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Is it normal for my Magsafe 2 Charger cables to get yellow overtime?

Been using my MacBook air magsafe charger for 2 years and 3 months now, and the charging cables is more yellow than how it was the first month I bought it.


I do CPU-heavy tasks while plugged in, and it caused the cables to get kinda hot. Last week I cleaned the charger head and port and loosened up the connector pins, so the charger doesn't get very hot anymore.

Surprisingly it worked, the charger head is a bit cooler now, and the cables are much cooler under the same load that it used to when it got hot.


Though is it normal for the charging cable to turn yellow over time? Will it reduce the lifespan of the charger significantly?

Will it affect the charger and its performance, or does it only affect the color of the cable?

I live in the Philippines so it would make sense it would get yellow because it's very hot here, but I solved the problem where the yellow sections of the charger get hot while under CPU load.


Will continue using it be considered unsafe? or is the charger still good and only the discoloration happens but does not affect the charger itself.

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 10.13

Posted on Sep 10, 2022 9:46 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Sep 11, 2022 6:43 PM

The outer insulation tends to become yellow with age or with repeated handling. It will not reduce the lifespan of the power adapter.


... Last week I cleaned the charger head and port and loosened up the connector pins, so the charger doesn't get very hot anymore.


That's what fixed it. Inspection with an occasional cleaning might be required every year or two.


Excerpted from If your MagSafe cable or power adapter isn't working - Apple Support:


"Make sure both the port and connector are dry and clear of any debris."


An older version of that same document described cleaning in greater and more useful detail, with pictures. You can read it here: Apple Portables: Troubleshooting MagSafe adapters (Archived)


Here is another comprehensive but discontinued Apple Support document that remains relevant: Mac notebooks: Using and maintaining your Apple MagSafe Adapter (Archived)


If you handle your MagSafe power adapters in that manner they will last the life of your Mac. Mine have.

2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Sep 11, 2022 6:43 PM in response to Cyflor-N-Ac

The outer insulation tends to become yellow with age or with repeated handling. It will not reduce the lifespan of the power adapter.


... Last week I cleaned the charger head and port and loosened up the connector pins, so the charger doesn't get very hot anymore.


That's what fixed it. Inspection with an occasional cleaning might be required every year or two.


Excerpted from If your MagSafe cable or power adapter isn't working - Apple Support:


"Make sure both the port and connector are dry and clear of any debris."


An older version of that same document described cleaning in greater and more useful detail, with pictures. You can read it here: Apple Portables: Troubleshooting MagSafe adapters (Archived)


Here is another comprehensive but discontinued Apple Support document that remains relevant: Mac notebooks: Using and maintaining your Apple MagSafe Adapter (Archived)


If you handle your MagSafe power adapters in that manner they will last the life of your Mac. Mine have.

Is it normal for my Magsafe 2 Charger cables to get yellow overtime?

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