Charger for Apple Macbook Air (MacBook Air, MacBook Air) is a very reliable thing. However, since there is nothing ideal in nature, this accessory may fail and you will need to buy a new one. In addition, the user can easily lose the charge and then, again, it will be necessary to purchase a replacement. In this article, we'll walk you through the basic rules for buying a Macbook Air charger.
In fact, there are no specific guidelines for the charging life of the Macbook Air. The cable and adapter must serve the user reliably for many years of operation, regardless of the number of recharges.
Some Apple laptop owners mistakenly blame charging for poor performance at the moment when the battery jams. This is where there are certain restrictions on the number of Macbook recharge cycles. However, there is no exact answer to the question of how many recharge cycles the battery should work properly, but it is known - after a couple of years of operation, the battery charges longer and discharges faster.
However, as you probably understand, replacing the charging cable will not help in this case, you need to change the battery.
But back to the question of when to change the charger. This accessory should be replaced only if the charging process either does not go at all, or is constantly interrupted, while it is diagnosed that the laptop's battery has nothing to do with it. How to check who is to blame - the battery itself or the cable? Very simple! Try to charge the device with another charge - if everything is in order, run for a new adapter, otherwise - for a new battery. However, sometimes it is not the battery that is to blame for the described behavior, but other "iron" faults, the service center will help to calculate the specific problem.
Macbook Air Charger Purchase Guidelines
Getting the right laptop charger is very important - non-certified accessories can malfunction and damage the device itself.
First of all, before buying, you need to determine the laptop model. In order for the in-store consultant to sell you the correct accessory, they may need either the serial number, model ID, or SKU. You can view these parameters on the laptop case itself, on the box from under the device, or in the device menu (Apple section, hereinafter "About this Mac").
If you are going to purchase a charger from a specialized store, then this preparatory work is completed. Then you just go to the store, the information found is provided to the consultant and you should be sold the correct charger.
If you want to order an accessory yourself via the Internet, you will need to independently determine which type of adapter suits your model. But there is nothing complicated here, do not be alarmed, your main reference point is the power of the adapter - they exist in six types - at 29, 45, 60, 61, 85 and 87 watts (W). Each MacBook group has its own power. For example, a 45W adapter is suitable for a 13-inch Macbook Air A1466, while the newest Macbook Pro requires 87W. However, if we talk specifically about chargers for Macbook Air, and this article is devoted to them, it is important to note that 45W is the power that will suit all "air" laptops, not just the A1466. The only thing is that for models released later than mid-2012 (A1466 refers to them, for example), a 45-watt adapter with a Magsafe 2 magnetic connector will be required, for those that were released earlier, an L-shaped Magsafe connector will be needed, but also for 45 Watt.
For more information on how to determine the Macbook model and the adapter it needs, read the special section of the Apple official website - here and here.
Where is the best place to buy a charger?
Well, now about the most important thing - where is it better to buy a new charger for the Macbook Air. This is a very important question and here's why. An AC adapter for a MacBook is not a car charger for an iPhone - the device is not cheap, and therefore you should only trust trusted resources. However, overpaying unnecessarily is also not worth it.
Official charging, which can be bought, for example, on the Apple website, will cost 6,490 rubles! Not a little, agree. At the same time, adapters are sold in the Chinese store on AliExpress at prices of the order of 1000-1500 rubles.
However, we do not recommend either the first or the second. "Golden mean" - the cable is not original, but certified. Such an accessory is guaranteed not to ruin the laptop, from which you are not insured, when purchasing cheap Chinese, but it will not ruin it either. Prices for certified chargers, depending on the model and store, range from 2000-4500 rubles.
Let's summarize
If your Macbook Air charger is broken or lost, you will need to purchase a new one. The adapter type depends on the device model. The model is indicated in the device menu, on its case and on the box in which it was delivered. Having determined the model, you should either go to a specialty store and ask the consultant to sell a charger that is suitable for your model. If you want to order an adapter via the Internet, two parameters will help you make sure that the accessory suits you - the required power, for all Macbook Air it is 45 W and the type of connector - for old models - type Magsafe L, for new ones - MagSafe 2.
Important! Buy a certified cable, it is cheaper than the original one, but it guarantees quality!
Carrying out free diagnostics, the service center masters divide the causes of the breakdown into Soft (software) and Iron (hardware). The process of charging and the distribution of charge among the MacBook components is controlled by the motherboard. Some processes, such as: Set the time to go to sleep or turn off the screen, can be controlled directly from the OS.
MacOS software crashes.
Information about all errors is stored in NVRAM and SMC memory, which can be simply erased.
Clearing errors in PRam and NVRam memory.
- NVRam
(Non Volatile Random Access Memory), abbreviated as NVRAM, is a kind of operational five, capable of storing data without power supply. The current is supplied through a separate channel, regardless of whether the laptop is turned off or in sleep mode. The following parameters are stored in NVRam:
- - Mac OS volume level.
- - Display resolution.
- - Active boot area.
(Failure of the boot volume, causes the "?" Folder to appear on the desktop when starting MacOS)
- - Log of critical errors.
(If this log remains saved, then after fixing the malfunction, the laptop continues to assume that it is still present)
For example, if you change the HDD or its ribbon cable, MacOS will show a folder with a question mark. If there was a fatal error about the battery status, macOS can detect it as low.
The operating system constantly looks at the contents of NVRAM, therefore, when changing any components or repairing a MacBook, it is recommended to reset all memory values.
To clear NVRAM, after turning on the MacBook, press and hold the buttons - ALT + Command + R + P until the welcome signal appears again. Erasing this area of \u200b\u200bmemory will not affect the rest of the data and files.
- PRAM
In older models, PRAM is used. Its cleaning is performed by the same command. We just press the same keys, wait for the second greeting, and then release the keys. Just set the date, time, screen resolution and volume indicator again.
Clearing memory (System Management Controller).
SMC (System Control Controller) The memory of this microcircuit stores data about the battery status, percentage of charge, etc. In addition, it controls the cooler and helps to display the picture on the external screen. In case of data corruption and errors:
- - MacBook won't charge.
- - The percentage of charge is displayed incorrectly.
- - Bulb on MagSafe changes color or doesn't come on at all.
- - The cooler of the cooling system works unevenly.
- - Image output is malfunctioning.
Clean the SMC to get rid of these faults.
On a MacBook with a removable battery, simply remove it and hold down the Power key for 5 seconds. Insert it back and connect MagSafe.
MacBook in UniBody case and modern versions, with built-in battery, memory reset is performed by the CTRL + SHIFT + ALT + Power key combination (Power button). Remember to turn off the power supply before cleaning.
It is necessary to carry out cleaning on the switched off machine or at least being "in sleep". During cleaning, all components are turned off at the same time, which damages the hard drive or solid-state SSD.
Reset controller errors, on battery.
Status information is not only stored in NVRAM or MacBook's SMC chip. On the original elements from Apple, there is a control chip located in the battery case itself. To reset the information, you will have to remove the battery, which in modern MacBooks is best done in the service, because for this operation, professional tools and firmware are required with a programmer.
If you leave the laptop with a discharged battery for two or three weeks, it will go into "protective mode". The controller will send a signal and disconnect the board. It is extremely difficult to charge the gadget later by simply connecting the charger. In this situation, the firmware of the controller on the battery helps. For such a procedure, you need to contact the PlanetIPhone SC.
After the end of the diagnosis, if there are any problems with the MacBook, you will be shown an error code, you need to write it down! If the OS issued the PPT004 code, then it's time to change the battery.
If the diagnostics run smoothly and your MacBook Pro won't charge, you can rule out the bad battery and start troubleshooting elsewhere.
Defective MacBook power supply.
The check should start with the block, connecting a 100% working, compatible charger or using a special adapter, because MagSafe generations are different.
Attention! The block must be of the same power that you charged your Mac with. A 45w block from the MacBook Air is not enough to charge MacBook Pros with 60 watt for 13 inch and 85 watt for 15 and 17 inch models.
If the MacBook does not charge from the old charger, but the battery charge is above 15%, when the 45w power supply is connected, the power indicator on the MagSafe connector may light up, but the battery will recover very slowly. If the laptop is not turned on, perhaps such manipulations will not help.
The chargers supplied in the kit and their copies, class AAA and A +, are made from good, high-quality parts and last up to 5-7 years, but over time, the characteristics and output voltage level changes and sags. Capacitors can burn out without ringing a multimeter, this malfunction cannot be detected. An oscilloscope will also help in detecting a breakdown.
In addition to exceeding the service life, the charger breaks down due to a voltage drop in the network and contact with water.
There is an option to repair the power supply unit, change the MagSafe cables or solder capacitors, but the price will equal the cost of the new unit. Moreover, it is considered unattended. We cannot guarantee the operation of the PSU after soldering.
If you identify problems with the charger, we recommend replacing it. The service can offer high-quality, low-cost copies that employees use. Connecting a work charger to your MacBook Air won't charge the battery? Well, it's worth moving on to checking the battery.
We identify the malfunction of the battery.
Almost always, an OS message is displayed about a problem with the battery. The built-in sensor, based on the collected indicators, calculates the approximate date of the battery replacement. You will receive notifications - "Service required" or "Replacement required". If the battery is no longer usable, the indicator in the macOS bar is marked with a cross.
You can predict the time when you need to change the battery yourself, just by looking at the number of charge cycles and battery discharge. Click on the Apple logo, in the upper left corner, "About This Mac", then - "System Report". The number of recharges should be up to 700. If there are more of them, it is better to immediately contact the service and replace it.
If the firmware of the battery controller described above did not help and the MacBook does not charge, there is an option of replacing the control board or the controller itself. It may fail after contact with liquid. Or replacing individual lithium-ion battery cells that swell. Of course, it is better to replace such an element.
Faulty charging connector on MacBook.
If the battery and charging are working properly, you should take a closer look at the connector itself. For a long time, a plaque appears on the surface of the connector, from oxides, and the contacts are slightly erased and burned out.
The "harness" is breaking - this is a group of power circuits located on the board, with MagSafe. If the harness burns out, the connector can be re-soldered and the leaked capacitors and transistors can be replaced. Sometimes banal cleaning of the connector helps
MagSafe is always on a separate circuit, be it the old UniBody models or the new Retina models. In the Mac Air line, there is also a Mini Jack 3.5mm and USB outputs, which is why replacing the connector is a little more expensive.
If, after cleaning the MagSafe connector, the MacBook does not charge, the last and worst option remains.
Checking the motherboard and its power paths.
If, after diagnostics, you have ruled out all of the above problems, and the MacBook does not charge, because the power circuits are faulty, specifically the PWM controller and SMC.
The main problem with replacing SMC is the availability of a suitable donor. Each model has its own firmware. Service center engineers have looked through all those communities, forums and all information in the public domain and so far no one has been able to reflash SMC. For this reason, you will need to find a MacBook with a working controller.
Such repairs are not easy and not every service will undertake it. If, after diagnostics in PlanetIPhone, it was found that the Shim controller is faulty, only soldering a new Shim will help.
The ISL circuits used in the MacBook, manufactured by INTERSIL, contain a pulse-width modulator, which consists of a group of comparators. It is needed to form a different voltage level on the mat circuit. boards. (5v, 3.3 volts, "duty room") and their control, through different circuits.
SMC, PWM controller and ISL are involved in different processes in the laptop. Their incorrect operation or failure is associated with:
- - Short circuit in the circuit.
- - A sharp drop in the current in the network.
- - Defective components in Mac.
You can fix the problem by simply re-soldering the components, but detecting the problem instantly will not work. Specialists of the PlanetIPhone service can examine the board under a microscope for several hours in a row, looking for burned-out circuits, etc.
Of course, you can solve the question of why MacBook Air does not charge on its own! For a person in general, nothing is impossible! But then, most likely, you are the owner of one of the services for the repair of Apple equipment or a very experienced shareholder with professional equipment, access to the factory, with original components and have a tremendous amount of time to look for the cause on your own.
Benefits of "PlanetIPhone".
Summing up, we found out that there are a lot of reasons why the MacBook Pro battery does not charge. From a banal faulty unit or a charger clogged with dirt, to a circuit in the microarchitecture. Bring it to PlanetIPhone. We diagnose and identify all breakdowns free of charge. Here are a few more advantages with which we surpass all competitors.
- - Free departure of the master to the address in Moscow.
- - Diagnostics and a gift, even if you decide to postpone repairs for later!
- - The lowest price in Moscow, including spare parts, labor and warranty.
- - Warranty from 3 to 6 months. (it can be extended)
- - All services are within walking distance from metro stations.
If you haven't found an answer why MacBook won't charge, come to PlanetiPhone for free diagnostics.
Apple is very sensitive to the quality of components in its products and this also applies to batteries. The battery life of MacBooks is much longer than that of other laptops, however, over time, it slowly begins to decline. To ensure that this moment comes as late as possible, there are some simple tips that you can follow to keep the battery in excellent condition throughout its life, right up to the purchase of a new MacBook.
We will divide all recommendations into two categories, the first will help take care of your battery in the short term, that is, they are aimed at extending the battery life from one charge; the latter are more forward-looking and are more concerned with preserving battery life over a long period of time.
Part 1: Increase Battery Life
Using power saving options
The power saving settings in OS X are essentially minimal, but they work and this is also one way to increase battery life.
Open system settings and go to the section Energy saving... Using the sliders, we specify the time after which the display will turn off and your Mac will go to sleep. You can also specify here whether to wake up the computer from sleep mode to access the network and slowing down disks, which also affects energy savings.
In addition, you can use the scheduler to set up automatic power on / off, go to sleep or reboot at specified times and days. This will be useful in order not to keep the MacBook always on, for example, if you need to connect to it remotely when you are away from home.
Disable Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and dim
Wireless interfaces are among those functions and technologies that continue to work in the background even if you are not using them, so you can safely turn them off if you do not need them at the moment. Thus, you can save some half an hour or an hour of battery life for tasks that do not require network activity. Experienced users know how to turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, but for beginners, I'll remind you that you can do this by clicking the corresponding icons on the menu bar (you can turn them on again there).
In addition to this, it is worth mentioning the brightness of the display, which also puts a significant strain on the battery and reduces the battery life. If you have disabled the auto brightness option, I recommend enabling it. Well, don't forget about manual adjustment with function keys. Sometimes, in case of emergency, you can reduce the brightness level to the minimum comfortable level and stretch for 30-40 minutes longer.
Disconnecting unnecessary peripherals
Obviously, powering peripheral devices connected to your MacBook puts additional stress on the battery, reducing battery life. It is advisable to disconnect all USB flash drives, hard drives, floppy drives and other households if you do not need them at the moment. If you have an internal SuperDrive installed, also remember to remove the drive from it.
Upgrading to OS X Mavericks
The current version of OS X 10.9 Mavericks, introduced last fall, is crammed with features that aim to increase energy efficiency. There is no point in listing them now, since we described in detail all the functions of Mavericks in a large review, but take my word for it that even old MacBooks get a "second life" in terms of battery life after the update.
If for some reason you still haven't updated, I highly recommend that you do so, especially since the update is completely free and you can safely download it from the Mac App Store.
Part 2: Extending Battery Life
Battery diagnostics and monitoring
It is very important to monitor the health of your MacBook's battery, so you need to take care of that first. For these purposes, any profile utility is suitable, for example, the free Battery Diag, which will tell literally everything about your battery: initial and current capacity, battery health, number of cycles, and much more. After installation, the application icon will be placed in the menu bar, from where you can find out the most complete information.
Using Battery Diag, combined with the other tips in this article, will allow you to identify various issues that are affecting your MacBook's battery life and battery life in one way or another.
Exposure to temperatures
Operating temperatures have a significant impact on battery life. They usually depend on how you use and store your MacBook. Apple clearly indicates these temperatures, for example, for my MacBook Pro (and for yours too) the operating temperatures in which operation is allowed are in the range from + 10º C to + 35º C. At the same time it is emphasized that the best temperature is considered as close to room, that is, + 22º C. Basically, these recommendations are followed "automatically", since we are all living people and we are also uncomfortable working at high or low temperatures. However, this should not be completely neglected, since there are people who like to lie with their MacBooks on beds or soft sofas, where they feel "hot" surrounded by pillows and due to the lack of natural air circulation. In such cases, it will not be superfluous to use a hard surface, a special stand or table.
Prevention
It is believed that modern lithium batteries do not require maintenance, and therefore do not require special attention to charge-discharge cycles. Nevertheless, some experts still recommend sticking to reasonable rules, namely: do not allow deep battery discharge and prolonged operation from the mains. With a deep discharge, I think it's understandable, this has a detrimental effect on the capacity of the battery. But periodic disconnection from the network and work from the built-in battery is necessary because the MacBook is constantly connected to the network, the battery works in more severe conditions than with a slow charge-discharge within 40-80%.
Thus, it is advisable to disconnect the MacBook from the network at least once a week and work on the battery, discharging it to 40-60%. And twice a year it is necessary to carry out a full discharge cycle up to 20% (when the poppy itself asks for charging) and charge up to 100%.
Long-term storage
Poppy growers rarely part with their favorites for more than a few hours, but still there are situations when we have to go somewhere for a long time, leaving an aluminum friend with a bitten apple at home. In this case, as with operation, you need to follow simple rules.
First, do not forget about the temperature regime. Apple allows its devices to be stored at temperatures between –25º C and + 45º C, however, it is also recommended that the temperature be as close to + 22º C. That is, you should not leave them in the summer sun on a windowsill or in an unheated room in winter.
Secondly, you need to remember about the battery, since it is the battery that suffers most during long-term storage. Before leaving your MacBook for a long time (more than 6 months), discharge it by about half and store it in this state, a full charge up to 100% is not recommended. And, of course, do not forget to completely turn it off in order to avoid deep discharge and possible loss of your data.
Do you have any questions, comments or suggestions? Welcome to comments - I'm always happy to chat and help. Stay tuned, there is still a lot of interesting things ahead!
The new MacBook Air, the long-awaited release of which should take place soon, has caused a lot of controversy. The biggest criticism came from Apple's decision to ditch all ports except for the headphone jack and USB Type-C. The latter, by virtue of its capabilities, should become a universal connector responsible not only for connecting peripherals, but also for external displays, as well as charging. Many were outraged, how can you take MagSafe away from us? But let's not get excited and consider the possible solutions that Apple will apply.
Possibly new MacBook Air will run on battery like iPad
There has never been MagSafe in iPads, but hardly anyone expresses dissatisfaction about this. A tablet is a more mobile device with a longer battery life that is usually not used while charging. Following this logic, we can assume that the mobility of the new MacBook Air will be sufficient to change the use case as in the iPad. The difference between the MacBook and iPad lies in the form factor, as well as the use for different tasks and in different conditions. When we work with the iPad, we hold it in our hands, so MagSafe is not necessary. It's different with the MacBook Air, and even assuming phenomenal battery life, you'll sometimes need to charge it anyway, which is where MagSafe comes in handy.
In addition, the iPad Lightning cable is significantly shorter than the MagSafe cable. If the new MacBook doesn’t come with MagSafe, it’s possible Apple will provide it with a shorter cable like the iPad, which in itself will reduce the chance of tripping over it while charging.
Maybe Apple will put MagSafe on the cable
If MagSafe does not fit into the case, what prevents it from being placed somewhere on the cable, on the USB Type-C adapter, or on the charger itself? The adapter is not a very elegant solution, and besides, it is easy to lose it. MagSafe in the place of connection to the charging is also unlikely, so most likely it will take its place somewhere on the cable, closer to the laptop case.
Possibly new MacBook Air will be equipped with inductive charging like in Watch
A great idea that will appeal to most users, but there is one catch - there is no inductive technology yet that can provide enough current to charge a laptop. If any of the companies can present something like this this year, it will be Apple. But there is another difficulty here - it is difficult to imagine the location of such a charge. If you place it at the bottom, the notebook will stand at an angle, the sides are too thin for this, and positioning in the lid behind the display, for example, in the logo, would be ridiculous.
With a little attention, you can increase the battery life of your laptop (how long it can work without recharging) and its lifespan. Most important is to use your Apple laptop within the correct temperature range (see Laptop Temperature Range). Do not leave your laptop in a closed case during the summer as it can overheat.
New laptop
New Apple laptops use the latest chemical technologies to dramatically increase battery life. The built-in battery in MacBook, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air can last up to 1000 full charge cycles before being depleted to 80% of its original capacity. In addition, adaptive charging technology has reduced battery wear - now up to 5 years of battery life. When you turn on your laptop for the first time, be sure to fully charge the battery and update the software. Apple periodically releases updates that can help you optimize power consumption.
Routine maintenance
To keep a lithium battery in good condition, it is necessary that the electrons in it are periodically in motion. Apple does not recommend keeping your laptop plugged in at all times. From this point of view, the ideal owner is a person who uses a laptop in transport, and then puts it in the office to recharge. This prevents the battery from stagnating. On the other hand, if you are using a desktop computer and only use your laptop occasionally when traveling, Apple recommends that you fully charge and discharge your battery at least once a month. Do you need to be reminded of this? Create an event in your iCal. If you find that the battery capacity has become insufficient for operation, it can be replaced. Built-in batteries may only be replaced by an Apple Authorized Service Provider.
Long-term storage
If you know you won't be using your laptop for more than six months, Apple recommends storing it so that the battery is 50% charged. When stored with a fully discharged battery, it may enter a deep discharge state and lose its ability to charge. Long-term storage with a fully charged battery can lead to partial loss of its capacity and a reduction in operating time. Always store your laptop at the proper temperature. (See Laptop Temperature Range.)
Optimal settings
You can use your Apple laptop for maximum battery life.
Energy. The Energy Saver panel has several options to help you determine the energy consumption for your Apple laptop. Your laptop is able to detect when it was connected to the network and change the operating parameters accordingly. If the laptop is running on battery power, the screen brightness decreases and all other components are also used more economically. Changing settings to maximize performance will drain your battery faster.
Brightness. Decrease the screen brightness to the minimum comfortable level, then the battery life will increase. For example, when watching a DVD in flight with the cabin lights off, full brightness is probably not needed.
AirPort wireless. AirPort is on and consumes more power - even when you're not using a wireless connection. This function can be turned off on the corresponding control panel to reduce energy consumption.
Bluetooth wireless communication. Likewise, you can turn off Bluetooth to increase battery life, because this feature consumes power even when not in use.
Applications and peripherals. Disconnect all unnecessary devices and close applications that you are not using. Remove CDs and DVDs if the laptop is not accessing them.
Also, to save power consumption, you can reduce or turn off the keyboard backlight when it is not needed, for example, during the day.
You can choose and purchase a MacBook in this section of our online store.
