85W Charger on a Macbook

Question

Level 1

71 points

85W Charger on a Macbook

Hey all,

So my apple charger kicked the bucket the other day...big surprise right? I ordered a charger off ebay to replace it (not paying $80 for a charger!)...only problem is they sent an 85W charger not the 60W I ordered. Is it ok to charge my Macbook with a charger made for a Macbook Pro? I've read conflicting posts on this across the internet and on these forums and don't know which to go by....

I need my computer like now...well yesterday, and I really don't want to wait for a new charger to be shipped if I don't have to. Is it save to use the 85W or will it overpower/fry my computer? Thanks

Macbook, Mac OS X (10.6.3)

Posted on May 24, 2010 1:15 PM

Reply

Answer 1

amsgator Author

Level 1

71 points

May 24, 2010 1:36 PM in response to amsgator

The charger says 18.5V 4.6A which is more than the 16.5V - 3.65A of the 60W charger... I read that the Apple charger has the capability to output both amounts, making it ok for the Macbook also.... This leads me to believe I may want to ship these suckers back?

Reply

Answer 2

Lyssa

Level 8

41,327 points

May 24, 2010 2:44 PM in response to amsgator

Not sure about 3rd-party adapters, but Apple's own 85W adapter can be used with a MacBook without issues. The reverse (using a 60W adapter with the MBP) does not work as well.

~Lyssa

Reply

Answer 3

May 24, 2010 3:02 PM in response to amsgator

As Lyssa said, you can use the larger 85W bricks with your MacBook ... I'm using one right now. If your new brick is Apple-branded, don't worry at all.

However, I second her note of caution on non-Apple power adapters. Apple +has not+ licensed its MagSafe technology, so if you're using something without the Apple logo on it, you're 1) using an illegal knock-off and 2) running a risk of damaging your machine.

Reply

Answer 4

amsgator Author

Level 1

71 points

May 24, 2010 3:28 PM in response to Jay Bullock

IIRC the only thing special about a MagSafe adapter is that it is magnetically (hence MAGsafe) connected to the computer so if the charger cord is yanked the computer stays put. I understand the possible issue with it being the incorrect wattage/voltage etc, and I'm trying to get a replacement. I just wasn't sure if it was the computer that tells the charger how much power to send or if it was the charger that determines and just pushes the power into the computer whether or not the computer can handle it. Anyone know?

Reply

Answer 5

May 24, 2010 4:18 PM in response to amsgator

The Mac will take as much power as it needs. You can use an 85W brick just fine.

The whole issue with its possibly being a knock-off is that you simply don't know what the quality is of the part, regardless of whether it has a working "mag."

Reply

Answer 6

amsgator Author

Level 1

71 points

May 24, 2010 4:28 PM in response to Jay Bullock

Im more conserned about the voltage and amperage than the wattage

Reply

Answer 7

May 24, 2010 5:05 PM in response to amsgator

You have nothing to worry about. I've been running my MacBook on the larger bricks exclusively for the better part of a year, since my cat decided to chew a hole in the 65W brick cord that shipped with this laptop.

Reply