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Alternative to MagSafe

martinocando

martinocando

macrumors 6502
Jun 12, 2013
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bartvk said:
There is no such adapter as far as I know. As for building -- well, how good are your electronics skills?



Just sell the old one. You'll get enough money to buy two new ones from a 3rd party. The beauty of the USB-C port is that it's a standard. Sure, you can use Apple's big fat heavy 87W charger. However, I get through the day with a 45W charger. Here are two very well tested ones:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01D8C6ULO (Anker)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ET762XS (iVoler)

In a pinch, I've charged my MBP with a 40W Nintendo Switch charger!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N7RUZ49
Click to expand...

Great options. In fact, I have the Anker already in my shopping cart, just waiting for my Lumsig (https://www.amazon.com/Lumsing-Charger-Foldable-Macbook-Compatible/dp/B01I1OIO4A) charger to arrive. It says 48 Watt, delivering only 30W to the USB-C port, so I hope that I will be able to work, even if the battery doesn't charge. But if it doesn't, I'll get one of the options you linked. The iVoler looks cool.
 
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Rorosbutt

macrumors 6502
Mar 6, 2013
417
242
kipwheeler said:
I haven't tried it personally, but my impression is that its wattage is suitable for a 13" Macbook Pro laptop, but is underpowered for a 15" one.
Click to expand...

Thank you. Do you know if there is a "directionality" to it? i.e. The adaptor only snaps on in one orientation
 
bartvk

bartvk

macrumors 6502
Dec 29, 2016
386
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The Netherlands
kipwheeler said:
I haven't tried it personally, but my impression is that its wattage is suitable for a 13" Macbook Pro laptop, but is underpowered for a 15" one.
Click to expand...
The description on Amazon says it can deliver 60W. That will limit the stock 87W charger, but considering that I get through the day with 45W, I think it's fine.

Edit: another review says about this:
DO NOT USE WITH THE 2016 MACBOOK PRO! I bought 2 of these after tripping over the power cable and sending my brand new MBP flying, and seeing casual endorsements of this on various YouTube Channels. I can tell you: 1) It gets very hot and is a fire hazard. I assume this is because the 2016 MBP power supply is 87W and the Griffin cable is only rated for lower power. 2) When the Griffin cable is plugged into the MBP it doesn't charge the battery.

What a mess...

[doublepost=1494773953][/doublepost]
Rorosbutt said:
Thank you. Do you know if there is a "directionality" to it? i.e. The adaptor only snaps on in one orientation
Click to expand...

It's one orientation, one of the Q/A on Amazon says:
You have to plug it in one-way. There is both an indicator and the magnet prevents you from plugins it in the incorrect way.
 
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Rorosbutt

macrumors 6502
Mar 6, 2013
417
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bartvk said:
The description on Amazon says it can deliver 60W. That will limit the stock 87W charger, but considering that I get through the day with 45W, I think it's fine.

Edit: another review says about this:
DO NOT USE WITH THE 2016 MACBOOK PRO! I bought 2 of these after tripping over the power cable and sending my brand new MBP flying, and seeing casual endorsements of this on various YouTube Channels. I can tell you: 1) It gets very hot and is a fire hazard. I assume this is because the 2016 MBP power supply is 87W and the Griffin cable is only rated for lower power. 2) When the Griffin cable is plugged into the MBP it doesn't charge the battery.

What a mess...

[doublepost=1494773953][/doublepost]

It's one orientation, one of the Q/A on Amazon says:
You have to plug it in one-way. There is both an indicator and the magnet prevents you from plugins it in the incorrect way.
Click to expand...


Yes but the 13" isn't 87W. It's not designed for the 15" MBP.
 
deany

deany

macrumors 68030
Sep 16, 2012
2,873
2,086
North Wales
Problem with these magsafe adapters is if data is being transfered and the magsafe connection comes loose.

Potential corrupt data, not worth it IMO.
 
BarracksSi

BarracksSi

Suspended
Jul 14, 2015
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deany said:
Problem with these magsafe adapters is if data is being transfered and the magsafe connection comes loose.

Potential corrupt data, not worth it IMO.
Click to expand...
Not a problem with power-only adapters (there's fewer pins included, so there's no way to transfer data), but certainly a problem with adapters equipped to handle data.

I changed my mind about wanting data-capable MagSafe-type connectors as soon as I realized that a dropped data connection would be disastrous. Besides, it's not like we're running ten-foot cables to external drives perched on neighboring tables.
 
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kipwheeler

kipwheeler

macrumors regular
Nov 1, 2016
152
77
kipwheeler said:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/snapnator-is-a-scam.2025812/ links to arguments Snapnator is a scam. Read all the way through to the end to see full spectrum of impressions on whether the product is actually coming, or whether that company is just stringing people along. (I'm in the "it's-a-scam" category myself)
Click to expand...

Addendum here: there are new reviews from Australia about Snapnator: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/snapnator-is-a-scam.2025812/page-4

This suggests I was/am in error, and the product really does exist.
 
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ponytrekker

macrumors member
Feb 6, 2012
57
21
Rorosbutt said:
Anyone try this cable?


https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CQTK6GU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_X32fzbJM28JF8
Click to expand...
I have one. It's decent. Only negative is that the magnet disconnects more easily than the mag safe because it is not plugged into a recessed receptacle. It sort of sticks out more.
[doublepost=1496189141][/doublepost]
Rorosbutt said:
Thank you. Do you know if there is a "directionality" to it? i.e. The adaptor only snaps on in one orientation
Click to expand...
Yes. The magnets repel in the other direction. I use with my macbook.
 
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MrGuder

macrumors 68040
Nov 30, 2012
3,049
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That one looks a little more flush but I wonder if the L shape would be more prone to be knocked off?
 
R

Rorosbutt

macrumors 6502
Mar 6, 2013
417
242
bartvk said:
There's a new MagSafe-replacement project on Indiegogo:

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/magsafe-now-with-charging-data-5k-video-for-usb-c#/

It's interesting because the design mimics the old L-shaped MagSafe connector. As with all crowdfunding projects, be careful with your money.
Click to expand...

I like how it can stay in so just get the cable!
[doublepost=1496423450][/doublepost]
MrGuder said:
That one looks a little more flush but I wonder if the L shape would be more prone to be knocked off?
Click to expand...

The 2012 MBP had L design. Cable would bend but in 2016 you could pick any port to use this.
 
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MrGuder

macrumors 68040
Nov 30, 2012
3,049
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I like that it has a light but they don't say if it changes to let you know it's fully charged and how bright is that light? Also they say Dec 2017 but in reality delivery will most likely get pushed back to April or June 2018.
 
Last edited:
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Rorosbutt

macrumors 6502
Mar 6, 2013
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MrGuder said:
I like that it has a light but they don't say if it changes to let you know it's fully charged and how bright is that light? Also they say Dec 2017 but in reality delivery will most likely get pushed back to April or June 2018.
Click to expand...

That's awesome! I didn't see that! Miss the battery indicator on the side (maybe not a big deal but that was one of the reasons why I got into the MBP system)
 
bartvk

bartvk

macrumors 6502
Dec 29, 2016
386
149
The Netherlands
MrGuder said:
I like that it has a light but they don't say if it changes to let you know it's fully charged and how bright is that light? Also they say Dec 2017 but in reality delivery will most likely get pushed back to April or June 2018.
Click to expand...
I bet it's the same as with the Moshi charge cable. It's just a cable and only sees power running over it, or not. Thus can't distinguish between charging, or fully charged but still using the laptop.

Still if the laptop isn't used (closed lid), then that light may be useful.
 
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therealseebs

therealseebs

macrumors 65816
Apr 14, 2010
1,057
312
So, amusingly, I backed the snapnator thing, but ended up returning the 2016 MBPs, so now I have snapnators I don't need.

It looks like they only pass through five pins. Any idea whether they can be used for *anything* other than "powering MBP"? Like, would they work for charging things that aren't an MBP? I assume they don't work for general USB-C connections.
 
BarracksSi

BarracksSi

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Jul 14, 2015
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therealseebs said:
So, amusingly, I backed the snapnator thing, but ended up returning the 2016 MBPs, so now I have snapnators I don't need.

It looks like they only pass through five pins. Any idea whether they can be used for *anything* other than "powering MBP"? Like, would they work for charging things that aren't an MBP?
Click to expand...
Hmm. I'll bet they'll charge anything as long as the wattage is within limits.

I assume they don't work for general USB-C connections.
Click to expand...

Do you want a data connection to accidentally disconnect?
 
R

RichardC300

macrumors 65816
Sep 27, 2012
1,243
116
A MagSafe 2 to USB-C would be really useful. Just like how they had a MagSafe 1 to MagSafe 2 adapter when retina MBPs came out.
 
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