My external battery experiment

[iGrant]

I just stumbled across that myself too. Ouch!! $120 for what looks like a dodgy soldering job.

I just noticed on the Apple Store that the new 60W MacBook's charger also has a 90 degree angle so maybe Apple will release an 85W version at some point. If not then 60W could be all right. I can charge my MBP with 60W ok, it just takes a bit longer. 45W for a MBP would be pushing it though so this may be a happy medium.

I bit off topic here . . . you can use a 60W power supply for Macbook Air?

Thanks
iGrant

 

[Spanky Deluxe]

I bit off topic here . . . you can use a 60W power supply for Macbook Air?

Thanks
iGrant

Yeah you can use any Magsafe power supply with the air. The only issue is that you'll have to prop the Air up if you use a non right-angled power supply. My fiancee and I have been switching between each other's 60W and 85W adapters for a while with her MacBook and my MacBook Pro. It won't be quite as easy with the 45W adapter though since I doubt that'll be able to charge the MBP well.

The wattage on a magsafe power adapter is just the maximum power that can be drawn so a MacBook Air would likely only draw 45W from an 85W as an example.

So if you're thinking of buying a second adapter for your MBA then I'd suggest buying this one instead of the MBA one. I think it's a little bit bigger than the MBA one but it'll power and charge an MBA and a MacBook just fine and it should power and charge MacBook Pros fine too - although it'd charge those a little slower.

 

[RedStar73]

Hi,
was wondering, how did u exactly connect the apc cord to the magsafe adapter ??

thanks in advance

 

[Gadgetman99]

one of these (from China) for just the magsafe connector:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...02494&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT#ht_3261wt_1145

To connect the Magsafe to the APC cord, use the modified Magsafe cord (purchased from the link above) from my original post.

 

[Gadgetman99]

This is now a better deal since you can use the magsafe cord with an eternal battery pack AND use the car adapter to use the MBA in a car (wont charge battery, but at least lets you use it without depleting the battery).

http://cgi.ebay.com/Car-Power-Adapt...ultDomain_0?hash=item1c0deeabef#ht_1349wt_982

 

[RedStar73]

u just striped both cables(2 poles?) and then connected them ?

 

[Gadgetman99]

u just striped both cables(2 poles?) and then connected them ?

The links I posted are for genuine macbook air magsafe cords modified with a standard plug on the end that used to go into the "brick". No modification (or stripping) required. This allows the cord to interface with almost any external battery or universal charger (or car charger) with the correct voltage output.

Basically it looks like this picture.

 

[srgz]

The links I posted are for genuine macbook air magsafe cords modified with a standard plug on the end that used to go into the "brick". No modification (or stripping) required. This allows the cord to interface with almost any external battery or universal charger (or car charger) with the correct voltage output.

Basically it looks like this picture.

Sorry to dig up an old thread, but...

I have had the APC UPB70 for a few years now and I must say it's probably one of the best products I've ever used. I got it at best buy -- it was open box and 50% off...and up until now I've used it with my dell laptop and it's worked great. It's a shame they've discontinued them, but it's not like it would matter since no one is allowed to actually use the magsafe connector beside apple (legally) -- so even if they still sold \ supported them I doubt APC would be able to help me. But anyways, if you can still find the APC batteries, grab them! They're amazingly designed (very thin, also tilted and can act as a rest for your notebook \ laptop), and mine still holds a pretty good charge after all these years.

Long story short -- I just bought an 11" 2011 macbook air..and I need to get this APC battery working with it. From reading the posts already, it looks like I'll need two things:

1.) A universal laptop DC charger that is compatible with the APC battery. Like previous posts have said, the APC battery does _not_ come with a charger, it's designed to use your existing charger -- unfortunately, in the case of the (cr)apple charger -- it's not going to work due to the proprietary connector -- so I'll have to grab a universal charger online somewhere. This is not going to be a problem.

2.) The cable in the picture from your above post. This is the problem...All the ebay links are gone and I can't seem to find this anywhere. Any assistance or suggestions would be very welcome.

I can't see how hypermac and other companies expect you to pay upwards of $300 for an external battery -- and then in order for it to work you'll have to also buy the stupid magsafe airline thing from apple! So that's another what, like 60$ added on? Total BS. I realize the APC product got discontinued AND was open box when I bought it, but IIRC it was around 65$!!

So if anyone could help me find a cable that I could plug into the APC and go to the mbair's magsafe connector, I would be forever grateful! Thanks.

 

[zmikegyver]

Sorry to dig up an old thread, but...

I have had the APC UPB70 for a few years now and I must say it's probably one of the best products I've ever used. I got it at best buy -- it was open box and 50% off...and up until now I've used it with my dell laptop and it's worked great. It's a shame they've discontinued them, but it's not like it would matter since no one is allowed to actually use the magsafe connector beside apple (legally) -- so even if they still sold \ supported them I doubt APC would be able to help me. But anyways, if you can still find the APC batteries, grab them! They're amazingly designed (very thin, also tilted and can act as a rest for your notebook \ laptop), and mine still holds a pretty good charge after all these years.

Long story short -- I just bought an 11" 2011 macbook air..and I need to get this APC battery working with it. From reading the posts already, it looks like I'll need two things:

1.) A universal laptop DC charger that is compatible with the APC battery. Like previous posts have said, the APC battery does _not_ come with a charger, it's designed to use your existing charger -- unfortunately, in the case of the (cr)apple charger -- it's not going to work due to the proprietary connector -- so I'll have to grab a universal charger online somewhere. This is not going to be a problem.

2.) The cable in the picture from your above post. This is the problem...All the ebay links are gone and I can't seem to find this anywhere. Any assistance or suggestions would be very welcome.

I can't see how hypermac and other companies expect you to pay upwards of $300 for an external battery -- and then in order for it to work you'll have to also buy the stupid magsafe airline thing from apple! So that's another what, like 60$ added on? Total BS. I realize the APC product got discontinued AND was open box when I bought it, but IIRC it was around 65$!!

So if anyone could help me find a cable that I could plug into the APC and go to the mbair's magsafe connector, I would be forever grateful! Thanks.

Hi,
The picture posted above is actually our picture. And we actually used to sell the APCs Batteries too..
If you wish to buy the complete converted cable they are here (genuine not grey market):
http://mikegyver.com/Store/parts/

Since the APC is manual voltage select, make sure you select 15v.

if you wish to do your own conversion we sell the jacks too. Found near bottom of same page.

Thanks!
Mike
Mikegyver.com

 

[srgz]

Hi,
The picture posted above is actually our picture. And we actually used to sell the APCs Batteries too..
If you wish to buy the complete converted cable they are here (genuine not grey market):
http://mikegyver.com/Store/parts/

Since the APC is manual voltage select, make sure you select 15v.

if you wish to do your own conversion we sell the jacks too. Found near bottom of same page.

Thanks!
Mike
Mikegyver.com

Thanks mike -- I was thrown off by the color change from the end connector -- I see your latest version of the cable is white on the end...Looks like a good deal. Thanks again.

 

[zmikegyver]

Thanks mike -- I was thrown off by the color change from the end connector -- I see your latest version of the cable is white on the end...Looks like a good deal. Thanks again.

Yes, we've done some improvements.


Thanks,
Mike
Mikegyver.com