Can over voltage damage my 2015 Macbook Pro

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Can over voltage damage my 2015 Macbook Pro

I have been gifted an adaptor that can run two V-lock batteries in parallel and output 24 volts designed to run a Kino Flo Celeb LED panel. This adaptor is made by Hawk Woods. It is the XE70. They also make a very similar adaptor that can use two V-lock batteries to power a Macbook Pro which outputs 19.5 volts. https://cvp.com/product/hawk-woods-vl-mac-u-apple-mac-power-adaptor

Hawk Woods can make me a cable for the first adaptor but they are not sure if the 24 volts output would damage my Macbook Pro. Does anybody know if it would? I would be very grateful for any thoughts.

Posted on Feb 17, 2023 3:00 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Grant Bennet-Alder

Level 10

133,051 points

Feb 17, 2023 6:14 AM in response to patrickfrombidford

Your MacBook Pro uses ‘smart charging’ to charge in the optimum way, and only when necessary. Plugged in is Not necessarily actively charging. There is substantial hardware and software cooperating on battery and charging issues. Simply asserting a charging voltage against one of the interface(s) will NOT successfully charge your MacBook Pro.

An external power supply that provides "USB Power Delivery" (like certain displays) must negotiate over the USB cable using USB Power Delivery Protocol, and can not 'force itself' on your Mac. The Voltage and Current are delivered only after your Mac requests and the charger agrees to supply power under certain controlled conditions. The computer is in control of the entire process.

Your MacBook Pro 2015 model charges over MagSafe, and no other method. You would need to provide an interface compatible with MagSafe, or it will not charge. In addition to power, the charge levels are negotiated over one of the pins using a proprietary protocol.

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Answer 2

Feb 17, 2023 6:25 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thank you for responding. The manufacturer Hawk-Woods does provide a suitable adaptor for the Macbook Pro with the correct Magsafe connection which supplies a maximum of 19.5 volts. I was just wondering if the adaptor that I was given would be a problem given that it supplies 24 volts. The maker of the adaptor can supply a suitable cable but they are unsure what the over voltage of 24 volts compared to 19.5 volts might mean for the laptop. I am aware that there is circuitry in the Magsafe connection cable. This would be connected using Magsafe. Just worried about the 24 volts. What do you think?

Many thanks.

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Answer 3

Feb 17, 2023 8:39 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Hi. Thanks for replying. That's the thing. If the cable for my adaptor is safe it will only cost me £40. The actual one they make specifically for the laptop is as you say £370. I know that is safe and works. My adaptor is an identical solution but for a different product. I am just trying to find out if 24 volts is a problem for the laptop. I'm not going to spend the £370 either way, I cannot justify it. I cannot seem to get a definitive answer so the result is to not do it.

Thanks again.

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Answer 4

Feb 17, 2023 8:32 AM in response to patrickfrombidford

I think that if you are going to spend over 370 pounds sterling on a solution, it should be a solution tailored to your expensive MacBook Pro, guaranteed to work, and not a guessing game.

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Can over voltage damage my 2015 Macbook Pro

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