Microsoft announces Surface Pro AC power cord recall

by Mark Tyson on 22 January 2016, 09:31

Tags: Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), Surface

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Microsoft has issued a voluntary product component recall affecting those who have purchased a Surface Pro, Surface Pro 2 or Surface Pro 3. The recall affects only a small detachable component in your Surface Pro package; the AC power cord.

Anyone who bought one of the aforementioned Surface Pro hybrid tablet computers before 15 March 2015 in the U.S. and Canada, and before 15 July 2015 worldwide, is recommended to take part in the recall and obtain a replacement power cord.

It has been found that "if the cord is wound too tightly, twisted or pinched over an extended period of time there is a potential risk for the AC cord– the cord that connects the power supply unit to the electrical socket – to overheat." This is the only reason stated for the recall.

Microsoft says that so far there have been no reports of serious injuries caused by the AC cord overheating but Microsoft says "safety of our customers is our top priority," and has backed that statement up by making free replacement cords available to all eligible customers.

It is recommended that if you won one of the aforementioned Surface Pro tablet models that you begin the exchange process by visiting www.surface.com/powercord as soon as you have time to do so. Microsoft has provided further power cord safety instructions which look like they would apply to any power-brick style power supply and cord which you can refer to below.



HEXUS Forums :: 4 Comments

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Apple has had the same problem for years. I dont understand why the companies dont want to use better cables/other than making lots of money on selling spare parts).
The idea of not bending the cable doesnt go well with the intended use of the device.
eviling
Apple has had the same problem for years. …

I was about to say the same thing, I used to work in an electronic store and I sold more chargers for MacBooks than for any other laptop, exactly for this reason.

The Apple charger cable is hideously thin and always fails right after the strain relief boot.

While these Apple and MS chargers can do with improvements, I would though personal observation, put these failures down to operator error more than design fault. Put it this way, I have some friends who I wouldn't even lend even a MIL-STD-810G laptop to.
As I'm affected by this I've bothered to read all the info.

This is the standard figure of 8 cable. It didn't have enough strain relief built in because they were doing that design nonsense that you normally get from Apple.

The recall is something that can be replaced by a £2.50 cable on Amazon. This isn't like MBP power cables or similar of which I know no one who has used theirs daily for 2 years and not needed one £60 replacement!
Thick copper wire makes a huge difference to the price of a laptop, or course. Meanwhile, has apple still not fixed screengate or is that still rumbling on?