Will a faulty MagSafe adapter cause a MacBook to shut down?

Question

Will a faulty MagSafe adapter cause a MacBook to shut down?

My MacBook shuts down intermittently. This occurs during movement (only the slightest movement, such as when readjusting the MacBook's position on my desk or lap). I suspect this may only be occurring while the MacBook is plugged in; I'm still troubleshooting to be certain of this. One thing I am certain of is that the (L-shaped) MagSafe adapter is failing, as it requires some manipulation of the cable in order to get it to work (that is, be recognized by the MacBook, begin/resume charging, display its indicator light). Could a faulty MagSafe cause a MacBook to shut down (even when the battery is fully charged)?

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Sep 3, 2013 3:06 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Sep 3, 2013 3:10 PM in response to HaroldJohnson

Yes, if it has shorted out. Does the computer work OK on battery, only? If so, then replace the adaptor.

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Answer 2

Sep 3, 2013 6:07 PM in response to Kappy

As far as I've been able to tell so far, the MacBook only shuts down when it's plugged in and I move it. Right now I'm typing this from the same MacBook using its battery, which I was able to charge using the cable -- but as I was removing the cable the computer shut right down.

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Answer 3

Sep 3, 2013 7:48 PM in response to HaroldJohnson

You can get a new third party 60W power adapter on eBay for under $20.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=macbook+power+adapter&_sacat=0&_sop=12&_dmpt =Apple_Laptops&_odkw=macbook+power+adapter&_osacat=111422&_trksid=p3286.c0.m270. l1313

Or for $80 from Apple http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC461LL/A

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Answer 4

nbar

Level 5

7,019 points

Sep 3, 2013 8:00 PM in response to HaroldJohnson

Connect your MB to the charger. From the Finder menu bar, hold down the option key and click the Apple logo > System Profiler... > Hardware > Power.

Post the output in your reply.

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Answer 5

Sep 4, 2013 10:23 AM in response to nbar

Battery Information:

Model Information:

Manufacturer: DP

Device name: ASMB013

Pack Lot Code: 0000

PCB Lot Code: 0000

Firmware Version: 0000

Hardware Revision: 0000

Cell Revision: 0000

Charge Information:

Charge remaining (mAh): 3965

Fully charged: No

Charging: Yes

Full charge capacity (mAh): 4523

Health Information:

Cycle count: 51

Condition: Normal

Battery Installed: Yes

Amperage (mA): 600

Voltage (mV): 12313

System Power Settings:

AC Power:

System Sleep Timer (Minutes): 10

Disk Sleep Timer (Minutes): 10

Display Sleep Timer (Minutes): 10

Automatic Restart On Power Loss: No

Wake On AC Change: No

Wake On Clamshell Open: Yes

Wake On LAN: No

Current Power Source: Yes

Display Sleep Uses Dim: Yes

Battery Power:

System Sleep Timer (Minutes): 10

Disk Sleep Timer (Minutes): 10

Display Sleep Timer (Minutes): 2

Wake On AC Change: No

Wake On Clamshell Open: Yes

Display Sleep Uses Dim: Yes

Reduce Brightness: Yes

Hardware Configuration:

UPS Installed: No

AC Charger Information:

Connected: Yes

ID: 0x0100

Wattage (W): 85

Revision: 0x0000

Family: 0x00ba

Serial Number: 0x00a0caf9

Charging: Yes

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Answer 6

Sep 4, 2013 9:37 PM in response to nbar

I posted the output in System Profiler. What were you looking for in this?

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Answer 7

Sep 4, 2013 9:47 PM in response to HaroldJohnson

Are you sure that you have a MacBook? The 85 watt charger is for a MacBook Pro.

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Answer 8

Sep 4, 2013 9:48 PM in response to Kappy

After a good amount of testing using the battery only (which is a pain because I have to tweak the adapter cable until the charging indicator light comes on, and then it sometimes takes nothing more than the breeze of my passing nearby the cable to cause it to move just enough to stop charging), the issue really seems to only occur when the adapter is plugged in. I haven't seen the MacBook shutdown when running just on battery.

This is good news, as it appears that the adapter is the issue rather than something more costly (such as the logic board), and I just recently purchased this MacBook used off eBay. I was preparing for yet another disappointing Mac-purchased-on-eBay experience. (This is a bit disappointing, but the seller is willing to replace the adapter.)

What I'd really like to know at this point is how the issue I'm experiencing -- the shutdown of the MacBook only when the cable is removed and the computer is up and running -- is possible. That is, does it occur because the MacBook doesn't have time to switch from the adapter to battery power? I would've thought that a failure of the cable would simply cause the computer to switch to battery power immediately, but is the MacBook incapable of doing so in that split second that the MacBook loses power from the plug? Normally, when a MacBook sense that the MagSafe adapter is being unplugged, it switches to battery power. Does the MacBook shut off because it doesn't have time to sense the loss of DC current (whereas it does have time when the power DC power is removed normally, as when the connector is removed)?

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Answer 9

nbar

Level 5

7,019 points

Sep 5, 2013 12:08 AM in response to HaroldJohnson

I wanted to see this:

Amperage (mA): 600

Voltage (mV): 12313

The amperage is too low, the machine is not drawing enough current to maintain itself in the case of a sudden disconnect from power. I think the Magsafe is just cooked and your DC board is okay.

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Answer 10

tutim

Level 1

0 points

Mar 11, 2014 4:33 AM in response to nbar

Hi nbar,

I came across this discussion and I wanted to ask if you could take a look at my power report as well, and let me know if the magsafe is faulty?

Here it is:

Battery Information:

Model Information:

Serial Number: D86105103RJDGDLA4

Manufacturer: SMP

Device Name: bq20z451

Pack Lot Code: 0

PCB Lot Code: 0

Firmware Version: 406

Hardware Revision: 2

Cell Revision: 158

Charge Information:

Charge Remaining (mAh): 6137

Fully Charged: Yes

Charging: No

Full Charge Capacity (mAh): 6215

Health Information:

Cycle Count: 435

Condition: Normal

Battery Installed: Yes

Amperage (mA): 0

Voltage (mV): 12270

System Power Settings:

AC Power:

System Sleep Timer (Minutes): 10

Disk Sleep Timer (Minutes): 10

Display Sleep Timer (Minutes): 10

Wake on AC Change: No

Wake on Clamshell Open: Yes

Wake on LAN: Yes

Current Power Source: Yes

Display Sleep Uses Dim: Yes

GPUSwitch: 2

PrioritizeNetworkReachabilityOverSleep: 0

Standby Delay: 4200

Standby Enabled: 0

Battery Power:

System Sleep Timer (Minutes): 10

Disk Sleep Timer (Minutes): 10

Display Sleep Timer (Minutes): 2

Wake on AC Change: No

Wake on Clamshell Open: Yes

Display Sleep Uses Dim: Yes

GPUSwitch: 2

Reduce Brightness: Yes

Standby Delay: 4200

Standby Enabled: 0

Hardware Configuration:

UPS Installed: No

AC Charger Information:

Connected: Yes

ID: 0x0100

Wattage (W): 85

Revision: 0x0000

Family: 0x00ba

Serial Number: 0x00f4e4c5

Charging: No

Thank you in advance!

mEY

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Answer 11

Jul 22, 2014 12:47 PM in response to HaroldJohnson

I know this is and old issue but I want to update incase if anyone else had this issue.

The problem is most could be most certainly with the power adapter itself i just had this issue

and I went to the Apple Store and had it replaced with a new one and it works perfectly.

I wouldn't recommend playing with and trying to make it work on your own because it could

short out the logic board from the constant power in and output interruptions and the shutdowns.

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Answer 12

pxta

Level 1

0 points

Dec 25, 2015 12:14 PM in response to nbar

Hi, nbar.

Same as the user tutim, I have some kind of Issue, I accidentally dropped my macbook pro this morning (it had the charger plugged in) and It's not charging. I'm not sure if this is just a charger problem or a more serious one. Here are my specs, any help is appreciated!

Battery Information:

Model Information:

Serial Number: D864284T29WFVN7A6

Manufacturer: SMP

Device Name: bq20z451

Pack Lot Code: 0

PCB Lot Code: 0

Firmware Version: 702

Hardware Revision: 000a

Cell Revision: 389

Charge Information:

Charge Remaining (mAh): 2064

Fully Charged: No

Charging: No

Full Charge Capacity (mAh): 5820

Health Information:

Cycle Count: 182

Condition: Normal

Battery Installed: Yes

Amperage (mA): -1669

Voltage (mV): 11008

System Power Settings:

AC Power:

System Sleep Timer (Minutes): 8

Disk Sleep Timer (Minutes): 10

Display Sleep Timer (Minutes): 8

Wake on AC Change: No

Wake on Clamshell Open: Yes

Wake on LAN: Yes

AutoPowerOff Delay: 14400

AutoPowerOff Enabled: 1

DarkWakeBackgroundTasks: 1

Display Sleep Uses Dim: Yes

Hibernate Mode: 3

PrioritizeNetworkReachabilityOverSleep: 0

Standby Delay: 10800

Standby Enabled: 1

Battery Power:

System Sleep Timer (Minutes): 5

Disk Sleep Timer (Minutes): 10

Display Sleep Timer (Minutes): 5

Wake on AC Change: No

Wake on Clamshell Open: Yes

AutoPowerOff Delay: 14400

AutoPowerOff Enabled: 1

Current Power Source: Yes

DarkWakeBackgroundTasks: 0

Display Sleep Uses Dim: Yes

Hibernate Mode: 3

Reduce Brightness: Yes

Standby Delay: 10800

Standby Enabled: 1

Hardware Configuration:

UPS Installed: No

AC Charger Information:

Connected: No

Charging: No

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Answer 13

Dec 25, 2015 1:25 PM in response to HaroldJohnson

remplaçer le MagSafe par un nouveau et ça régler le problème. Un court circuit dans le connecteur aimantée provoquait un arrêt du MacBook Pro lorsque je le débranchait.

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