What wattage is my macbook charger and how does that affect my macbook?

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What wattage is my macbook charger and how does that affect my macbook?

Hi,

I'm currently using an early 2013, 15-inch retina macbook pro and my charger recently broke. Today I bought an adaptor for the magsafe 1 to 2 connection in the hopes that a charger I purchased in 2012 for my 2010 13-inch macbook pro would charge it instead of having to pay $75 for a new charger. I've read that using a lower wattage charger can harm your computer in the long term and considering the amount of money I payed for my macbook, I'd rather pay the $75 not doing so is going to harm it.

However, what I want to know is how to tell the wattage of my old macbook charger as it doesn't seem to be written anywhere on it. I'd also like to know, if it is indeed of a lower wattage (which I assume it is), will it have any negative effect if my macbook is off.

I ask this because I've heard that if your computer is using the charger to power it and charge the battery rather than just charge the batter, it limits it's power consumption and can hurt the computer. I'm al in the short term I need to be able to charge my computer as I use it for all my work so something is better than nothing, but if it has the potential to harm my computer I want to replace the charger as soon as possible.

Either way I'll be replacing the charger in every outcome except if my charger is indeed and 85 watt charger which I highly doubt.

Thanks in advance!

itunes-OTHER, Mac OS X (10.6.7)

Posted on Nov 25, 2013 1:07 AM

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Answer 1

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,329 points

Nov 25, 2013 2:57 AM in response to Timgie

Timgie wrote:

if it is indeed of a lower wattage (which I assume it is), will it have any negative effect if my macbook is off.

None as such, but it will take much longer to charge the MBP to 100%

I ask this because I've heard that if your computer is using the charger to power it and charge the battery rather than just charge the batter, it limits it's power consumption and can hurt the computer.

It will limit the power consumption but will not hurt the computer. If you are using any MBP to its operating limits, under certain circumstances the power adapter will not be able to supply sufficient power to run the MBP and then the battery will be tapped for additional electrical resources. That can occur much more often and at lesser levels with a 60w charger attached to a MBP that is designed for an 85w charger. But it will not damage the MBP.

The odd fact is, regardless of the MBP size, since the price is the same, always purchase the 85w charger. An 85w charger cannot overcharge a 13" MBP since the OSX controlls the charging and a 60w watt charger will be taxed to its limits much more by a 15" MBP. The 60w charger is redundant.

Ciao.

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Answer 2

Nov 25, 2013 1:18 AM in response to Timgie

If you have an early 2013 Retina then:

Power Adapter

85W MagSafe 2 Power Adapter

Your 2010 macbook Pro 13" is:

Power Adapter

60W MagSafe Power Adapter

at the very least youd quickly destroy the older charger trying to use it to charge your newer Macbook, I wouldnt do it.

I accidentally did that once in a hurry, and the charger was hot enough to fry an egg on. LOL 😊

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Answer 3

Timgie Author

Level 1

0 points

Nov 25, 2013 1:15 AM in response to PlotinusVeritas

Woops, never mind. I didn't see the expanded part.

Thanks for the reply. If I use the 60W charger with my macbook while it's off, do you know if it will it have a negative effect? Or will it charge the battery normally?

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Answer 4

Nov 25, 2013 1:20 AM in response to Timgie

see additional above, .....countless reports elsewhere are half and half

however I know that by accident in doing same...., I was mere couple hours away from burning up the charger without doubt.

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Answer 5

Timgie Author

Level 1

0 points

Nov 25, 2013 2:21 AM in response to PlotinusVeritas

Oh thanks very much.

I missed two parts of your post haha.

Thanks again for the help 🙂

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