iPad 12W USB power adapters continually failing - why?

Question

iPad 12W USB power adapters continually failing - why?

Hi,

My sister's has had several Apple brand 12W USB power adapters for her iPad (Model A1459) fail in the last couple of years. Most recently, she bought one in January that failed shortly after, then the most recent replacement failed 4 days after purchase. The local stores that handle Apple products tested the adapters and USB cables and found the problem to be the adapters (which is the same conclusion I came to when I visited last and tried charging it with various combinations of adapters and cables, including those for my own iPad). She doesn't use a surge protector but that said, there have been no noticeable abnormalities in the power supply.

Is there some ongoing problem with Apple power adapters? Is there some other explanation involving the iPad itself that could be causing this?

Any suggestions to explain this, and hopefully fix it, would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

iPad Wi-Fi + Cellular

Posted on Feb 26, 2018 9:35 PM

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Answer 1

MichelPM

Level 10

81,547 points

Mar 3, 2018 7:51 PM in response to reluctantuser

Well,

I have had 3 go bad on me in 2-1/2 years and I charge other iDevices on the 12W charger, so it isn't the iPad.

It's an issue with the charger.

Is your sister using a good quality surge protector?

Since I starting using a better quality surge protector strip, the 12W adapter, I am currently using, seems okay and hasn’t failed, yet.

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Answer 2

Rudegar

Level 10

181,290 points

Feb 26, 2018 11:11 PM in response to reluctantuser

i still have and use every ac adaptor for every ios device I ever owned both 12W and 5W

the same Environmental Requirement that goes for the ios device likely goes for the charger

Environmental Requirements

Operating ambient temperature: 32° to 95° F (0° to 35° C)

Nonoperating temperature: -4° to 113° F (-20° to 45° C)

Relative humidity: 5% to 95% noncondensing

Operating altitude: tested up to 10,000 feet (3000 m)

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Answer 3

Mar 3, 2018 7:19 PM in response to reluctantuser

So... my sister has had 6 adapters fail in the last few months! I just sent a new adapter, which failed in a day, while plugged into a surge protector. Then she used the adapter for the other iPad and "killed" it too.

This is really seeming like the iPad somehow, no? The iPad has the most current updates installed. My sister called Apple Support but they were unable to suggest any solution (other than sending out yet another adapter, re. the warranty). Any ideas?

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Answer 4

Mar 3, 2018 8:18 PM in response to MichelPM

Thanks for your response. The previous adapter failures were without a surge protector on the plug-in. The latest one (or two), of which the latest one was DEFINITELY a genuine Apple adapter ( I bought it at the local Apple store) failed using a new surge protector rated to 900 joules.

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Answer 5

Mar 4, 2018 1:26 PM in response to reluctantuser

The previous adapters were bought from the local store which is supposed to be a certified Apple dealer. (They have taken back the failed adapters and say they are returning them to Apple, but have never supplied a replacement despite the 1-year warranty.... a pretty questionable Apple dealer.) Packages do say "Apple" on them.

So, no ideas?

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Answer 6

Feb 27, 2018 9:00 AM in response to Rudegar

Right. I can assure you that the device and adapter have never been used outside the range of the stated environmental requirements.

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iPad 12W USB power adapters continually failing - why?

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