Why does my MacBook Pro accept a charge from some wall outlets but reject others?

2018 15" MBP T2. Battery swap performed nine months ago; battery is perfoming nominally. Charging cables / brick undamaged. On an erratic / unpredictable basis, the computer will not charge from one wall outlet (living room) but happily juices up at another (office) using the same cables / brick. At the "bad" outlet I get the confirmation "chirp" when I plug the cord into the port, but I look in later and power level is falling, not rising. No error messages or red flags, the MBP has just taken a dislike to the most convenient outlet. Any ideas?

MacBook Pro 15″, OS X 10.11

Posted on Sep 14, 2023 9:12 AM

Reply
Question marked as Best answer

Voltage, common, and (for three-pin connections) ground, and the mechanics of the socket itself.


A socket with weak contacts can allow the charger cant downward and out of contact.


In the US, the available socket testers will catch the most common wiring errors.

Posted on Sep 19, 2023 1:30 PM

7 replies

Sep 14, 2023 9:18 AM in response to BrickDuck

If the charger is working fine in various other outlets in the building and elsewhere, then the issue seems to be with the particular electrical outlet.


There are basic plug-wiring testing devices available in the US and various other places, and you can ask an electrician to check the electrical system, GFCI/RCD/RCCD protection if present, and the available voltage present at the outlet.

Sep 15, 2023 8:34 PM in response to BrickDuck

It may just be a bad electrical receptacle. Did you try both outlets on that "bad" wall receptacle? Maybe only one of the two outlets is bad on that wall receptacle.


Definitely agree with @MrHoffman that something with that electrical outlet is bad, either the receptacle itself or the wiring for that circuit.

Why does my MacBook Pro accept a charge from some wall outlets but reject others?

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