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iPad power adapter vs. iPhone's adpater?
- Thread starter DotCom2
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The iPad charges via USB too!
USB is 5 volts, regardless if you comes from your computer's USB port or if it comes from a USB charging brick/block. However, the amount of current each can supply varies.
How much current your computer's USB port can supply is partially determined by how many other USB devices are plugged into it. Generally, the most you can get out of it is 500 milliamps (.5 amp). But that CAN be reduced if you have a lot of power hungry USB devices.
The iPhone's USB charging brick is rated at 1 amp. Depending on the load, that CAN still deliver 10 watts (the rating given for the iPad charging brick). So, it is entirely possible the iPad's charging brick will be identical.
However, I suspect the iPad's USB charging brick will be rated at 1.5-2 amps. We'll know soon.
Regardless of rating, I suspect the iPhone USB charging brick and the iPad USB charging brick will charge the iPad in roughly the same amount of time. At the very least, both will be significantly faster than your computer's USB port.
Mark
USB is 5 volts, regardless if you comes from your computer's USB port or if it comes from a USB charging brick/block. However, the amount of current each can supply varies.
How much current your computer's USB port can supply is partially determined by how many other USB devices are plugged into it. Generally, the most you can get out of it is 500 milliamps (.5 amp). But that CAN be reduced if you have a lot of power hungry USB devices.
The iPhone's USB charging brick is rated at 1 amp. Depending on the load, that CAN still deliver 10 watts (the rating given for the iPad charging brick). So, it is entirely possible the iPad's charging brick will be identical.
However, I suspect the iPad's USB charging brick will be rated at 1.5-2 amps. We'll know soon.
Regardless of rating, I suspect the iPhone USB charging brick and the iPad USB charging brick will charge the iPad in roughly the same amount of time. At the very least, both will be significantly faster than your computer's USB port.
Mark
ipad/iphone adapters
I've tried all three adapters below. All three adapters work on my iPhone and iPad.
I've tried all three adapters below. All three adapters work on my iPhone and iPad.
- adapter that came with iPod 5 Volts, 1 Amp
- adapter that came with iPhone (small cube) 5 Volts, 1 Amp
- adapter that came iwth iPad 5 Volts, 2.1 Amp
Yes, but charging via USB or iPhone adapter will be considerably slower than with the iPad included charger.
So does the iPhone charge 2.1x as fast if you use the iPad charger to charge it?
The current ratings on the USB Power Bricks is their maximum output rating. But that doesn't mean that's how much they put out all the time. The device that's being recharged is what determines how much current is being used.
An iPhone is designed to draw less than 1 amp at 5 volts. The iPad, obviously, is designed to regularly want to draw MORE than 1 amp at 5 volts. However, it's also designed to just get along with less current if that is all the power brick can supply. It HAS to be designed this way because a computer's USB port can only put out .5 amp max.
Owners of both the iPhone and iPad should pack the iPad's power brick when they travel. You can use it to recharge both the iPhone and the iPad.
Mark
An iPhone is designed to draw less than 1 amp at 5 volts. The iPad, obviously, is designed to regularly want to draw MORE than 1 amp at 5 volts. However, it's also designed to just get along with less current if that is all the power brick can supply. It HAS to be designed this way because a computer's USB port can only put out .5 amp max.
Owners of both the iPhone and iPad should pack the iPad's power brick when they travel. You can use it to recharge both the iPhone and the iPad.
Mark
LOL!
I'm interested in the answer too, because the Apple guy said not to use the iPad power brick for iPhone or iPod Touch and vice versa. Maybe he was just trying to sell me more accessories.
No.. No... No... No... and NO!
As I said, the device being charged is the device that decides how much current is being drawn. The iPad's charging brick doesn't automatically put out 2.1 amps in every situation. It CAN put out that much current IF the device is attempting to draw that much current. The iPhone is designed to draw no more than 1 amp (which is evidenced by the 1 amp charging brick). But even that is overhead! More likely, the iPhone draws less than 500mA (.5 amp). It will charge just fine with the iPad's charging brick.
Mark
Yes, the iPad power brick has the removable plug like the iPhone's adapter. When you purchase the iPad's adapter as an accessory, it also comes with a 6-foot A/C cord to extend the distance you can be from a wall outlet:
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC359LL/A
On that very same page, near the bottom (under "Overview") it says:
"It also charges iPhone and all iPod models with a dock connector."
Mark
Thanks! So if I understand this right, you can just replace the cable with an regular cord say for the MacBooks?
