MacBook not charging, bad MagSafe board?
Seems to be a little more common issue on these older MacBooks, but I am unable to get mine to charge. Was working just fine, then just stopped charging one day. LED doesn't come on on the adapter (have an L-tip), and the screen says it's not charging. Don't think the logic board is bad, as the computer is running fine otherwise. Switched out the MagSafe DC in board, and still nothing. I have a new DC-in board on the way currently, as I am unsure if the one I switched in was bad. My second possibility, is that the charger I am using provides to much voltage. It is an 85W supply, and although that should theoretically work, as it was before, who knows... I checked the voltages at the pins on this board, and they measured as follows (from top to bottom, starting with black):
Pin 1 (first black wire): 2.90 V
Pin 2: 0 V (ground)
Pin 3: 0 V (ground)
Pin 4 (inner grey wire): 18.63 V
Pin 5 (outer grey wire): 18.63 V
So it has a DC supply coming into the board, but is not charging. Battery is good, and logic board seems ok. Any ideas? Thanks in advance!
Is this a good question?
4 Comments
First the current Mag-Safe power adapters offer the same voltages. It's just the amount of current they offer is different (Wattage).
Think of it this way your table lamp has the ability to have a 35 watt, 45 watt or 60 watt bulb. The AC powering the lamp is the same but the brightness of the light is different depending on the bulb you put in.
by Dan
Right, got that down(am studying electrical engineering). According to the specs for the charger it should be delivering 16.5 volts, not 18.63 though. My question is more what would cause the charger to not have the LED turn on or charge? The board is clean and has been tested, and the battery is good as well. If the logic board was bad, what would it be on there that would stop the led "return signal" from being correct?
Thanks in advance!
by Nels Tate
Sorry Nick please don't take it wrong many people just don't understand Ohms law here (in this case P=I*E).
by Dan
Haha, no I gotcha. I agree, or know what a "load" actually is...
by Nels Tate