D


    Question: What are the different USB power plug watt ratings and which one is the highest?

    Answer: The current and the safest watt for charging the ipad is 2.4A. Which is the 12W adaptor. Be careful of those brand new 3.4A adaptors which gives a bigger watt ratings that could damage your ipad. It may charge your ipad at a much faster rate. But the capacitor that was built in the port may damage resulting in battery explosion.


    The response indicated that a 3.4amp adapter could damage your iPad.  I had used a 3.1amp USB cigarette lighter adapter over a couple of hours. To be safe, the recommended current would be 2.4amps and the recommended wattage would be 12W.  If you fall for someone telling you that you get faster charging, you could end up with a "dead" iPad instead.


    I therefore believe that the correct technical answer to my question should have been YES.