I have had an Apple device sometimes ignore its charger if I plugged it in while switched on, or when I powered it after plugging it in. Cannot remember which way round, sorry.
Re the OP, there must be something wrong somewhere - I am supposedly an electronics engineer but I missed a fauty plug powering my garage light - after I had gone to all the trouble of changing the wall socket !
And I wasn't aware of the 'one-sidedness' of new Apple leads ? - a backward step.
Are all the components you are using genuine Apple products ?