Charging MacBook Pro from solar panel

I take my MacBook with me while on vacation in my travel trailer. I have a 100 Watt solar panel and would like to charge my computer using the DC power supplied by the panel. What is the recommended method?

Yvonne’s MacBook Pro

Posted on Aug 1, 2023 4:30 PM

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4 replies
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Aug 1, 2023 6:46 PM in response to Pinkdoglady

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.


Any external power supply that provides "USB Power Delivery" (including 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.


if no other device with USB-C power delivery protocol is available, your recourse is to use AC as the interchange, and plug in the Apple Power Adapter.

Aug 1, 2023 8:07 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thank you for your answer. My MacBook seems to charge okay using an apple charging cable using a cigarette lighter usb but it sometimes charges very slowly and sometimes very well. I was looking to find out what the best and safest method was for my computer. It also works in the car but slowly. Will use shore power whenever possible but it’s not usually available where we camp.

Question marked as Helpful

Aug 2, 2023 9:02 AM in response to Pinkdoglady

The charger supplied by Apple requires an AC electrical source. If you must use your solar panel, I suggest you get and inverter to covert DC to AC so you can plug in the charger to it. But be aware, just because the panel is rated at 100W does not mean it will always supply that. Intermittent clouds and dreary overcast days you know.

Charging MacBook Pro from solar panel

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