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."
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
paulflewis said 9:27AM on 5-20-2009
Yea, Mine did the same thing just not as crispy. I must have caught it sooner.
Reply
Hunter said 2:04PM on 5-20-2009
There is nothing wrong with the mag-safe's design, problems people have are all the result of poor care. One of two problems can occur: 1)Abuse to the wire by twisting and over flexing (which will damage any power cable and cause this type of problem). 2) It's a magnet, if you don't look at it before attaching it to the computer, it could pick up metal fillings while stored in a bag or left on the floor, etc. (this is as close to a design short-coming as you can get) which once plugged in can short a connection. Anyway despite any issues, its still by far the safest and most durable connection on any laptop on the market.
Neg said 1:51AM on 5-21-2009
Actually the magnet is in the computer.
jackscoob1doo said 12:54AM on 8-06-2009
Its actually on both.
todd said 9:29AM on 5-20-2009
Most likely caused by a damaged cord or battery from poor care. I'd be more likely to believe it if he had pics of his pristine cable and undented battery as "before" shots.
Reply
malik said 9:36AM on 5-20-2009
i take care of my stuff...
the cable from the new adapter i got is visibly thicker and the connector doesn't get so hot anymore...
macserv said 9:44AM on 5-20-2009
I'm not saying it's what hapened here, but I'm constantly amazed by the number of MagSafe-equipped Mac owners who disconnect the plug by pulling straight out, away from the laptop.
Please, if you are one of the people who do this, lift up on the cable instead of pulling. The connector will gently fall away from the laptop with much less effort.
Christina Warren said 9:53AM on 5-20-2009
Let's not jump to blaming the user -- this doesn't even begin to look like a "customer abuse" issue.
Giles said 10:31AM on 5-20-2009
Not very fair to blame him right off the bat. Many people have laptops (of all different sorts) and many people aren't very careful with plugs and such. Do you hear of this happening a lot? I certainly don't.
While I agree owner's should take care of their electronics, laptops and their accessories (esp power supplies) should be rather robust.
This doesn't seem like an issue with normal wear and tear, but a defect that Apple should address immediately to ensure consumer safety.
BOK said 1:15PM on 5-20-2009
How did I know there would be a scornful commenter blaming the user right at the top of the comments. Apple doesn't love you the way you love it, apologists. Also: It isn't perfect. Bad products happen.
macserv said 5:10PM on 5-20-2009
Oh, no, I wasn't blaming this particular user... Defects happen all the time, and the results usually look a lot like this. My comment was just directed to every MagSafe MacBook user who yanks the cable instead of lifting it away gently.
Magsafe has been around long enough that Apple should have a pretty good sampling of failed MagSafe adapters, and it would seem that it's time for a major revision of the plug design.
malik said 9:32AM on 5-20-2009
wow:p
my white macbook's adapter was melting too lately. it was already out of warranty, but i called apple.
the first thing the guy asked me (after checking the serial number) was: did anybody get injured?
i was laughing, but then i realised i was lucky :)
they replaced it for free.
Reply
Le Big Mac said 9:36AM on 5-20-2009
Ouch -- not going to blame the user here. Shouldn't happen just with a slightly worn (or even heavily worn) adapter.
Anyway, save the burn by pulling out at the wall outlet end. Cuts the power just the same.
Reply
André said 9:38AM on 5-20-2009
Had this happen to my MacSafe too cable but Apple shipped another overnight and they took it very seriously because it concerned the safety of lives.
Reply
André said 9:40AM on 5-20-2009
Had this happen to my MacSafe cable too...
Read the damn thing before you post, stupid :P
Jason Green said 9:58AM on 5-20-2009
I think that more than a new computer and assurances that Apple is testing the magsafe cord for safety will be a cash settlement. Due to a manufacturing defect, and possibly one could argue a design defect, since this happens often, there is most likely product liability under various legal doctrines, such as the UCC, and depending how old Ken's computer was maybe the Magnusson-Moss Act. I think a nice payday is in order to keep this to the Apple blogs and off of the major news media websites.
Reply
alfriede said 1:39PM on 5-20-2009
jason, please explain how/where you see the uniform commercial code being applicable to this issue, as i deal with the ucc and don't see the correlation here.
thanks
Jason Green said 2:01PM on 5-20-2009
Under 1-103 of the UCC you bring in the common law which in turn allows for applicability of the consumer expectation tests and defects of product liability to be applied. You would then apply these tests to 2-314 or 2-315 cause it certainly had an implied purpose and you could probably say a particular purpose and that apple knew of that particular purpose. I think it applies. Under 1-103 you can bring in any common law doctrine and apply it to any ucc section.
Metryq said 10:00AM on 5-20-2009
http://www.macmagsaver.com/
Snap on one of these "Magsaver" shells. (I do not work for the company, I just like their product.)
Reply
Kyle P. Snyder said 10:25AM on 5-20-2009
Actually, of all the odd suggestions I've seen to the MagSafe problem, this one isn't half bad. Every audio cable I've ever build includes some kind of strain relief, so why not the MagSafe?
Unfortunately, that little collar of rubber on the MagSafe is not strain relief, despite their intentions. Proper strain relief isn't going to be pretty (much like the MagSaver). Just look at FireWire cable - it's ugly but it handles the stress.