Why I stopped buying new chargers: the three things that actually fail in a USB-C brick

The failure modes

I have pulled apart about forty dead phone chargers in the last year. Almost all of them die from one of three things:

1. The bulk capacitor dries out. The big electrolytic on the primary side. Symptom: charger whines, phone charges slowly or in bursts. Replace with same capacitance, same or higher voltage, 105°C rated.
2. The USB-C connector cracks loose. Symptom: works if you hold the cable at an angle. Reflow or replace the connector. Needs hot air for the shielded ones.
3. The fuse opened because something downstream shorted. Do not just replace the fuse. Find the shorted diode or MOSFET first or you will pop the new fuse immediately.

Safety

Mains side capacitors hold a charge. Discharge through a resistor before you poke. If the enclosure is glued (most are), split it on a vise with a mallet and reglue later or, honestly, zip tie it shut and label it.

Is it worth it?

For a $10 brick, no. For a 100 W GaN charger, absolutely.