Filed under: Bad Apple, Macbook Pro
Reader's unibody MacBook Pro catches fire!
At 1:30am, Ken Brinkman awoke to the smell of burning plastic. His unibody MacBook Pro was on fire. As he details in his Mac-Forums post,"Smoke was pouring out the seam between the unibody and bottom enclosure. I actually burned my hand pretty badly ripping the adapter out. Oh man. This is reallllly scary because what if I didn't wake up? It could of burned my house down."Ken e-mailed us this morning, understandably freaking out. Two weeks ago, Mel reported on a San Jose lawsuit alleging that the MagSafe power cables Apple uses for its portable computers are a fire hazard. We've seen Flickr evidence of melted or scorched MagSafe adapters in the past, but Ken's pictures take that to another level.
UPDATE: Ken wrote in to clarify what happened and told us he's getting a replacement. Read more after the jump.
Thanks Ken!
Thanks Ken!
From Ken:
"So the story is that I was doing an initial backup over my network to a time capsule. It needed to copy over 100GB of data and, as the manual states, "you may need to plug your computer in and leave it on overnight to complete the first backup". And that's what I did. I woke up an hour and a half later with it burning. I'm sure it wouldn't be as bad if I caught it early, but I was asleep. There was smoke coming out of the keyboard, around the edges and out the ports on the left side. It wasn't a black smoke really, it seemed like a lighter, grayer smoke. The magsafe, though, was completely engulfed. There were green flames coming off of it. I had a folder underneath the computer too and that burned as well.
Another thing, I believe it's the computer not the magsafe. This laptop has broken two other power supplies, granted not to this extent. Yesterday, I just got the laptop back from the Apple Store again because the logic board and fan assembly needed to be replaced, I think due to the same issue. I was so happy to get it home only to find 6 hours later it was on fire.
I am a perfectionist when it comes to my Apple products. I always utilize safe operating procedures when it comes to the magsafe.
I just got back from the Apple Store today and they're replacing it, no charge. The head genius wasn't there though and I'm told I'll need to talk to him."
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 4)
superberg said 10:52AM on 5-20-2009
I had the cable on the Adapter end of my MBP start to wear out six or seven months in. I brought it into an Apple Store and they replaced it on the spot.
MagSafe is a great concept that just doesn't seem to be working out so well.
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Mark said 11:08AM on 5-20-2009
"MagSafe is a great concept that just doesn't seem to be working out so well."
I know this is a serious case, but you can't exactly say that. Apple have sold millions of MagSafe-equipped machines over the last few years. Of course reliability can always be better as it is never 100% for anything, but I imagine MagSafe's record is well within the allowed safety margins. If it weren't they'd have had to stop selling them and would have had a recall.
Andre said 11:05AM on 5-20-2009
I've had a magsafe adapter melt (at the brick) and see melted ones here and there (usually third party adapters), but it was nothing like this... Wow.
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alansky said 11:07AM on 5-20-2009
Where there's smoke, there's fire (as the saying goes). I do not recall hearing about a widespread problem of this nature associated with any previous Mac portable. Something is definitely rotten in Denmark. The unibody MacBook Pro was introduced just seven months ago, so most of the affected machines aren't even old enough to have been properly abused by clueless owners. Apple really needs to change adapters and give owners of defective adapters the warranty coverage they deserve.
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bshigenaka said 11:50AM on 5-20-2009
If that's the case, Jake, as they say, you're not doing it right.
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RUGRLN said 11:18AM on 5-20-2009
Apple is pathetic. It's amazing how they manage it everytime! PPl might say it happens to other laptops, yea well how comes it's always an Apple product...
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ErnieP said 11:32AM on 5-20-2009
Nothing more that overpriced fire hazards. It just works, make that flames!
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jimbeam said 11:43AM on 5-20-2009
It’s a defect in the cord. It bends right where the connector meets the cord. This is a fire hazard. The wires will eventually pull away from the connector, causing the electricity to jump or “spark”. It also will leave a kink or sharp bend it the cord that could cause heat.
Just look down at you feet, at the power brick with all those plugs from your computer and monitor and everything else. They all have a thick plastic or rubber coating where the cord meets the actual plug. That’s there for a reason, so they do not bend there. Magsafe cords don’t have this. So don’t leave the cord hanging off the edge of a table or wrap some electrical tape around that spot, so it does not bend there and you should be safe.
Hopefully apple will issue a recall.
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Richard Lai said 11:47AM on 5-20-2009
Cable quality has always been an issue with Apple, especially with their earphones. This is probably a good reason to force Apple to concentrate on developing wireless power and audio (A2DP for iPhone please!)!
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Justin said 12:12PM on 5-20-2009
Boy oh boy I do not want this happening to me. And hopefully, it won't. But you can never be too sure, huh?
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Just_a_guy said 12:20PM on 5-20-2009
omg. I should burn my magsafe and get an upgraded computer /sarcasm
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zl9600 said 1:06PM on 5-20-2009
Interesting everyone seems to be blaming one side or the other. How about we DON'T blame Apple OR the user? Rather than being investigators, the only people here are here to piss all over one party or the other, or jump into "Apple Care as snake oil". Give me an f-in break.
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Jon said 1:48PM on 5-20-2009
Yeah, it's never happened to Dell or Sony has it?
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Jon said 1:49PM on 5-20-2009
Er... this was supposed to be in reply to someone above me. Weird.
audifan said 12:44PM on 5-20-2009
Yeah mine looked like that too when I held a lighter under it.
*rollseyes*
Just another guy looking for a lawsuit....
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Jon said 1:48PM on 5-20-2009
I wonder how long he left it plugged in. I was working at home for a period of several months and I left the charger plugged in constantly as it didn't leave my desk. I didn't think it would be a problem but the cable actually melted.
I took it to an Apple Store and they replaced it with a thicker one. My laptop is a 1st-gen MacBook so it's much older than the MBA. Assuming the MBA came with the thicker, 2nd-gen cable I received about 18 months ago, it sounds like they've had to thicken it AGAIN in the 3rd-gen.
Maybe they should do a product recall on those older cables.
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Povilas said 12:48PM on 5-20-2009
I have 3 years old MacBook (white) and my MagSafe is just fine. It look used a lot, but works fine. It would be great if Apple took care of this problem though.
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Spinfusor said 1:07PM on 5-20-2009
"It could of burned my house down."
It's "could've" or "could have."
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consumer_q said 1:34PM on 5-20-2009
Hello
For safety's sake, do not leave *any* device charging on carpet, upholstery, blankets, or pillows. Only charge items on a solid surface with plenty of ventilation. This goes for laptops, battery chargers, mobile phones, cameras, and similar items (especially those with Lithium-Ion batteries). If a cord or electronic device is defective or worn and subsequently overheats or burns, having it on a solid surface will minimize the potential of a fire spreading.
Knowing is half the battle!
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christomapher said 1:37PM on 5-20-2009
I know this is off subject, but what is the difference between a "blog" and a "weblog"? Aren't all blogs found online-- meaning weblog is a little redundant? Just curious!
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