Tuffy Nicolas
Level 2
(182 points)
Q: Will my MacBook Pro charging cord safely work to charge my MacBook Air -- and vice versa?
I have a 15" MacBook Pro.
I also have an 11" MacBook Air.
Both came with the standard white charging cords.
However the white square "brick" in the middle of the Pro's charging cord is slightly larger than the white square "brick" in the middle of the Air's charging cord.
Problem: I am going traveling with a partner, and one of us will be bringing the Pro, and the other will be bringing the Air. We need to travel as lightly as possible, and I'm looking for a way to NOT bring anything I can possibly leave at home. It dawned on me that we were not only bringing two computers, but also two charging cords. The Air's charging cord in fact practically doubles the weight and volume of the Air as a long-term traveling device, since the Air itself is so light and takes up so little volume.
It would be great if we could bring just ONE of these charging cords, and use it (alternating back and forth, of course) to charge up BOTH computers.
So my question is:
If I JUST brought the Air's smaller charging cord, it obviously can successfully charge the Air, but can it ALSO charge the Pro?
OR...
If I JUST brought the Pro's larger charging cord, it obviously can successfully charge the Pro, but can it ALSO charge the Air (safely)?
Or does each computer necessarily require its own specific charging cord, for whatever electrical-requirement reasons?
15" MacBookPro, Mac OS X (10.6.5)
Csound1
Level 9
(51,412 points)
Hi tjk
Power drawn from a supply is governed by the load (MBA) not the charger, thus: a 45w load (MBA) will draw 45w, the MBA charger can deliver 45w so all is well, the MBP charger can supply 85w so all is also well (only 55% of it's capacity is being used)
Conversely the MBP will draw 85w and will be just fine with it's own charger (which can supply 85w) but will only be able to draw 45w from an MBA charger so will not charge.
I'm a certified low & high voltage tech, and I have a heap of Mac portables.
To the OP
Go ahead with your plan, no damage will result.
