Reducing interference from dodgy MacBook charger

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JoshWright

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Topic # 162086 28-Jan-2015 17:39

My new Tivoli radio arrived today from Germany (saved heaps by buying it on eBay vs locally!) and I've noticed something about my MacBook Pro charger.

About 18 months ago I replaced the original 85W MagSafe charger that broke with a brand new one on Trade Me that was supposedly genuine, but I've always had my suspicions that it's fake or partially fake. I've seen plenty of fake MagSafe chargers, and the casing on this one, even when compared to the original, seems very legitimate, however there are the following issues with it:

-Amber charger LED much dimmer than the green fully charged LED
-Ground loop issue when using headphones with the Mac, even when the charger is using the grounded cable, not the shorter ungrounded plug
-Very loud interference on AM radio (heard through the new radio) which makes tuning AM stations near impossible
-Impacted FM tuning, some stations can still be picked up, but the tuning and volume fluctuate very annoyingly.

Basically, the radio is unusable when the charger is plugged in (this is in the same room, my bedroom), but works perfectly as soon as I unplug the charger from the socket.

All these signs point to either the whole charger or some components of it being fake/non-OEM/poor quality (the Trade Me auction said it was 'reconditioned' if I recall, although it had plastic on it and looked brand new).

I know many of you would say just buy a new charger, but I'm a broke 16 year old with no cash to spare :((

Can anyone suggest something I could do to reduce the interference other than replacing the charger or unplugging it every time I want to use the radio, also I can't move either any further apart, they're both on opposite sides of a room.

Sorry for the long post, but I'm short of ideas.

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Meow
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Reply # 1224252 28-Jan-2015 17:51

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Honestly your only option is to buy a new charger. These "fake" chargers also pose as a security risk and since your mac is fully conductive on the outside you really really don't want it to leak 240VAC into your body.

Safety risk, fire risk, risk of electrocution and risk of it damaging your Macbook.

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
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JoshWright

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Reply # 1224254 28-Jan-2015 17:53

michaelmurfy: Honestly your only option is to buy a new charger. These "fake" chargers also pose as a security risk and since your mac is fully conductive on the outside you really really don't want it to leak 240VAC into your body.

Safety risk, fire risk, risk of electrocution and risk of it damaging your Macbook.

Hmmm... Better start saving then

Behodar

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Reply # 1224259 28-Jan-2015 18:10

JoshWright: About 18 months ago I replaced the original 85W MagSafe charger that broke with a brand new one on Trade Me that was supposedly genuine, but I've always had my suspicions that it's fake or partially fake.

You really need to watch out on Trade Me; I bought a "genuine" Apple battery and received a fairly good fake. If I didn't have the original Apple one to compare with then I probably would've trusted it, but the label text was in a slightly different font. That could've just been a tooling change at the factory, but the serial number reported by System Profiler didn't match the one on the label - something that I wouldn't have even checked if I didn't have my suspicions in the first place!

JoshWright

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Reply # 1224260 28-Jan-2015 18:12

Behodar:
JoshWright: About 18 months ago I replaced the original 85W MagSafe charger that broke with a brand new one on Trade Me that was supposedly genuine, but I've always had my suspicions that it's fake or partially fake.

You really need to watch out on Trade Me; I bought a "genuine" Apple battery and received a fairly good fake. If I didn't have the original Apple one to compare with then I probably would've trusted it, but the label text was in a slightly different font. That could've just been a tooling change at the factory, but the serial number reported by System Profiler didn't match the one on the label - something that I wouldn't have even checked if I didn't have my suspicions in the first place!

Just had a look in System Profiler, must be a fake, the serial number and other values are just blank

AC Charger Information:

Connected: Yes

ID: 0x0000

Revision: 0x0000

Family: 0x0000

Serial Number: 0x00000000

Charging: Yes

Behodar

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Reply # 1224263 28-Jan-2015 18:18

Well that answers that question beyond any doubt. Now for the tricky bit; money :(

JoshWright

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Reply # 1224265 28-Jan-2015 18:22

Just went back and found the original auction which was less than a year ago, and also which claimed a 12 month warranty, so I'll flick them an email and see what they can do.

Glassboy

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Reply # 1224269 28-Jan-2015 18:28

JoshWright: My new Tivoli radio arrived today from Germany (saved heaps by buying it on eBay vs locally!) and I've noticed something about my MacBook Pro charger.

About 18 months ago I replaced the original 85W MagSafe charger that broke with a brand new one on Trade Me that was supposedly genuine, but I've always had my suspicions that it's fake or partially fake. I've seen plenty of fake MagSafe chargers, and the casing on this one, even when compared to the original, seems very legitimate, however there are the following issues with it:

Yeah best bet is new charger. But if you want, PM me your address and I'll send you a clip on ferrite choke that you can put on the power cord. What model Tivoli did you get? I have a Model Three.

Niel

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Reply # 1224270 28-Jan-2015 18:29

Stop using it immediately, or risk getting killed. I design electronic products and as part of that have to evaluate different power adapters. There is lots that can be done wrong in the design, fake parts in a good design is not your issue.

You can never have enough Volvos!

JoshWright

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Reply # 1224272 28-Jan-2015 18:32

Glassboy:
JoshWright: My new Tivoli radio arrived today from Germany (saved heaps by buying it on eBay vs locally!) and I've noticed something about my MacBook Pro charger.

About 18 months ago I replaced the original 85W MagSafe charger that broke with a brand new one on Trade Me that was supposedly genuine, but I've always had my suspicions that it's fake or partially fake. I've seen plenty of fake MagSafe chargers, and the casing on this one, even when compared to the original, seems very legitimate, however there are the following issues with it:

Yeah best bet is new charger. But if you want, PM me your address and I'll send you a clip on ferrite choke that you can put on the power cord. What model Tivoli did you get? I have a Model Three.

Would you really send me one? I'd appreciate that heaps, but only if it's not a huge hassle for you. Does the ferrite choke go on the Mac or the Radio? I went halves with my parents in a Model One, for $190 shipped on eBay from Germany, and it's in excellent condition and I'm loving it. I was going to order one on Amazon, but they're 120V only and I didn't want to get a step down adapter or a 12V adapter (they have a DC in as well).

Glassboy

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Reply # 1224277 28-Jan-2015 18:39

JoshWright:
Glassboy:
JoshWright: My new Tivoli radio arrived today from Germany (saved heaps by buying it on eBay vs locally!) and I've noticed something about my MacBook Pro charger.

About 18 months ago I replaced the original 85W MagSafe charger that broke with a brand new one on Trade Me that was supposedly genuine, but I've always had my suspicions that it's fake or partially fake. I've seen plenty of fake MagSafe chargers, and the casing on this one, even when compared to the original, seems very legitimate, however there are the following issues with it:

Yeah best bet is new charger. But if you want, PM me your address and I'll send you a clip on ferrite choke that you can put on the power cord. What model Tivoli did you get? I have a Model Three.

Would you really send me one? I'd appreciate that heaps, but only if it's not a huge hassle for you. Does the ferrite choke go on the Mac or the Radio? I went halves with my parents in a Model One, for $190 shipped on eBay from Germany, and it's in excellent condition and I'm loving it. I was going to order one on Amazon, but they're 120V only and I didn't want to get a step down adapter or a 12V adapter (they have a DC in as well).

I have a bunch of them somewhere in the garage. You put it on the power cord of the Tivoli. The Tivoli PSU actually be better at taking out ripples but I have them so I put them on A/V components anyway.

nakedmolerat

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Reply # 1224279 28-Jan-2015 18:46

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Pleaae stop using that charger.

I have had mishap with a fake charger in the past. My phone went on fire.

blakamin

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Reply # 1224310 28-Jan-2015 20:05

And don't forget the woman in Sydney with the fake iPhone charger... She's dead :(

michaelmurfy

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Reply # 1224315 28-Jan-2015 20:13

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blakamin: And don't forget the woman in Sydney with the fake iPhone charger... She's dead :(

This belongs here:

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
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Niel

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Reply # 1224378 28-Jan-2015 21:52

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Two things I've stopped buying from non-reputable sources are LiPo batteries and anything mains related. If it has a DC power adapter, I'll still buy it but use my own power adapter. The part of your brain that deals with consequences only fully develop when you're 25 years old, with all respect please listen to our advice.

You can never have enough Volvos!

sir1963

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Reply # 1224521 29-Jan-2015 07:56

JoshWright:
Behodar:
JoshWright: About 18 months ago I replaced the original 85W MagSafe charger that broke with a brand new one on Trade Me that was supposedly genuine, but I've always had my suspicions that it's fake or partially fake.

You really need to watch out on Trade Me; I bought a "genuine" Apple battery and received a fairly good fake. If I didn't have the original Apple one to compare with then I probably would've trusted it, but the label text was in a slightly different font. That could've just been a tooling change at the factory, but the serial number reported by System Profiler didn't match the one on the label - something that I wouldn't have even checked if I didn't have my suspicions in the first place!

Just had a look in System Profiler, must be a fake, the serial number and other values are just blank

AC Charger Information: Connected: Yes ID: 0x0000 Revision: 0x0000 Family: 0x0000 Serial Number: 0x00000000 Charging: Yes

How long ago did you buy it and did you use "Buy Now" ?
If so, use the consumer guarantees act/fair trading act etc to get your money back as the product was clearly NOT what was advertised.

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