Letterman's head writer faces sparking, smoking PowerBook adapter
By Darren Murph 
posted July 13th 2007 10:55AM
posted July 13th 2007 10:55AM
Granted, we've seen our fair share of Apple products getting a bit hot under the collar, and while the PowerBook AC adapters never were truly regarded as top-notch pieces of equipment, it seems that this particular one chose the wrong guy to get all sparked up on. Justin Stangel, a head writer / producer for the Late Show with David Letterman, was presumably writing up the night's monologue when he was uncomfortably faced with a sparking AC adapter. As any true professional would do, he actually filmed the volatile device getting its spark (and smoke) on rather than evacuating the area, so be sure and click on through to see what the fuss is all about. 
I have a dell adaptor that quit working, started working again for a while, and then completely died. Dell refused to replace it, so I opened it up hoping that a capacitor popped so I could just replace it. Nope. Right behind the AC cord it sparked badly with the copper wrapped around a ferrite core, fusing the copper together. Apparently the 'tape' used is extremely thin and weak, and it was designed such that the ac connector rubbed on it and then sparked. Why wasn't there shielding on the back of the AC? apparently to cut costs. And I'm not the only one with problems. one person had it replaced 4 times in one year. I even had a dell adaptor do nearly what this video shows, except at the laptop connection instead of the 'power brick.' Trust me, the stuff is cheap crap.. well, cheaply made, costs a fortune for the end user.
It's happened to no less than 4 Apple power supplies in my family since they started making everything 'stylish'. Being a student and working from my Power Book, my power supply goes almost everywhere with me, so it's understandable that something with very little insulation would break over time. Apple could have beefed up the insulation at the ends of the thin cable, especially since it is constantly bending coming out of the power supply where it wraps around the hooks.
Apple could take a hint from its customers, but I wouldn't count on it any time soon.
Oh boy, a damaged cable causes a short and he films it for the world to see.
Dumbass.
Man that guy has small hands. He can barely hold the transformer.
I had the same problem with my Macbook power supply on the other end of the cord. Instead of burning it up and crying, I opened it, soldered it, taped it, and put it back together. Just like new again.
My ibook power adapter recently did this. Mine was up near the plug that goes into the computer, just behind the "stress relief" (not much good that did). It sparked a few times and then I got it replaced (extended apple care).
I had this happen with every notebook I have used (all PCs), so it's not an Apple issue!
Just open it up, snip the damaged end off, tie a knot, desolder the old connection, solder the good end, and snap it back together.
It won't look as good, but functionally it's identical - and saves a bunch from spending on a new adapter.
When replacing a PowerBook adapter of this type, I recommend the replacement adapter made by Newer Technology. It is much sturdier and better made than Apple's adapter. It is also larger and not as nice looking, but personally I don't care about that.
Also, the guy is lucky that he didn't become injured. It could have started a worse fire. If your power adapter (any power adapter) is malfunctioning, unplug it immediately and don't plug it in again. Get it replaced.
Hey, at least it *looks* pretty.
...and I've had 3 Dell laptops and 1 Acer laptop and NONE of them have frayed up...my god people what are you doing to your poor laptops?! And I just love the comment "This is the second [Mac Book Pro] power adapter I've had fail on me in the history of my Apple products so that seems like a good amount." You sound like a Windows user making excuses for when his PC crashes, I think you'll find NONE is a good amount, two means the cables crappy and you're not treating it right - sheesh ... sorry been watching too much House!
I had the same exact thing happen to me to my powerbook's power adapter while I was in my school's library studying...yea, not the place you want to have that thing catch on fire.
I agree though-I don't know if the MBP power bricks are any different than the PB ones, but I hope they've taken care of this small problem...
Mine did the same to me the other day, maybe i should have taken it in to complain rather than buy a new one :S
Hey dumb ass -
If you keep twisting the cord like that, of course it's going to short out, spark, and cause smoke. Quit @#%^-ing with the cord and it won't happen.
Although the cord is not the sturdiest of cords, turning and twisting it like that will sure cause problems.
Three words - "Made In China"
I treated my iBook G4 power brick like a baby...mostly because I'd checked up on Apple's website & other places on the adapter, and read that some people went thru 3-4 replacements (jeez...how careless are some people?).
Mine finally died after nearly 2 full years of use. The cord was "wrapped" carefully, never crimped. I never sat on/rolled over/tripped on/dropped the power brick...until one day it just stopped working, and sparks flew.
So to say, as some have here, that this only happens to blatantly careless people is dead wrong. I treated mine with extreme care, and it still died. It just means that Apple's brick isn't as sturdy and as well-designed as hoped. It's not a universal thing that users who have theirs die are merely "careless." That's ludicrous.
I recommend a G4 adapter from Macally. Got mine brand new off of eBay, and it's been a joy. It's lightweight, and VERY strong. There's no "LED" light on the end of the tip, but I'm too much of a slave to my battery to not pay attention to when the battery's charged & to unplug the cord. It's a good bargain.
This should be filed under "wahhh."
I had the Same Problem.
Funny, I was just watching it last night. They have Macs in the control room too.
Any electrical cable would spark and smoke if the rubber exposed the wires and you twisted and turned it to contact the other wires inside.
Maybe Letterman would be funnier if they stopped playing with random stuff and actually wrote good material.
Mine did exactly that too - except I didn't play with it. I returned if for a new one at no cost. I wound it up twice every day around the provided flip out hooks - which I believe caused the problem as the plastic initially split due to the angle it got pulled at. I don't care, I got a new one for free and can probably go back when my new one does it too.
this happened to mine too
And that is why on some Dell power supplies the cord coming out of the power supply has a built in right angle turn on it. So when you warp it around the brick it does not strain the cord. Why didn't the so smart brains at Apple think of this?
I've owned 2 laptops and have supported some 20 more and have not see this happen with any of my clients. None are Mac users. Though I suspect some abuse by the guy in the video, I also see the product was built for looks more then durability.
Apple fan boys love to say how much better built the Apple products are. But they are built in the same Chinese factory as PCs are so I find that hard to believe.
Reality distortion field at full power.
Okay Mr. Head writer for Letterman try writing a check for another power supply. And stop trying to get something for nothing, it make be true that there are power supplies that fail and I’ve had a few IBM ThinkPad power supplies that have failed. But your video is over dramatized and a weak attempt at seeking attention. It's obvious that the outer case of the wire is cut or broken and I'm not sure that you did not aggravated the condition of the wire to make a point but if you didn't your not only careless for not taking care of your equipment, your an idiot for playing with a power cord that has been damaged for some time. It makes us think that you Hollywood types are a bunch of whinny babies that thinks that the world owes you something for free or you will cry to your adoring fans and they will force them to submission. Why could you be just a regular person that had a problem with an Apple power cord and who cares. Of course your not.
His POWERBOOK?
That system is many years old now. What do you expect?
If it happened on his 2007 MacBook Pro, it would be an issue. An old PowerBook? PLEASE spare me your drama.
Wires get crimped and damaged over time with use. `Happened to my electric bike's headlight. Do I scream about it? No. I buy a new headlight.
Oh.. by the way:
"look at that!" (twist, crimp, bend) "Look! It's just doing that on its own!" (bend, twist, crimp)
Idiot.
Apple was right. Go buy a new one and this time don't abuse it, dim-bulb!
Apple needs to toughen up their cords! Is 'style' worth people dying in a fire? This is coming from a life long avid Mac user.
Worst. Ellen. Feiss. Impression. Ever.
"So I was, like, writing my script for Dave and I so totally, like, had it ready before deadline, you know... then my Powerbook adapter just ripped it's own cord right in half! And wiggled itself to make sure the bare metal shorted out. And my script was like: bloop, bloop!"
"I was like... so bummed..."