USB-C Cable w/Power Charge Status LED

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USB-C Cable w/Power Charge Status LED

With the Magsafe, Magsafe-2 and Magsafe-3 to USB-C cables, the little LED is "Orange" when charging and turns "Green" when the charge is 100%.

Are there any USB-C to USB-C cables that have the Power Charge Status LED that reacts in the same way?

I can't find any such cables, anywhere in the world.

Please don't ask me what model of Macbook I am talking about. That has NOTHING to do with my needs.

I already have a USB-C to Magsafe, USB-C to Magsafe-2 and USB-C to Magsafe-3 cables and YES, they ALL work fine.

I am just trying to find out if there are any USB-C to USB-C cables that have the Power Charge Status LED that reacts in the same way.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Posted on Jun 19, 2024 12:30 PM

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Answer 1

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John Galt

Level 10

157,316 points

Jun 19, 2024 6:27 PM in response to cvvmax

Are there any USB-C to USB-C cables that have the Power Charge Status LED that reacts in the same way?

No. If you're interested, the MagSafe adapters use a 1-wire device and a proprietary two-way serial communications protocol between the MagSafe connector and the Mac to control the LED status. USB-C does not incorporate anything like that.

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Answer 2

cvvmax Author

Level 1

16 points

Jun 19, 2024 6:53 PM in response to John Galt

John,

Now that you explained the comms between the Magsafe Connector and the Mac...I understand...

So, there is no way to get a Charging/Fully Charged status LED on my Wife's 2019 Macbook Air 13"...and the two USB-C ports have to be used for the charging and/or comms...

My 2024 Macbook 15" M3 is no problem as it has the Magsafe-3 port plus two USB-C ports...

She will have to just live with it until I can get her a new Macbook...

Thanks for the quick feedback and clarification John.

All the best,

Art

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Answer 3

John Galt

Level 10

157,316 points

Jun 20, 2024 4:19 AM in response to cvvmax

You could easily design an interface of the sort MrHoffman explained, but it would require software running on the Mac for it to work.

The MagSafe LED works whether the Mac is running or not, in sleep mode, while powered down, etc.

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Answer 4

MrHoffman

Level 10

151,499 points

Jun 20, 2024 8:07 AM in response to John Galt

John Galt wrote:

You could easily design an interface of the sort MrHoffman explained, but it would require software running on the Mac for it to work.

The MagSafe LED works whether the Mac is running or not, in sleep mode, while powered down, etc.

I did say “ugly”. 😉

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Answer 5

MrHoffman

Level 10

151,499 points

Jun 19, 2024 7:12 PM in response to cvvmax

You could conceivably cobble something (ugly) together from some locally-written code and a Bluetooth LED toy, or maybe cobble something (ugly) using some locally-written code and some HomeKit Matter light device.

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USB-C Cable w/Power Charge Status LED

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