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2011 Mini USB power output...

K

KTMjapan

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jul 30, 2011
7
0
I will receive my Mini this coming Friday but am wondering has anyone tried seeing if their iPad will charge from a USB port on the new Mini...

I have been fortunate in that my 3 yr old MBP has enough "oomph" in one of it's ports so I can sync & charge at the same time but - What about the Mini ??

Searched but could not find an answer....

Thanks in advance :eek:
 
'Standard' USB ports send out 5W.

Every Mac since the first aluminium iMac can output more than that. It's used for charging the iPad (which needs 10W), and it was originally used to provide more power to the USB ports on the Apple wired keyboards.

So 'yes', to answer your question.
 
Last edited:
KTMjapan said:
I will receive my Mini this coming Friday but am wondering has anyone tried seeing if their iPad will charge from a USB port on the new Mini...

I have been fortunate in that my 3 yr old MBP has enough "oomph" in one of it's ports so I can sync & charge at the same time but - What about the Mini??
Click to expand...

USB 1.x and USB 2.0 limit the maximum current on the protocol level, AFAIK.

The USB 2.0 specification on page 201 in usb_20.pdf:

7.2.1.2.1 Over-current Protection

The host and all self-powered hubs must implement over-current protection for safety reasons, and the hub must have a way to detect the over-current condition and report it to the USB software. Should the aggregate current drawn by a gang of downstream facing ports exceed a preset value, the over-current protection circuit removes or reduces power from all affected downstream facing ports. The over-current condition is reported through the hub to Host Controller, as described in Section 11.12.5. The preset value cannot exceed 5.0 A and must be sufficiently above the maximum allowable port current such that transient currents (e.g., during power up or dynamic attach or reconfiguration) do not trip the over-current protector. If an over-current condition occurs on any port, subsequent operation of the USB is not guaranteed, and once the condition is removed, it may be necessary to reinitialize the bus as would be done upon power-up. The over-current limiting mechanism must be resettable without user mechanical intervention. Polymeric PTCs and solid-state switches are examples of methods, which can be used for over-current limiting.
Click to expand...
 
Anybody ?

Thanks - fully aware that USB supplies only 5 volts - was just wondering if it is supplying the necessary 2.0a ( or 10 watts ) that the iPad needs to charge...

So does anybody know - perhaps the simplest way if just for someone to plug an iPad into their Mini and let us know ?

Searched specs and literature high and low and can't find an answer...

Cheers,
 
KTMjapan said:
Thanks - fully aware that USB supplies only 5 volts - was just wondering if it is supplying the necessary 2.0a ( or 10 watts ) that the iPad needs to charge...

So does anybody know - perhaps the simplest way if just for someone to plug an iPad into their Mini and let us know ?

Searched specs and literature high and low and can't find an answer...

Cheers,
Click to expand...

I'll try later today.
 
yes the ipad charges when directly plugged in to the 2011 mini usb.
5pDu3.jpg


however, when plugged into a powered kensington usb hub, it only does the slow trickle charge (says "Not Charging" in the status bar).
zXJfZ.jpg
 
Cheers,

Thanks all - glad to here I don;t need to plumb 1 cable for sync and 1 for charge...

Thanks...
 
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