Manja1973

Q: Thunderbolt display does not charge macbook pro

When connecting the MBP 2013 to the thunderbolt display through thunderbolt cable and power cord (magsafe1 plus magsafe2 adapter), the display shows, but the MBP is not charging. Regular Magsafe2 adapter works fine and charges. Checked the connectors on the adapter and it seems to fit perfectly.

 

Any suggestions?

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Mavericks (10.9), less than 1 week old

Posted on Nov 3, 2013 5:47 AM

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Q: Thunderbolt display does not charge macbook pro

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  • by Mikestrivens ,

    Mikestrivens Mikestrivens Dec 28, 2013 7:31 AM in response to Barry Wilbraham1
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    Dec 28, 2013 7:31 AM in response to Barry Wilbraham1

    thanks, must be something to do with the connection.

    regards

    Mike

  • by Tigervision,

    Tigervision Tigervision Dec 28, 2013 7:39 AM in response to Barry Wilbraham1
    Level 1 (14 points)
    iTunes
    Dec 28, 2013 7:39 AM in response to Barry Wilbraham1

    Thanks Mike for taking the time. 

    Yours is working correctly in 'Clamshell mode': http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3131

    The requirements are: TB display, Power supply and external keyboard/mouse/trackpad. (i.e. your set up).

     

    I am trying to find out if you disconnect your external keyboard and trackpad (i.e. turn the blue toothoff temporarily or unplug them both if wired).... what happens when you close your lid on your MBP?  Does your TB diplay go off completely or pop back on as it does now??  Would sure appreciate it if you tried it for me .

     

    See with mine.... it pops back on... but according ot literature... it should not since I have NO external keyboard/trackpad connected.

     

    I'm not totally sure about the battery icon when plugged in... I think when it has the thunderbolt within the battery icon it is charging... and when it has the plug within the icon, it is fully charged and using power cord rather than battery to run.  I could be wrong though.

     

    Thanks again.

    jason.

  • by Barry Wilbraham1,

    Barry Wilbraham1 Barry Wilbraham1 Dec 28, 2013 7:45 AM in response to Tigervision
    Level 2 (262 points)
    iPhone
    Dec 28, 2013 7:45 AM in response to Tigervision

    I've only just picked again up this ongoing problem you have.  An obvious question I must ask, but is your magna connection making contact with your MBP when you attach it?  There are 4 brass looking connectors in the magna safe lead.  I think it were me, I would switch everything off and make sure that you try and clean the ends of each of your connections on both the magnasafe connector and the device you're connecting to, WITHOUT shorting anything! 

  • by Mikestrivens ,

    Mikestrivens Mikestrivens Dec 28, 2013 7:48 AM in response to Barry Wilbraham1
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    Dec 28, 2013 7:48 AM in response to Barry Wilbraham1

    Thanks, I have some switch cleaner in the garage, just got to find it.  I'll report back.

  • by Mikestrivens ,

    Mikestrivens Mikestrivens Dec 28, 2013 8:00 AM in response to Tigervision
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    Dec 28, 2013 8:00 AM in response to Tigervision

    Hi Jason

    Yes mine does exactly the same as yours. However, if the power cord is not connected it all goes to sleep.  If the power cord is connected, and making contact, the TB display stays on.

     

    Just got to do as Brian has suggested and clean the contacts.

     

    Regards

    Mike

  • by Tigervision,

    Tigervision Tigervision Dec 28, 2013 8:00 AM in response to Mikestrivens
    Level 1 (14 points)
    iTunes
    Dec 28, 2013 8:00 AM in response to Mikestrivens

    Thanks Mike...

    So yours is doing what mine does.... which is wrong. LOL.

    In theory.... if you don't have all three (TB, power, external devices) connected, it should NOT go into clamshell mode (i.e. the TB monitor should go off).

     

    And you are right Mike... if you unplug power cord and close lid or manually put MBP to sleep... the TB goes off!

     

    My TB charges my MBP fine like Barry's.  Are you sure yours is not charging Mike??  Have you tried to drain the battery a little and then plug in... does power cord have yellow led and then change to green when charged?  Careful with liquid cleaners.... !

     

    Bottom line.... just my theory... that the new MBP and Mavericks are beyond the TB display which has not been updated in some time....

     

    Thanks,

    jason.

  • by Mikestrivens ,

    Mikestrivens Mikestrivens Dec 28, 2013 8:16 AM in response to Tigervision
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    Dec 28, 2013 8:16 AM in response to Tigervision

    Hi Jason and Barry

    I have given the contacts a clean and I get the plug symbol appearing in the battery icon, which presumably means that it is running on mains from the TB display, though not actually charging.  I haven't worked out at what point the orange LED comes on, but certainly when it is fully charged it goes green.  I sort of assumed that the orange LED should come on immediately the power cord is connected regardless of state of charge, but that does not appear to be the case.  I shall look further.

    Thanks for your help

    Mike

  • by Barry Wilbraham1,

    Barry Wilbraham1 Barry Wilbraham1 Dec 28, 2013 8:27 AM in response to Mikestrivens
    Level 2 (262 points)
    iPhone
    Dec 28, 2013 8:27 AM in response to Mikestrivens

    Well, Mike, from what you've said, it sounds to me like it is working.  You could just remove the battery out of the MBP and just make sure the connections there are sound too.  Good luck. 

  • by Mikestrivens ,

    Mikestrivens Mikestrivens Dec 29, 2013 3:53 PM in response to Barry Wilbraham1
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    Dec 29, 2013 3:53 PM in response to Barry Wilbraham1

    Hi Barry

    Just a quick update.  Everything appears to be working as it should since I cleaned the connections between the TB display and my MBP. There didn't appear to be any dirt on the end of the cotton bud but the switch cleaner must have dislodged something and did its job. Thanks for your help and suggestion.

    Regards

    Mike

  • by snoblenet,

    snoblenet snoblenet Jan 3, 2014 12:57 AM in response to Manja1973
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    Jan 3, 2014 12:57 AM in response to Manja1973

    Same problem here. Running Mavericks. Thunderbolt display will not charge MacBook Air. MacBook Airs own charger still works.

  • by Barry Wilbraham1,

    Barry Wilbraham1 Barry Wilbraham1 Jan 3, 2014 1:32 AM in response to snoblenet
    Level 2 (262 points)
    iPhone
    Jan 3, 2014 1:32 AM in response to snoblenet

    Sorry but I'm not familiar with the MacBook Air.  But, assuming that the battery pack is removable, which it may not be, just check that all contacts to and from it are clean and tidy.  Whilst I understand that your charger works, there may be slightly different connectors on the Thunderbird display.  I would have thought this is a major issue, it sounds to me like a connectivity blip.  Good luck!

  • by Barry Wilbraham1,

    Barry Wilbraham1 Barry Wilbraham1 Jan 3, 2014 1:33 AM in response to Barry Wilbraham1
    Level 2 (262 points)
    iPhone
    Jan 3, 2014 1:33 AM in response to Barry Wilbraham1

    Correction:  I wouldn't have thought this was a major issue.....

  • by Mikestrivens ,

    Mikestrivens Mikestrivens Jan 3, 2014 1:37 AM in response to snoblenet
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    Jan 3, 2014 1:37 AM in response to snoblenet

    I've had this problem on my MBP and resolved it by replacing the magsafe to magsafe 2 adaptor.  It also helped, for a short while, to clean all the contacts with switch cleaner from Maplins.  Access to the battery was not an option as my MBP is still under guarantee and I didn't want to be unscrewing the device to get at the battery pack.  Also as the own charger works fine I deduced it was the TB lead/connector that was the issue.

  • by snoblenet,

    snoblenet snoblenet Jan 3, 2014 2:27 AM in response to snoblenet
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    Jan 3, 2014 2:27 AM in response to snoblenet

    Reseting the SCM solved the problem. Also helped with an iPhone sync issue I was having.

  • by Mikestrivens ,

    Mikestrivens Mikestrivens Jan 3, 2014 3:36 AM in response to snoblenet
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    Jan 3, 2014 3:36 AM in response to snoblenet

    what is the SCM and how do you reset it?

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