Since I purchased the DS four months ago, I have gone through two of these AC adapters. The quality of the wire is absolutely wretched. You have to treat it like glass. I say this coming from the perspective of working and traveling with all kinds of wire adapters and chargers. Never have I had this problem with any other kind of electrical wire or cord. I haven't done anything to these wires but pack, transport, and unpack them, and somehow the insulator and the internal wires in the cord get ripped open. Nintendo ought to be ashamed for churning out such poor design. They need to make a better, more rugged adapter. Unfortunately I have not seen any alternative out there.

EDIT:

I have since found two third party chargers for the DS: one USB&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Nintendo-DS-Lite-USB-In-Car-Adapter/dp/B000MV3VV2/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Nintendo DS Lite USB In Car Adapter</a>&nbsp;and one a much more substantial AC adaptor&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Nintendo-DS-Lite-Universal-Home-Power/dp/B000I5X66C/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Nintendo DS Lite Universal Home Power</a>. I haven't had a single problem with either of them in the last year and a half. They are of fantastic quality.

Don't buy Nintendo's brand as a replacement. Go for the heavy duty&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Nintendo-DS-Lite-Universal-Home-Power/dp/B000I5X66C/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Nintendo DS Lite Universal Home Power</a>&nbsp;instead.
Since I purchased the DS four months ago, I have gone through two of these AC adapters. The quality of the wire is absolutely wretched. You have to treat it like glass. I say this coming from the perspective of working and traveling with all kinds of wire adapters and chargers. Never have I had this problem with any other kind of electrical wire or cord. I haven't done anything to these wires but pack, transport, and unpack them, and somehow the insulator and the internal wires in the cord get ripped open. Nintendo ought to be ashamed for churning out such poor design. They need to make a better, more rugged adapter. Unfortunately I have not seen any alternative out there. EDIT:

I have since found two third party chargers for the DS: one USB&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Nintendo-DS-Lite-USB-In-Car-Adapter/dp/B000MV3VV2/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt? ie=UTF8">Nintendo DS Lite USB In Car Adapter</a>&nbsp;and one a much more substantial AC adaptor&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Nintendo-DS-Lite-Universal-Home-Power/dp/B000I5X66C/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt? ie=UTF8">Nintendo DS Lite Universal Home Power</a>. I haven't had a single problem with either of them in the last year and a half. They are of fantastic quality. Don't buy Nintendo's brand as a replacement. Go for the heavy duty&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Nintendo-DS-Lite-Universal-Home-Power/dp/B000I5X66C/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt? ie=UTF8">Nintendo DS Lite Universal Home Power</a>&nbsp;instead.