Kelly Crossley

Q: How much power do MacBook USB ports deliver?

I've see USB hubs with voltages like 5v, 12v, and 24v being made.

 

  1. How much power are the USB 2/3 ports on the Mid-2012 MacBook Pro capable of?
  2. Does USB 3 delover more power than USB 2?
  3. How does a USB device regulate the power it gets from the MacBook Pro's USB ports? In other words, what happens if the port is generating 12v of power, but the device only needs 5v?

Posted on Jan 19, 2013 7:38 PM

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Q: How much power do MacBook USB ports deliver?

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  • by clintonfrombirmingham,

    clintonfrombirmingham clintonfrombirmingham Jan 19, 2013 10:28 PM in response to Kelly Crossley
    Level 7 (30,009 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 19, 2013 10:28 PM in response to Kelly Crossley

    See http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4049 - USB 3.0 ports on the 2012 models are 5v. USB 2.0 ports on previous machines are 5V as well.

     

    CLinton

  • by SeanCota,

    SeanCota SeanCota Mar 14, 2014 7:32 AM in response to clintonfrombirmingham
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iPhone
    Mar 14, 2014 7:32 AM in response to clintonfrombirmingham

    USB ports are all 5 Volts DC.  Depending on the device, the Amperage (how much power flows) is important.  My experience is that iPads need a minimum of .8 Amps DC {800 mA (milliamps)}

     

     

    From Apple:

    USB 1.1 or USB 2 ports:

    Up to 500 mA (Milliamps) at 5 V (Volts) to most Apple USB peripherals and all USB peripherals not made by Apple in compliance with USB specifications.

    Apple computers with USB 3 ports provide:

    USB 3 ports:

    Up to 900 mA (milliamps) at 5 V (Volts) to most Apple USB peripherals and all USB peripherals not made by Apple in compliance with USB specifications.