You Can Charge a MacBook with a MacBook Pro Adapter
For those wondering if you can charge a MacBook with a MacBook Pro power adapter - you can. The MacBook Pro power adapter has two modes, one for 18.5V @ 4.6A (85W) and another for 16.5V @ 3.65A (60W). It automatically senses what it’s plugged into and if it’s plugged in a MacBook it uses the 16.5V setting. I learned of this when my MacBook started running out of juice whilst working on homework at the College of Computing as Justin was sitting next to me with his MacBook Pro & adapter.
We looked at the label on his adapter for a while, debated for a while, then I backed up my really vital stuff and plugged his adapter in. No problems at all. As for the other way around, you can use a MacBook power adapter with a MacBook Pro but it will charge very slowly.
I sometimes plug in my MBP at my g/f’s house (she has MB) and it charges fine. Never noticed that its slow (b/c I dont really watch that stuff?) but yeah, cool bit of info.
Speaking of which, my power adapter is getting replaced… wiring is all messed up from NORMAL use. Too bad Apple is silent about updates:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dimitryb/366733226/
Yep, I experimented with this at the Apple Store once, and the power adapters are interchangable. One thing I noticed however is that the 17″ MacBook Pro won,t run at full brightness with the MacBook,s adapter.
Thanks for that bit of info, Paul! My buddy and I have a Pro and a Regular MB, respectively, and there have been many times when I’ve wanted to use his power adapter and vice versa but weren’t sure if that was a good idea. Now I know otherwise, so thanks again.
I’m in Kuwait right now on my way to India, and I left my MacBook Pro adapter in the States. I knew the Pro adapter would work on the MacBook, but I am ever so happy to learn from the comments that I’ll be able to charge up my Pro using a MacBook adapter, as I have a coworker in India with a MacBook.
BTW, my trip started in Atlanta, so it is rather funny that I’ve ended up here in my search for info. on adapter compatibility.
Anyone know if this has changed with the new sleek chargers?
I’d really like to get my hands on one…