My new iPad 11 th generation came with a USB C 5V 20A charger with the wrong plug. Can I charge this iPad with the USB C 61W power adapter for my MacBook Air, which has several outputs- 20.3V 3A, 14.5V 3A, 9V 3A and 5.2 V 2.4 A?
About Apple USB power adapters - Apple Support
"You can use any of the adapters listed below to charge your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, or iPod. You can also use a Mac USB-C Power Adapter or third-party adapters that comply with applicable safety standards."
Power adapter and charge cable for iPad - Apple Support
This article says that a third-party USB-C adapter should provide 5 – 15 V / 3 A. So my guess is that your iPad will refuse to charge at 20.3V – and will instead negotiate to use one of the other voltages (14.5V, 9V, or 5.2V) which your MacBook Air charger supports.
About Apple USB power adapters - Apple Support
"You can use any of the adapters listed below to charge your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, or iPod. You can also use a Mac USB-C Power Adapter or third-party adapters that comply with applicable safety standards."
Power adapter and charge cable for iPad - Apple Support
This article says that a third-party USB-C adapter should provide 5 – 15 V / 3 A. So my guess is that your iPad will refuse to charge at 20.3V – and will instead negotiate to use one of the other voltages (14.5V, 9V, or 5.2V) which your MacBook Air charger supports.
You can use any USB-C Power Adapter that supports USB PD (Power Delivery). All Apple USB-C Power Adapters support this charging standard.
As such your Mac 61W Power Adapter can be used to safely charge your iPad at its maximum supported charging rate; your iPad will only draw the power that it needs. If the iPad has a USB-C port, you simply require a USB-C to USB-C cable. If instead you have an older model iPad has a Lightning port, your will require a Lightning to USB-C charging cable.
USB-C to Lightning Cable (1m) - Apple
Some third-party USB-C Power Adapters do not support USB PD, but instead use other proprietary charging standards such as QC (Quick Charge). These are not suitable for charging any Apple products.
Re: “I worry that the higher voltages on this charger will damage the 5V iPad.”
USB-C Power Delivery is negotiated. Anything above 5V (give or take a margin of error) requires agreement from both devices. Thus the iPad is free to reject the offer of 20.3V from your MacBook charger.
Even the charging cable needs to have chips telling the two devices that it can safely carry more than 15W before negotiations for higher amounts of power are supposed to succeed.
Your iPad 11 has a USB-C port. Unlike the older USB Type-A connections which operate at 5V, for efficiency, newer devices that use USB-C are often designed to use higher charging voltages.
The 20W USB-C Power Adapter, that was supplied with your iPad 11, also uses USB-PD. If you look very closely, your iPad Power Adapter should be marked with available output voltages.
Be assured that your iPad 11 with USB-C is USB PD compliant - as are all iPad models that have a USB-C connection. USB PD (Power Delivery) is an active protocol that mutually negotiates a power-profile. The USB PD power source, attached device and the USB-C cable (yes, the cable as well - as this also incorporates active electronic components) are all participants in the negotiation process.
USB PD power profiles have different supply voltages and current. If devices fail to negotiate a mutually supported profile, the power source will default to 5V and limit charging current to ~2.4A (i.e. 12W). Higher voltages allow more power to be transferred within the current limits of the cable (power = volts x amps).
Unless it has a fault, your USB-C Mac Power Adapter (if Apple branded) is perfectly safe to use with your iPad.
Yes…
Thanks Servant of Cats and LotusPilot. In almost invisble small print the A2305 power supply in the iPad box says the output can be 5V at 3A and 9V at 2.22A, so 15A or 20A. I think the input to the power supply is a USA plug (two 1mm x 6mm pins seperated by 12.5mm) so I may find it useful if I find a USA to UK adaptor (there's probably an old one somewhere in the house). Right now the iPad is charging fast enough for me with a USB 2 2.4A Apple charger plus my Anker PowerLine+ USB-C to USB 3.0 cable.
Thanks, LotusPilot. Can you please point me to an Apple document that confirms it can be used with an iPad? The only reference I've found to this charger says it is compatible with MacBooks, but doesn’t list ipads - https://www.macstoreuk.com/product/apple-61w-usb-c-charger-and-cable/?v=7885444af42e The Mac 61W Power Adapter user guide just says it works with your USB C device, but doesn’t list any https://cdsassets.apple.com/live/6GJYWVAV/user/locale/en-gb/ma1988_usb-c-power-adapter-61w-ug.pdf I worry that the higher voltages on this charger will damage the 5V iPad.
All Apple USB Power Adapters are designed for use with AC-power sources rated to provide 100VAC to 240VAC at 50Hz to 60Hz. Apple iPad USB power adapters also comply with the IEC/UL 60950-1 and IEC/UL 62368-1 standards for use with power sources rated to provide 115VAC at 400Hz (typically found onboard commercial airlines).
While your US or UK-sourced Power Adapters are fully usable in other countries - such as when travelling internationally - you may require a simple pin-adapter to allow the Power Adapter to be used with AC power outlets in different countries. Travel adapters are readily available.
Will USB C MacBook charger charge iPad?
