A tale of two chargers -- Surface Pro 1 and 2 vs Surface RT/2

[Torn Mind]

So, my sisters Surface Pro 2 had its charging plug damaged, and I decided to splice the connection using the wire from the big OEM charger that she damaged near the brick itself. Upon snipping the original OEM unit, I discover the ground wire is not wrapped in insulation and is wrapped around the three wires present.

The replacement, which the more recently damaged one, has a separate black ground wire. The red wire's gauge is smaller by one size in the RT version as well.

I bought it off Ebay and it was advertised as a genuine charger. The rationale was that if my sister's heavy use and backpack carrying of the surface damaged the original, the replacement will eventually be busted in a similar manner.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Genuine...659579?hash=item28123cb27b:g:1aAAAOSwA3dYJXrR

 

[UsandThem]

I personally wouldn't buy a charger (or batteries) on Ebay, unless it was from a company like Newegg, Best Buy, or similiar who had a Ebay store. Too many fakes.

When my son damaged my wife's charger for her Dell laptop, I looked on Amazon and all that was available was from 3rd party sellers, and many of the reviews mentioned getting fakes (even though the seller claimed they were legit). I ended up just paying the $20 extra and getting it directly from Dell.

I've never bought anything from that seller, so this is only my personal opinion. But when a true OEM product costs 3-4 times more than Chinese sellers are selling it for, I would have my concerns. Plus, seller ships directly from China according to his auction.

http://www.righto.com/2012/03/inside-cheap-phone-charger-and-why-you.html

 

[coercitiv]

How exactly does comparing an allegedly genuine Surface RT charger (24W) with a genuine Surface Pro 2 charger (48W) makes one come to the conclusion that the first charger is a fake?

 

[UsandThem]

How exactly does comparing an allegedly genuine Surface RT charger (24W) with a genuine Surface Pro 2 charger (48W) makes one come to the conclusion that the first charger is a fake?

I thought I was pretty clear in my explanation. Let me try it again.

A lot of 'OEM' cables and chargers are fake. In fact, Apple just notified Amazon of many 3rd party Chinese sellers shipping counterfeit chargers/cables there.

The seller he linked to sells a claimed OEM charger, directly from China, for $11. There is no way of knowing if it is truly an OEM product without opening it up and inspecting it. That is not a conclusion, it is a concern. I specifically stated I never bought a product from the seller he linked to.

If it were me, I would not chance it as some of the fakes are very low quality, and dangerous.

Caveat emptor.

 

[coercitiv]

I thought I was pretty clear in my explanation. Let me try it again.

I wasn't asking you, I was asking the OP: he was comparing the way the two chargers were built, from insulation on the ground wire to wire thickness. Why come to the conclusion a 24W charger is inferior to a 48W charger based on the red wire gauge?

 

[UsandThem]

Sorry, I thought you were replying to my comment as you mentioned the fake charger comment in your last sentence.

As far as the difference between the two and the higher gauge red wire on one, I'm not sure.

 

[Torn Mind]

Ebay has the cheap garbage for about $8. Of course, I avoided that. Although, I would buy one for the purpose of snipping the wire for a splice if the situation arises. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wall-Travel-Adapter-Charger-Power-for-Pro-Microsoft-Surface-10-6-RT-Windows-8-US/131700656699?_trksid=p2045573.c100506.m3226&_trkparms=aid=555014&algo=PL.DEFAULT&ao=1&asc=38530&meid=5d0013bed4ae4564a78ab54acf2406c7&pid=100506&rk=1&rkt=1&

If I bought a pretender, it manifested no outward symptoms. The bulk was not feather light, and IIRC, there were plenty of markings on the brick. Far more than the $8 one.

I once bought a universal PSU on the cheap from Ebay. Now THAT was something. The laptop(not the Surface Pro 2) could be charged, but the power delivered was so dirty, it would mess with the touchpad when you try to move to pointer. It was also a featherweight. This is unit is definitely not on that level
----------------------------

How exactly does comparing an allegedly genuine Surface RT charger (24W) with a genuine Surface Pro 2 charger (48W) makes one come to the conclusion that the first charger is a fake?

Where did you come to that conclusion? I only named the source of purchase. I didn't mention anything about fakes. In fact, the only thing to take away is that I just did some splicing and come across some properties present on the two units.

Never said it was a fake. Just observing something. The 48W unit's lovely wrapping of naked ground wire is a bigger pain to splice to the black wire of the replacement than if it were also a black wire. The smaller gauge can also be simply explained by the shorter cable and the PSU's current limits; I'm just stating the wire is thinner, not whether that is good or bad.

In fact, durability goes to the smaller charger for protecting the wiring coming out of the brick, given my sister's relatively abusive treatment of power units.

My non-RMS also read a ripple of .015 AC volts. Pretender or no, this $11 Ebay unit gets a pass from me.

I have grown resolute that the 48W charger is not worth buying if the usage of the Surface is going to subject it to abuse. Once the wire is separated, repair is impossible from a practical standpoint, and you are left with a USB charger as a consolation. For $25-$30, that adds up fast.

 

[UsandThem]

Where did you come to that conclusion? I only named the source of purchase. I didn't mention anything about fakes. In fact, the only thing to take away is that I just did some splicing and come across some properties present on the two units.

Never said it was a fake. Just observing something. The 48W unit's lovely wrapping of naked ground wire is a bigger pain to splice to the black wire of the replacement than if it were also a black wire. The smaller gauge can also be simply explained by the shorter cable and the PSU's current limits; I'm just stating the wire is thinner, not whether that is good or bad.

In fact, durability goes to the smaller charger for protecting the wiring coming out of the brick, given my sister's relatively abusive treatment of power units.

My non-RMS also read a ripple of .015 AC volts. Pretender or no, this $11 Ebay unit gets a pass from me.

Well it sounds like you know what to look for. Anytime I see the phrase "OEM charger EBay", my stomach turns a little bit.

And I feel better now that you were also confused about the 'fake' comment directed at you. I didn't see you mention anything about that either, so that's why I was positive it was directed at my first statement. Oh well.

 

[Torn Mind]

Well it sounds like you know what to look for. Anytime I see the phrase "OEM charger EBay", my stomach turns a little bit.

And I feel better now that you were also confused about the 'fake' comment directed at you. I didn't see you mention anything about that either, so that's why I was positive it was directed at my first statement. Oh well.

I did come across the website you linked, but a different article.

http://www.righto.com/2012/10/a-dozen-usb-chargers-in-lab-apple-is.html
I bought the HP from Ebay to power a Nexus 7. It was more expensive then. $18. Now, that seller is selling it for $10.

 

[coercitiv]

Where did you come to that conclusion? I only named the source of purchase. I didn't mention anything about fakes. In fact, the only thing to take away is that I just did some splicing and come across some properties present on the two units.

You made a clear distinction between the "big, original OEM unit" and the replacement bought from Ebay and "advertised as genuine charger". The Ebay link only reinforced this distinction. (subjectively Ebay and "100% original OEM part" turns stomachs around, see above) Although I now understand your intention to just report your experience with some detail, the context did tend to lead towards a conclusion, intended or not.