Hi,
I have a Macbook Pro late 2011 and it had a 85w L-tip power adapter but it is broken and doesn't charge any more. I have found a used 85w T-tip which belongs to a 2009 (I guess) model. Can I use it for my Macbook? It won't damage my laptop? I will appreciate it if anyone gives me some information.
Thanks
MacBook Pro 15", macOS 10.13
No performance differences. No adverse effects on anything. All appropriate adapters are recognized perfectly.
The T-tip is the original design, and is far more effective at what the MagSafe was originally intended to do -- break away and keep your MacBook from going flying when someone trips on the cord.
No performance differences. No adverse effects on anything. All appropriate adapters are recognized perfectly.
The T-tip is the original design, and is far more effective at what the MagSafe was originally intended to do -- break away and keep your MacBook from going flying when someone trips on the cord.
The T-shaped and L-shaped cable-ends of MagSafe-1 are completely interchangeable. The only problem comes if your computer used the later MagSafe-2, which is slimmer in overall height. For that situation, Apple sells a tiny US$10 adapter TO the Magsafe-2 shape. [From memory, MagSafe-2 was used in the 2015 MacBook Pro and others.]
Any Apple power adapter that provides the required Watts or MORE will work perfectly with your MacBook Pro, and cause no issues except one: It is heavier to carry than the 60W model. The Mac draws only what is needed from the power adapter, and even if you use an 85W adapter for a 60W 13-in MacBook, there are no possibilities for damage whatsoever. It behaves exactly the same.
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Using a "too small" power adapter can cause some issues, but not likely permanent damage. When a Mac is running with power adapter connected, it feels free to use all the power supplied and also feely 'borrows' power from the battery at the same time. Intensive computations can cause a temporary power shortage, and the Mac can spontaneously emergency power off because of that shortage.
The best use of a "too small" power adapter is for overnight charging with the Mac nominally OFF.
Funny you should mention that. There IS an internal chip in this interface, and it is hidden in the T-shaped or L-shaped end of the power adapter. It has a bidirectional one-wire interface and the computer talks to it. because of this, you can read out Both the power adapter type and its capacity, as well as its serial number:
Menu > About this Mac > (System Report) > Power
In addition, I find it interesting to know that the green or amber power indicator lights are under program control of the computer, not the power adapter.
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Thank you so much for answering. Well, my Macbook is late 2011 series and its power adapter is 85W L-tip. So, according to what you said, I can use T-tip 85W from an older model, let's say 2009. The only thing I was worrying about is that maybe my Mac does not recognize that adapter because of some internal chip or something.
Yeah, so many interesting things to learn about a power adapter.
So, I need to decide if I should buy a T-tip power adapter with the same power rating as the original L-tip? Other than the power rating, it doesn't matter if it is L- or T-tip? Will my laptop detect a T-tip older charger and perform well (including power and lights)?
So clever idea behind the design of T-tip power adapter. Thanks for your help and clarifications.
I got it. Thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge with me.
There's no issues with any of that. They're fully interchangeable as long as you have the correct connector.
I have a 13" mid-2012 MBP that came with the L-connector with a 60W adapter. One time I forgot to take it with me and left it at a relative's place. I got it back in a week, but in the meantime I was using the 60W Magsafe that came with my 13" polycarbonate late-2007 (Santa Rosa) MacBook.
But you should be able to mix and match the power ratings, although a lower power one obviously won't charge as fast or the charge will drop because it's using more energy than the adapter is outputting.
Macbook pro power adapter, T-tip (2009) interchangeable with L-tip (2011)?
