phoneuser
Level 1 (5 points)

Q: iPad charged by USB (PC or Mac)

hi, is it per apple standand that the new ipad can NOT be changed by an usb port?  I tried the usb port from two different desktop PCs and neither of them worked (showing 'not changing'). but it works on my macbook (not the pro) even when the macbook is on its battery power. 

Posted on Mar 24, 2012 2:56 PM

Close
phoneuser

Q: iPad charged by USB (PC or Mac)

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by stedman1,

    stedman1 stedman1 Mar 24, 2012 2:59 PM in response to phoneuser
    Level 9 (73,808 points)
    Apple Watch
    Mar 24, 2012 2:59 PM in response to phoneuser

    Not really an Apple standard. More of a USB standard, as most computers do not provide the current required to charge the iPad at an acceptable rate. The iPad may charge, but at a much slower rate.

     

    Stedman

  • by Johnathan Burger,

    Johnathan Burger Johnathan Burger Mar 24, 2012 3:02 PM in response to phoneuser
    Level 6 (16,108 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 24, 2012 3:02 PM in response to phoneuser

    Your pc's don't have hi-power USB ports, your Mac does.

    iPad requires more power than a standard USB port puts out.

  • by phoneuser,

    phoneuser phoneuser Mar 24, 2012 3:03 PM in response to stedman1
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Mar 24, 2012 3:03 PM in response to stedman1

    i understand the usb2.0 standard is 500ma.  i cannot test how much my pc usb output is.  i guess it is not 500ma as both pcs i tried has 8usb ports.  i guess it's more like usb 'gate' issue for pcs not the ipads. 

    i asked around that ipad2 can be charged by pc usbs.  i guess the bigger battery in ipad3 makes the difference...

  • by Texas Mac Man,

    Texas Mac Man Texas Mac Man Mar 24, 2012 4:02 PM in response to phoneuser
    Level 8 (46,611 points)
    Mar 24, 2012 4:02 PM in response to phoneuser

    The quickest way (and really the only way) to charge your iPad is with the included 10W USB Power Adapter. iPad will also charge, although more slowly, when attached to a computer with a high-power USB port (many recent Mac computers) or with an iPhone Power Adapter (5W). When attached to a computer via a standard USB port (most PCs or older Mac computers) iPad will charge very slowly (but iPad indicates not charging). Make sure your computer is on while charging iPad via USB. If iPad is connected to a computer that’s turned off or is in sleep or standby mode, the iPad battery will continue to drain.

     

    Apple recommends that once a month you let the iPad fully discharge & then recharge to 100%.

     

    At this link http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/galaxy-tab-android-tablet,3014-11.html , tests show that the iPad 2 battery will charge to 90% in 3 hours 1 minute. It will charge to 100% in 4 hours 2 minutes. The new iPad has a larger capacity battery, so using the 10W charger will obviously take longer. If you are using your iPad while charging, it will take even longer. It's best to turn your new iPad OFF and charge over night.

     

     Cheers, Tom

  • by phoneuser,

    phoneuser phoneuser Mar 25, 2012 4:39 PM in response to phoneuser
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Mar 25, 2012 4:39 PM in response to phoneuser

    So further research is here ---

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4049

     

    per this document, i plugged the new ipad into the macbook, and run the system information

    the numbers are here

    Current available -- 500mA

    Current required -- 500mA

    Extra opertating Current -- 500mA

     

    Thus i assume the minimum requirement is 1A.

     

    So the total is 1A from the laptop.

    The 10W charger is 5V at 2.1A

    the 5W charger is 5V at 1A

     

    I assume most after market ones cannot come close to 5V 1A as standard USB is 500mA.  Luckily one of my car cigarette charge  provides some power near 1A so it charges.

     

    Let the search for cheap 3rd party 5V2A chargers (as backup) begin!!!!