MacBook Air M1 Doesn't Charge From Belkin Thunderbolt Dock Core

[GNXT]

Hi people,
a few days back I bought the Belkin Thunderbolt Dock Core which includes a PD port, I connected it with my stock 30w MacBook Air adapter, but it doesn't charge, in system prefs under adapter options it lists as no adapter is connected. I don't know if it's an issue of the product or if I need to buy a 60w adapter.
I would appreciate your help, thanks.

 

[usagora]

Sounds like a faulty Belkin dock to me. The wattage of your MBA charging adapter should be irrelevant. I'm assuming you've tried unplugging and replugging both connections (adapter to dock and dock to MBA)?

 

[wytwolf]

Belkins website has a Q&A and you are not alone. 3-4 other people have had the same issue. One person mention using a 60w USB C adaptor fixed the charging issue.

Thunderbolt 3 Dock Core for Mac & Windows | Belkin

The Thunderbolt 3 Dock Core offers compatibility for Mac & PC laptops. Supports up to 40Gbps data rates, 60W upstream charging, & dual 4K 60Hz displays. Learn more.

www.belkin.com

 

[GNXT]

Sounds like a faulty Belkin dock to me. The wattage of your MBA charging adapter should be irrelevant. I'm assuming you've tried unplugging and replugging both connections (adapter to dock and dock to MBA)?

Yes I've tried everything, with no luck yet.

 

[jdb8167]

Sounds like a faulty Belkin dock to me. The wattage of your MBA charging adapter should be irrelevant. I'm assuming you've tried unplugging and replugging both connections (adapter to dock and dock to MBA)?

It’s possible that the Belkin dock requires close to 30 W of power itself. That would leave none for the pass through PD connection. My Caldigit SOHO has a document specifically calling out how much power is remaining for each typical charger wattage.

https://www.caldigit.com/usb-c-soho-dock-laptop-charging-capability/

 

[GNXT]

Belkins website has a Q&A and you are not alone. 3-4 other people have had the same issue. One person mention using a 60w USB C adaptor fixed the charging issue.

Thunderbolt 3 Dock Core for Mac & Windows | Belkin

The Thunderbolt 3 Dock Core offers compatibility for Mac & PC laptops. Supports up to 40Gbps data rates, 60W upstream charging, & dual 4K 60Hz displays. Learn more.

www.belkin.com

Great, I was looking for some info but couldn't find any user suggestion or such. Thanks for the link, I will check it out.

 

[GNXT]

It’s possible that the Belgian dock requires close to 30 W of power itself. That would leave none for the pass through PD connection. My Caldigit SOHO has a document specifically calling out how much power is remaining for each typical charger wattage.

Thanks, yes I'm reaching to this conclusion as well, I was hesitant at the beginning because without anything connected it wasn't working as well, but probably the hub requires some power to run. Belkin should be more clear and give better instructions for their products. So probably I will go for a 61w Charger, it seems.

 

[iterva]

Yes I've tried everything, with no luck yet.

My guess is a bigger power supply should fix it. Even though Belkin only says that 60W is recommended and not required. But i´m guessing it has to do with how many peripherals are connected and many watts the dock itself needs. So try a bigger power supply is my recommendation.

 

[usagora]

It’s possible that the Belkin dock requires close to 30 W of power itself. That would leave none for the pass through PD connection. My Caldigit SOHO has a document specifically calling out how much power is remaining for each typical charger wattage.

https://www.caldigit.com/usb-c-soho-dock-laptop-charging-capability/

Oh, ok, so the dock itself is using power from your MacBook's power adapter, not the Thunderbolt port on the Mac? That would make sense then. I was thinking the power was just passing straight through to the MacBook from the AC adapter.

 

[doolar]

I have two of these docks. They do not accept the 30 watt adapter that comes with the M1 Air. I use a Hyper GaN 65 watt at home, and some old Lenovo 65(?) watt adapter att work.

Of course the Core dock works as intended just powered off of the Air itself.

I understand why Belkin did this, 30 watts is not a lot to charge and power the laptop, and power a dock with any peripherals attached. But they could be more clear on it.

 

[JPack]

Most hubs and docks reserve 10-15W of power for itself.

So a 30W adapter means the MacBook Air only gets 15W which isn't enough to charge.

 

[jdb8167]

Most hubs and docks reserve 10-15W of power for itself.

So a 30W adapter means the MacBook Air only gets 15W which isn't enough to charge.

15W is enough to charge. My Caldigit SOHO frequently goes under that and still charges—slowly. I suspect that the Belkin takes more than 20 W.

 

[GNXT]

Well thanks everybody, for the responses, the issue was indeed the 30w adapter. I just bought an Apple 61w and is working now.

 

[jterp7]

just got my air last week, are the bricking issues with pass through fixed

 

[jdb8167]

just got my air last week, are the bricking issues with pass through fixed

They seem to be. Once the version of Big Sur that fixed the bug (11.3?) the reports of problems mostly disappeared. The few remaining complaints can probably be relegated to general manufacturing issues and not a widespread defect.

 

[MrGunny94]

That's weird, sounds like some issue with the dock both my Lenovo and Dell docks work