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+--- Thread: MacBook 12v Power Supply (/thread-271.html)
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MacBook 12v Power Supply - RBJ - January 29, 2007
I've just upgraded to a 13" MacBook. Very pleased with it although it seems to run noticeably hotter.
For my old IBook I purchuased a 12v car adaptor for about £15. I made a working assumption that there would be a similar solution fpr the MacBook but did not check before buying the MacBook.
Bad move.
Seems Apple have patented the "MagSafe" connection and not licensed it to anyone hence no 12 v power supply other than this one at US$169 plus shipping.
http://mikegyver.com/intlstore/index.html
Is there any other 12v solution?
- ReeferJon - January 30, 2007
I bought an Apple branded airline adapter in the Apple Store in London before christmas. It has a magsafe connector on one end, and an airline adapter at the other. There's then an additional airline to cigar lighter adapter .
Aparently it only provides power and doesn't charge the battery.
- RBJ - January 30, 2007
I saw this but not being near an Apple store I could not go and have a look. My need is for MacBook power while on board and not connected to Shore power. I don't mind that it does not charge the battery as long as I can use the computer.
"There's then an additional airline to cigar lighter adapter" Does this come in the pack or did you get one from an alternative source?
The apple store is not clear on this.
http://store.apple.com/Apple/WebObjects/ukBusiness?type=bizukPRO&qprm=67752&productLearnMore=MA598
Quote from UK Apple Store
Important notes:
Using the MagSafe Airline Adapter provides power for your computer but does not charge the battery.
The MagSafe Airline Adapter is not compatible with automobile power ports.
However, the picture shows what looks like a cigarette lighter adaptor or is it the airline plug adaptor.
Does your setup work on board?
- Quentin - January 30, 2007
The cigar lighter adaptor comes in the pack..... I really don't know what they mean by:
"The MagSafe Airline Adapter is not compatible with automobile power ports."
Because the cigar lighter adaptor is specifically designed FOR cars! We havn't tried our cigar adaptor in a car, we'll give it a go and report back unless someone else has done it already?
- RBJ - February 10, 2007
Now back on the boat. I bought the Apple airline adaptor to see if it worked.
On the plane back there were no power outlets in economy so was not able to use it.
On the boat plugged it into my 12v socket using the cigarette lighter adaptor. Nothing. Tried with the battery in and out of the MacBook. No green light, no orange light, nothing.
My old I-Book G4 ran from this socket, as does my I-Pod charger and my phone charger.
The Battery in my MacBook is marked 10.8v 55wh.
The mains power adaptor is marked 16.35v 3.65a
I recall that the I-Book G4 mains adaptor was marked around 20.2v.
Not sure what is going on here. Does the MacBook draw too much power for a 12v system to handle or is this merely a patent issue around the Magsafe plug?
Looks like I have two choices, buy a second hand I-Book or go for the Mike Guyver solution.
Roger
- ReeferJon - February 18, 2007
I Googled this and came across Stuart Schmidt's solution to this problem:
http://pangea.stanford.edu/~schmitt/magsafe/
Quote:Apple sells a MagSafe cable that allows you to power a MacBook or MacBook Pro with an airline in-seat power connection. This cable has three problems—it won't charge your battery, it won't work in cars, and at $59 it is the most expensive power cord on the planet. I have a solution that offers battery charging and usability in cars, and it costs about the same. The idea is to modify your existing MagSafe power supply so that its cord can be detached and used with a universal notebook DC power supply.
I tried this approach with my old PowerBook Pismo and a cheap 12v laptop adapter I bought on ebay a few years ago; worked like a charm. Will probably take a knife to the Magsafe airline adapter and butcher that to work with it.
Of course, there's always the inverter option.[/quote]
- RBJ - February 18, 2007
Thanks Jon. I hadn't seen that link.
Looks like the problem is a patent issue not a technical one and is the route taken by Mike Guyver.
This is a bit naughty of Apple. I expect innovation from them and is one reason why I buy their products. Not sure I like them using innovation which results in overpriced or non-availability of essential (in my case) kit.
Will explore this third option.
MacBook 12v Power Supply - RBJ - March 19, 2007
Due to move on shortly and need to ensure power for the MacBook. I purchased the Mike Guyver solution. I'm pleased to report that it works just fine.
It powers my MacBook and charges the battery. I received it last week. Took around 8 days via airmail from Florida to Spain.
The adapter accepts a input voltage from 11v to 15v and the output is around 16v.
I presume the same result could be achieved at lower cost by cutting off the mains adaptor and splicing the magsafe cord to an appropriate 12v adaptor.
- jagasail - October 17, 2007
I also got the Mike Guyver solution with the Kensington supply, for essentially the same reasons as RBJ (short on time). It has worked very well. Almost as important, the initial Magsafe cable seemed to have a week connection somewhere inside. I emailed him on Thursday and had a replacement in my mailbox on Saturday. Can't beat that service.
Also, if you already have a power supply with interchangable tips (iGo or Kensington) you could save a bundle by just buying the adapter cable and the appropriate tip (N2 for the Kensington). Cheaper yet, if you're adept at detailed soldering you could make it yourself per the instructions linked in ReeferJon's post. My soldering abilities stop with anything smaller than copper pipe so I opted for Guyver's solution.
Scot
PS - I opted for the Kensington vs iGo because I had an iGo when I used to be a road warrior and was never happy with it - poor connections in the cable attachements to the brick and lousy customer service.
- dvandenburgh - January 27, 2008
For what it's worth: I heard that Apple's magsafe airline adapter is engineered for the 13-volts that comes out of an airliner's jack and not the 14-16 volts that typically comes out of an auto's cigarette lighter jack when the engine is running and the alternator is charging.
- lopezsound - January 29, 2008
Roger, I also use a 13" mac laptop It's down below at the nav station. My ibook G4 came with an adaptor to plug into house power. The adaptor supplies the working power and recharges the battery. I purchased an $ 25 inverter which changes my boat's 12 VDC to 120 VAC 60 hertz. I simply plug the inverter into a 12 VDC source and the Mac Adaptor into the inverter. Voilla! I have a fully powered Mac running MacENC. I use a USB powered GPS that plugs directly into my ibook's USB port and I have a fully functional chart plotter with a readable sized screen. Works great. I didn't have to fuss about with the apple airplane adaptor.
- f123olly - February 4, 2008
Check out Lind Electronics, Inc. at www.lindelectronics.com. They have an automobile adapter designed for use with Apple G4 Input 12-32Vdc 15 Amp Max. and Output 24Vdc 2.5A The model number is AP2425-846. I have used this for some time now and it works great. Be careful of the USB hocky puck GPS. I made the mistake of moving my laptop and GPS to a new location and placed the GPS on the laptop to carry it with one hand free. I lost my hard drive do to magnet in bottom of GPS. Live and learn
- FF44 - February 5, 2008
You have also this one Kensington 120W Adapter
- RBJ - June 8, 2008
It's almost two years since the MacBook range was released and still none of the mainstream manufacturers is shipping a car adaptor complete with Magsafe plug.
The choice remains an inverter or Mike Gyver. Where an inverter is not suitable this means paying around $100 more for a 12v adaptor than was the case with Powerbooks.
- maloni - September 24, 2008
I use a Kensington 70W. It works with my PB G4 12â€, and is great on a yacht.
I plugged it once in cigarette lighter on bus with 24V batteries and had to get a new one. Now no longer available in the Kensington store, I think the 120W version will also help
- FF44 - September 25, 2008
You may find out the 70W still on the Mike Gyver eBay Store. I bought it a few months ago, received from US in 5 days, and it works nice with my MB. The best product for my own.
- MagSafe44 - February 16, 2009
It appears that there is a place that is making these now. Someone mentioned Lind Electronics, in a post above for the PowerMac G3/G4.
So I called Lind and was told that they are partnering with Power My Mac to provide a solution to the Macbook Community.
Lind did tell me that these will not be able to ship from www.powermymac.com, until the beginging of March. But it seems like we finally have something on it's way.
Hopefully this will help someone here.
- obiwankentoni - March 12, 2009
As far as I know the airline adapter is specified for use in aircrafts only because the Planes have a relative stable 12V Supply while in Cars there can be Peaks up to 16V or more and the Airline Adapter has no protection against this.
So on the boat it should be safe to use it while running on Batteries but you should be careful when the engine is running.
The alternative mostly recomended in other forums ist to buy a power changer thats turns the 12V DC into 230V AC (or 110V for Americans). There you can plug in your normal power Cable. But of course ist very inefficient and uses far more current than necessary.
- jagasail - March 12, 2009
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought the Magsafe airline adapter would power the Mac but would not charge the battery. A major shortcoming in my eyes.
Scot
- MagSafe44 - March 15, 2009
The Apple Air Cable will power but not charge when used on an airplane.
The Airlines provide 15V-16.0V of power. So based on testing if your power source is below about 14V, this will not do ANYTHING.
So when your boat is OFF it probably will not even power your MacBook. However it MIGHT work if you are running/charging your batteries in the boat, as then you MAY BE getting a voltage of 14V+.
Check out the Power My Mac powermymac.com DC-DC Power Adapter, it should be the best fit. If you want to ship outside of the USA, just email them.
- cesaresail - March 24, 2009
Check also here. I got one.
http://mikegyver.com/IdeasnProducts/airline-car/index.html
Works fine in recharging my MBpro 15.
- GPSNavX - April 8, 2009
Have not seen or used one, but this did look interesting..
Road Tested: Voltaic Systems Generator laptop bag
- fish2live - May 1, 2009
I've been using a 120V ac inverter for the past couple of years. It's inefficient but it does work. It creates one huge problem though. If I have the SSB and inverter on at the same time the inverter creates a hideous noise in the radio. Beware if you intend to power your computer this way.
- DE38.Eclipse - August 19, 2009
I own an ocean-going 2009 MacBook and recently discovered the following but have not yet tried any of them:
1. Xantrex Technologies 813-0078 XPower Mobile Plug 75-Watt Compact Inverter
2. Xantrex Technologies 851-0178 XPower 175-Watt Micro Inverter
3. Kensington Auto Power Inverter with USB Power Port Model K38022US
No.3 was suggested by the "Techie" at the Apple Genius Bar in Fort Lauderdale FL.
- hanstad - June 17, 2010
I just ordered a 12V adapter for macbook from the Norwegian store Infografikk (www.infografikk.no). It is made by a company called LMP adapter, guess this is a company that somehow stays under the radar coverage of Apple and can output magsafe products. See http://lmp-adapter.com/products/7590.html