User profile for user: merril35
merril35 Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

My Apple watch USB-C power cord blew up!

I recently purchased a Series 8 Apple Watch. A few days ago the cable, which was plugged into a USB-C port on a power board, started to crackle and emit an electrical smell. The power switch on the mains immediately triggered and the power went off.

My watch was not on charge at the time but ever since then, my watch has refused to charge on a USB-C cable even though I bought a new one. I was able to charge the watch with my father's older USB cable so I have purchased a cable with USB and not USB-C and it is now charging without an issue.

Why has my watch been affected when it was not charging at the time? Why does it work on the USB cord and not the USB-C cable? While I am really happy my watch is now charging, I now have 2 watch cords that don't work and less money in my pocket. Will it happen again?

Also, will using a USB and not a USB-C cable have any detrimental effects on my watch (or void the warranty)?

I will be taking all of cables and watch to the nearest Apple store asap but that is a long drive from me.

Apple Watch Series 8

Posted on May 28, 2023 10:20 PM

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User profile for user: Tesserax
Tesserax
User level: Level 10
157,884 points

Posted on May 29, 2023 8:13 AM

Only an Apple Technician can provide you a definitive diagnosis by examining both the cables and the watch in person, I can offer you some general insights that may help you understand the situation.


1. Impact of electrical issue: The crackling sound and electrical smell you noticed, followed by the power outage triggered by the mains switch, indicate a potential electrical problem. It's possible that a power surge or a fault in the power board caused a surge of electricity to flow through the USB-C cable, which could have damaged the cable's internal components.


2. USB-C cable compatibility: The fact that your Apple Watch charges successfully with your father's older USB cable suggests that the issue lies with the USB-C cable rather than the watch itself. It's possible that the USB-C cable was damaged during the electrical event and is no longer functioning properly. The USB-A (standard USB) cable you purchased might be compatible with your watch and charging it correctly.


3. Future incidents: Without knowing the exact cause of the electrical event, it's challenging to determine whether it will happen again. However, it's generally recommended to have electrical systems inspected by a qualified professional after experiencing such issues to ensure there are no underlying problems that could cause future incidents.


4. USB vs. USB-C cable: Using a USB cable instead of a USB-C cable should not have any detrimental effects on your watch. Apple devices, including the Apple Watch, are designed to work with standard USB connections. As long as the USB cable you are using is certified and of good quality, it should not void your warranty or cause any issues with the watch.


Given the circumstances, it's advisable to take your watch, the original USB-C cables, and any other relevant information to the nearest Apple Store as you already surmised. They will be in the best position to assess the situation, diagnose the issue accurately, and provide appropriate solutions or replacements based on your warranty coverage.

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User profile for user: Tesserax
Tesserax
User level: Level 10
157,884 points

May 29, 2023 8:13 AM in response to merril35

Only an Apple Technician can provide you a definitive diagnosis by examining both the cables and the watch in person, I can offer you some general insights that may help you understand the situation.


1. Impact of electrical issue: The crackling sound and electrical smell you noticed, followed by the power outage triggered by the mains switch, indicate a potential electrical problem. It's possible that a power surge or a fault in the power board caused a surge of electricity to flow through the USB-C cable, which could have damaged the cable's internal components.


2. USB-C cable compatibility: The fact that your Apple Watch charges successfully with your father's older USB cable suggests that the issue lies with the USB-C cable rather than the watch itself. It's possible that the USB-C cable was damaged during the electrical event and is no longer functioning properly. The USB-A (standard USB) cable you purchased might be compatible with your watch and charging it correctly.


3. Future incidents: Without knowing the exact cause of the electrical event, it's challenging to determine whether it will happen again. However, it's generally recommended to have electrical systems inspected by a qualified professional after experiencing such issues to ensure there are no underlying problems that could cause future incidents.


4. USB vs. USB-C cable: Using a USB cable instead of a USB-C cable should not have any detrimental effects on your watch. Apple devices, including the Apple Watch, are designed to work with standard USB connections. As long as the USB cable you are using is certified and of good quality, it should not void your warranty or cause any issues with the watch.


Given the circumstances, it's advisable to take your watch, the original USB-C cables, and any other relevant information to the nearest Apple Store as you already surmised. They will be in the best position to assess the situation, diagnose the issue accurately, and provide appropriate solutions or replacements based on your warranty coverage.

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User profile for user: merril35
merril35 Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

May 29, 2023 8:20 PM in response to Tesserax

Thank you so much for replying to my questions. I'm relieved to know there will not be any detrimental effects using the USB-A cable. I had purchased another new genuine USB-C cable after the first one fried and this had failed to charge my watch. This is why I then purchased the USB-A cable and successfully charged my watch. I'm sure there is a very technical reason why the USB-C cables failed when the USB-A worked but as long as there is no issue with it, I can live with it. I will pursue the matter with the Apple people when I am next heading that way. Thanks again for your advice.

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My Apple watch USB-C power cord blew up!

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