12 volt USB-C charger for 2019 16" MBP?

robgendreau · Jan 12, 2020

Any recommendations for a car charger for a 16" MBP?

I haven't been able to figure out whether lower-powered USB-C chargers, like say the 30W USB-C cig plug adapters could even work with an MBP 16", slowly. Haven't seen anything approximating the 96W it can take, but that would maybe strain my 12v connection anyway. But I could probably make it work.

bsbeamer · Jan 13, 2020

Personally would look at higher output USB-C battery solutions, then just top/recharge that battery via car adapter as needed. There are plenty of those options out there, but maybe start here:

High-Capacity USB-C Battery Pack Comparison and Review

A few years ago, it was difficult to find a USB-C battery pack capable of charging a MacBook at a speed of 30 or 45W, but with Apple and other...

www.macrumors.com

Erehy Dobon · Jan 13, 2020

robgendreau · Jan 14, 2020

bsbeamer said:
Personally would look at higher output USB-C battery solutions, then just top/recharge that battery via car adapter as needed. There are plenty of those options out there, but maybe start here:

High-Capacity USB-C Battery Pack Comparison and Review

A few years ago, it was difficult to find a USB-C battery pack capable of charging a MacBook at a speed of 30 or 45W, but with Apple and other...

www.macrumors.com

Not a bad idea; thanks. But I need something that can accept 12 volt input. The car adapter is the part that I need, and the ones listed there don't have that. My 12volt system already has more than enough stored power so an extra battery, while always nice, isn't the priority.

Erehy Dobon said:
A far better value would be an 12V DC-120V AC inverter rather than USB-C plug. Here's a typical AC inverter:

BESTEK 300W Power Inverter DC 12V to 110V AC Car Inverter with 4.2A Dual USB Car Adapter

BESTEK 300W Power Inverter DC 12V to 110V AC Car Inverter

www.amazon.com

then just plug your computer's regular charger into that. This way, you can plug other things into the inverter.

I have a discontinued Coleman unit that I purchased nearly 15 years ago. This inverter still works.

I've got an inverter already; I need something more compact for where I'd like to charge the laptop. But thanks.

erutan · Mar 24, 2020

I’m in a similar situation - I have an AC inverter connected to a ~400 amps of LiFePo4, but ideally I’d just charge my laptop via PD directly from my aux bank vs doing DC>AC>DC conversion if I’m on it for extended periods of time. I found that if I didn't have any peripherals plugged into my 87W 15" MBP / wasn't maxing out CPU etc I could get a slow charge off of a 60W charger (left mine behind once, borrowed one for a 13" MBP), so going a little low could be fine.

I found a mountable 60W option: