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iPad 3 failing to charge from iMac usb port

G'day

I received my new iPad 3 in Oz some 10 hours ago, and immediately synced it with my old iPad 1 settings from my 2010 27" iMac

After the sync, the top right showed 'not charging'. I'm using the same 3rd party cable as I've used on my old iPad for over 6 months, no hassles.

I unplugged the cable, and re-inserted it. The iPad 3 showed as charging, and it filled for another 2% (to 93%) then the 'Not Charging' message showed again.

This happened several times, and in the end I used the wall charger, with success.

When the new iPad is down a bit, I'll try the wall charger with the 3rd party cable.

Any one else having charging hassles with an iPad 3 on an iMac?

Regards

Santa

iPad (3rd generation) Wi-Fi + 4G, iOS 5.1

Posted on Mar 16, 2012 3:39 AM

Best reply

Ralph Landry1

Level 8

41,850 points

Posted on Mar 16, 2012 3:42 AM

If this is happening with a 3rd party cable, does it also happen with the Apple supplied cable?

View in context

30 replies

kostby

Level 4

2,940 points

Mar 16, 2012 10:22 PM in response to Brian Christmas

Brian, yes, I read your initial post. I was replying specifically to kla80t who was reporting a similar charging issue with a MacBook Pro, year and model unspecified.

Which device are you suggesting has the hardware bug, the iMac or the new iPad?

Do you have other USB devices attached to the iMac while attempting to charge the new iPad?

Have you checked your iMac USB port power output to the iPad in System Profiler as suggested in this support document? http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4049

(Image from the support doc referenced above)

Message was edited by: kostby

Mar 16, 2012 10:43 PM in response to kostby

G'day Kostby

Now that I know the iPad 3 will charge when asleep, it's become more of an issue of incorrect advertising on Apples part than a bug. One would assume from the advertising that the iPad could be used while being charged, as nothing is stated that it can't be.

OTOH if the iPad 3 battery is double the size of an iPad 2 (roughly) then one could expect it to charge in double the time of the iPad 2, when switched on.

If it's a bug, then the fault is with the iPad, which draws so much power when working that the high power usb port can only supply a minimum of sufficient amperage to run the darn thing.

All my usb ports are full, with (L to R from front), a powered 7 port hub, an EyeTV tuner, an extended keyboard (nothing plugged into it), and the iPad charger cable. My understanding is that the 4 ports share two separate usb power supplies, so I've got one low power, one high power, on each side.

I think Apples blurb about charging needs some re-working.

Regards

Santa

iVmichael

Level 6

13,740 points

Mar 16, 2012 10:48 PM in response to Brian Christmas

Brian Christmas wrote:

Turns out the iPad 3 must be asleep to slowly charge.

No my finding, the one I picked up yesterday morning (Robina, Qld Store) finally got down to 6% earlier while I was downloading iMovie and I just connected the power supply and it's now at 18% about an hour later. It's on and working but does appear to be slowly charging back up ...

Mar 16, 2012 10:56 PM in response to iVmichael

G'day iVmichael

My bad, I should have said that it must be asleep to slowly charge from a high power usb port. Sorry.

Regards

Santa

Mar 17, 2012 12:00 AM in response to Brian Christmas

We replaced iPad 1's with iPad 3's today. What I notice with charging is that they charge much slower than the old iPads but I would expect this. It's the same power supply as the old iPads but the new iPad is certainly using much more power to run. So, if you're connected to the charger while you're using the new iPad there is less available power going to charging the battery, hence the slow charging rate. It's a bit slower when it's off too.

The other thing I noticed is that the back gets much warmer than I recall for the old iPads. Is it possible that it's getting warm enough that the charging circuitry is slowing down to avoid a thermal issue?

Mar 18, 2012 3:22 PM in response to kostby

G'day all

When I checked my usb ports in system profiler thanks to kostby's suggestion, I noticed something odd.

The usb ports seem to run in a strange order.

One would expect, from left to right, looking from rear, usb hub 1, usb hub 1, usb hub 2, usb hub 2

Instead, they run usb hub 1, usb hub 2, usb hub 2, usb hub 1.

This meant that I had two high draw items on usb hub 2 at the same time, the iPad, and my Eye TV tuner.

I've swapped things around, and now have the tuner on hub 2, and the iPad on hub 1, and it seems to be charging fractionally faster, but only just. Time will tell.

Before

After changing

Regards

Santa

Mar 18, 2012 4:21 PM in response to Brian Christmas

Actually, I am having the same problem with the supplied 10W charger. The new iPad is reporting not charging but the charger works fine with other devices. The new iPad does seem to charge slowly even when it says
"not charging" I don't think this has anything to do with charging from a USB port. Must be a bug.

Ross

Mar 18, 2012 4:53 PM in response to Brian Christmas

Thank you!

I got min on Friday and it has NEVER recharged in my MBP. Since the first one was defective and had to be returned, I really, really, didn't want ot take this iPad back, too. I was extremely lucky to find one for replacement to begin with - and had to switch colors.

I can't help but think that a stink will be raised about this - at least over the fact that Apple was not telling anybody about it.

Not sending mine back, though!

Ipad34g

Level 1

0 points

Mar 22, 2012 4:16 AM in response to Brian Christmas

ok now after doing some googling i realised that you can charge your ipad 3 using old pc. The one i am using is about 10 years old.

Initially, it said not charging. It is to do with the power output from the USB.

Now it has charged 5% in about 15 minutes! Same port.

Solution: Increase outtage of USB power. Install an application called ASUS 'AiCharger'. (Its free Google it)

You do not have to manually do anything, JUST install the setup file. Restart your PC.

Reinsert your USB CABLE as normal and Bob's your uncle!

Apple you suck, all you needed to do was release a script to increase the USB power output!

Mar 22, 2012 4:58 AM in response to Brian Christmas

G'day

After lodging a bug report re not charging, Apple asked me to install two logging utilities, which I've done, and to send them the logs, which I'll do.

However, after running the iPad completely flat, the darn thing now charges on the iMac, whilst being used (watching .avi movies). It's only about 2% per hour, but better than the 0% when first being used. I'm also not using a sim card yet, so I expect the draw to be minimal.

Regards

Santa

Ipad34g

Level 1

0 points

Mar 22, 2012 5:00 AM in response to Brian Christmas

This is stupidness, 2% an hour is too low.

Do what i did its a simple method it works a charm, mine is now at 35%!

Good Luck.

Mar 22, 2012 5:19 AM in response to Ipad34g

I don't know that Apple *****, necessairly, but it would have been nice to see Mr. cook say something like "and what's the tradeoff for all this battery7 power? The new iPad might run a little warmer, and it is better recharged through the included AC plug, but it's a relatively small tradeoff for all you get."

I also can't help but believe that a "simple script" might end up burning something out over time. It's fine for any old PC lying about my house, but I don't want my MBP to go belly up anytime soon.

Mar 22, 2012 5:22 AM in response to Ipad34g

G'day iPad34g

What you're suggesting is causing a lot of headaches for some people that install it.

Read http://preview.tinyurl.com/3669kbe

Regards

Santa

atl7187

Level 1

9 points

Mar 22, 2012 11:57 AM in response to Brian Christmas

Here is the video I posted on youtube of my charging problem:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YaDslLaMLg

dnimtz

Level 1

5 points

Mar 22, 2012 12:20 PM in response to Brian Christmas

I'm seeing the same types of problems: when using the included 10w Apple wall charger, and a non-OEM cable (about a 4 foot cable), the new iPad at most times (not always) shows "not charging". Switching nothing else except to use Apple's included cable, it then charges the iPad (slowly).

Guessing that the longer non-OEM cable has a tiny bit more resistance maybe?

iPad 3 failing to charge from iMac usb port