Microsoft announced that it will be recalling millions of power cords in one of 2016’s first big name recalls.
Surface Pro power recall will be voluntary
The Surface Pro from Microsoft endured a slow start, but more and more people are finding it an adequate replacement to the iPad as well as a laptop for many. However, Microsoft is now recalling millions of power cords after the company deemed a very small proportion to become a fire risk.
“As a result of damage caused by AC power cords being wound too tightly, twisted or pinched over an extended period of time, a very small proportion of Surface Pro customers have reported issues with their AC power cord,” a Microsoft representative said in a statement to ABC News. “We will be releasing details of how customers can obtain a free replacement cable shortly.”
The recall will affect all Surface Pro, Surface Pro 2, and Surface Pro 3 models sold before July of 2015. That means those that have purchased a Surface Pro 4 will not be affected as that model was only released in November of last year.
Since I began writing this piece, Microsoft has further details of the recall and a page up on its website that allows those affected to register for the recall. That information including a FAQ along with registration is available here.
Not Microsoft’s fault
Generally speaking the onus is really on the consumer for this problem that Microsoft is addressing. Quite simply, if you’re rolling your power cords up in such a way as to make them more portable, you’re essentially damaging the cord. This isn’t specific to Microsoft’s cords but cords in general.
In an article in WIRED a couple of years ago, this problem was explained by Chris Apland, Product Manager for Gaming and Networking at Monoprice.
“When you roll up a cable against its natural shape it will fatigue the entire length of the cable and will twist in a direction perpendicular to the length of the cable,” he wrote to Wired.
“The stresses against the natural coil work to twist the cable and eventual weaken the cable to the point of intermittent performance or total failure of the cable,” wrote Albert Cardenas, Product Manager for Consumer Audio at Monoprice when asked his advice in the same Wired piece.
