60W MagSafe Power Adapter

If you read the descriptions of them at the online Apple Store, the 60-watt says, "Compatible with MacBook." The 85-watt says, "Compatible with MacBook Pro."

I would say that they are NOT interchangeable.

Given previous experience with varying iBook/PowerBook adapters I would say that a MacBook will happily use a MacBook Pro's 85W adapter (though I wouldn't suggest the reverse). Providing the connectors are the same you should be fine.

I think they are differentiating the two models given the difference in size of the two adapters.

The only thing not completely interchangeable about the 45-watt original adapter that came with some earlier iBooks and the 65-watt models that came later is that the 45-watt won't charge a PowerBook while you're using it. That's the only deficiency of compatibility I'm aware of.

Of course, the original iBook's adapter plug was incompatible with later models.

I bought an extra 85W MagSafe power adapter to do with the included 60W adapter of a black MacBook 2.0GHz. This was on the recommendation of an Apple Store employee (they did not have individually packaged 60W versions in yet).

The two adapters differ only in size, the 85W being larger. The MagSafe end of the cable is identical. And.. I can say from experience that the 85W charges the MacBook just fine.

Just as to add some info FYI. I used my MBP with my MB power adapter last night. Worked just fine.

Then why do we have two versions?

Then why do we have two versions?

There are a couple of reasons that spring to mind…

- Manufacture price. If the MB only require 60W and they're cheaper to make you're better off doing that for both Apple and the buyer.

- Size. As the MB does not require 85W (or is it 80W?) then there's no reason to need to carry around the larger adapter.

Actually, I believe you can use the MacBook Pro (85W) adapter with the MacBook.

I've written up details here:

http://www.alexking.org/blog/2006/05/23/macbook-power-adapter/

PowerMac G5 Quad, MacBook, Mac mini Mac OS X (10.4.6)

So if you're using one or two FW devices that draw power from the connector on an MB, does the extra power of the larger ps help?

So if you're using one or two FW devices that draw power from the connector on an MB, does the extra power of the larger ps help?

No. Theoretically at least. The reason is that the amount of power that can be delivered via a FireWire port is limited. You MacBook will only give so much power which should be covered by the 60W power adapter. As I understand it, connecting more than one bus powered device to a single FireWire port is not recommended.

Having said that, some (this is a very small "some") PowerBook users have found that their PowerBook do sometimes draw more power than their power adapter can deliver which does trip the adapter causing a failure in power delivery. Going with a larger power adapter did help in the vast majority of cases.

Due to it larger wattage and larger physical size the 85W adapter MAY run cooler with your MacBook than the 60W adapter.

Cool, thanks. Incidentally, at the Genius Bar of the Burlington MA Apple store today, the tech argued that using a higher wattage PS in a lower wattage MB ran a too-high risk. Huh? Well, the theory is that by flooding your battery with too much power, you would over a long period of time run a high risk of shortening its life, and this was not recommended. "It'll work, but I don't think it's a good idea."

As the politicians would stay, "the jury's still out..."?



MacBook 2ghz Mac OS X (10.4.6) Firebox, Logic, Reason, Live