AV adapter + MacBook charger not charging iPhone

[sunilc]

For those of you who were hoping to use the MacBook charger along with the Digital AV Adapter to charge their iPhone, I can confirm that this combination does not work.

Using the adapter plugged into the MacBook itself does charge the iPhone. But plugging into the power adapter gives nothing.

Tomorrow I'm going to buy the USB-C to USB-B adapter and try that.

Sunil

 

[shenan1982]

For those of you who were hoping to use the MacBook charger along with the Digital AV Adapter to charge their iPhone, I can confirm that this combination does not work.

Using the adapter plugged into the MacBook itself does charge the iPhone. But plugging into the power adapter gives nothing.

Tomorrow I'm going to buy the USB-C to USB-B adapter and try that.

Sunil

Why would you use the adaptor without being plugged into a computer and expect it to work? That doesn't even make logical sense.

To clarify for those not able to read through your misleading post... what you're saying is that if you plug the Macbook charge cable into the USB-C port on the AV adaptor, then plug your USB lightning cable into the AV adaptor it doesn't charge the phone unless you're plugged into a computer, which makes complete sense.

Your title\subject are misleading. Why would one even think to try and charge it that way?

 

[bmclaurin]

Just speculating here, but perhaps the OP wants to minimize the number of charging blocks that need to be carried? But if that's the case, couldn't you just use the single USB to USB-C adapter? I haven't tried that, but it seems to me that it would work.

 

[shenan1982]

Just speculating here, but perhaps the OP wants to minimize the number of charging blocks that need to be carried? But if that's the case, couldn't you just use the single USB to USB-C adapter? I haven't tried that, but it seems to me that it would work.

But the definition of reduction in that case wouldn't be a reduction. LOL

Why would the OP carry the adaptor but not the laptop?

 

[bmclaurin]

But the definition of reduction in that case wouldn't be a reduction. LOL

Haha. Yes. But I guess I'm saying it would eliminate carrying two blocks, which are bulkier than the single adapter. I don't know. l was just trying to speculate what the OP was trying to accomplish.

EDIT: Well not if you're using the small iPhone blocks. I always use the larger 12W iPad blocks for my phone. Heck, I give up. I don't know what OP is trying to accomplish, so I will stop speculating. Lol

 

[shenan1982]

Haha. Yes. But I guess I'm saying it would eliminate carrying two blocks, which are bulkier than the single adapter. I don't know. l was just trying to speculate what the OP was trying to accomplish.

I'm just trying to imagine a scenario where you would use this setup. I travel half the days in a month. When I'm at an airport, my phone is charged... when I get to a hotel or onto a plane, if I want to charge my phone, I'm going to have my laptop out anyhow.

If anything this adaptor has been a godsend to me, since I go international a lot, it's nice just plugging in one adaptor into the wall (most international hotels have US plugs, but for those that done, you need a converter plug, so I just have to carry one), and then you just plug the phone into the adaptor that's already charging the computer.

The problem is he's trying to over-simplify and in doing so is making things more complex. The computer doesn't have to be on. Just plug the adaptor in, and plug your phone into it. LOL

 

[StevenB7]

I wanted to get down to 1 brick as well. I found that USC-C brick to USB-C Cable to Digital AV Adapter to Lightning cable won't charge an iPhone. However, USC-C brick to USB-C Cable to Apple's USB Adapter to Lightning cable will charge an iPhone - no MacBook used - allowing you to carry just 1 brick.

 

[ctyrider]

I wanted to get down to 1 brick as well. I found that USC-C brick to USB-C Cable to Digital AV Adapter to Lightning cable won't charge an iPhone. However, USC-C brick to USB-C Cable to Apple's USB Adapter to Lightning cable will charge an iPhone - no MacBook used - allowing you to carry just 1 brick.

I think what you want is a USB-C to Lightning cable. There are a few available on eBay.

 

[shenan1982]

I think what you want is a USB-C to Lightning cable. There are a few available on eBay.

I would be VERY careful with these though. None are certified, and they're all cheap chinese junk. Scary. Last thing you want is the lightning tip to break off in your phone, and seems to happen a lot with the chinese knock offs.

 

[sunilc]

Apologies for the confusing original post. It all made sense in my head at the time!

But as bmclaurin correctly speculated, I am trying to reduce the number of power blocks I carry.

Up to now, I have been traveling with a MacBook Air (along with an iPhone and an iPad). I have been taking with me the MacBook Air charging block, an iPad charging block, a USB to lightning cable and various MacBook Air adapters including Mini DisplayPort to hdmi.

I like to keep my iphone on charge overnight in the hotel room. I don't really want to have to keep my rMB sitting on my nightstand with the digital av adapter connected just to charge my iPhone. I just want to be able to use the USB-C power block with the appropriate adapter to charge my iPhone with its original USB lightning cable.

I mentioned originally that I was going to try the USB-C power block with USB-C to USB-A adapter to use lightning cable today. I didn't get around to that, but it sounds like StevenB7 had already confirmed that works. So I'll be going down that route.

I still don't know why Apple would be stopping me from using the digital av adapter to accomplish what I want, but allow me to do it with the USB-C to USB-A adapter...

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I'm just trying to imagine a scenario where you would use this setup. I travel half the days in a month. When I'm at an airport, my phone is charged... when I get to a hotel or onto a plane, if I want to charge my phone, I'm going to have my laptop out anyhow.

If anything this adaptor has been a godsend to me, since I go international a lot, it's nice just plugging in one adaptor into the wall (most international hotels have US plugs, but for those that done, you need a converter plug, so I just have to carry one), and then you just plug the phone into the adaptor that's already charging the computer.

The problem is he's trying to over-simplify and in doing so is making things more complex. The computer doesn't have to be on. Just plug the adaptor in, and plug your phone into it. LOL

I guess we just have different preferences. There are many times when I want to charge my phone and not have to get my laptop out of my bag! And I don't want to have to leave my MacBook on my nightstand just to charge my iPhone...

 

[shenan1982]

Apologies for the confusing original post. It all made sense in my head at the time!

I still don't know why Apple would be stopping me from using the digital av adapter to accomplish what I want, but allow me to do it with the USB-C to USB-A adapter...

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I guess we just have different preferences. There are many times when I want to charge my phone and not have to get my laptop out of my bag! And I don't want to have to leave my MacBook on my nightstand just to charge my iPhone...

You have to look at the AV adaptor as a hub. Much like a USB hub doesn't tie everything together without being plugged into everything, neither does the $79 hub apple is buying.

What we really need is a USB-C to lightning cable... I don't think there's anyone on here who wouldn't find that useful, not only for what you're doing trying to eliminate a brick, but also just for the basic purpose of charging the phone right from the computer as well.

I'm wondering if Apple doesn't release one because it' not universal? Maybe the specs of the new USB-C say there can't be proprietary connectors on it? Who knows?!?! Maybe they just don't because they know a bulk of those buying the $79 AV adaptors are people who really just want a way to charge their phone and a $19 USBC to Lightning cable wouldn't net them the $79 revenue. LOL

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I think what you want is a USB-C to Lightning cable.

I don't think Apple will release this anytime soon. The average customer would spend $19 on that cable instead of $79 on the Digital AV adaptor to do the same thing: charge their phone off the computer. LOL.

 

[MyopicPaideia]

I still don't know why Apple would be stopping me from using the digital av adapter to accomplish what I want, but allow me to do it with the USB-C to USB-A adapter...

Why this is, is actually slightly mysterious because in my experience (totally anecdotal, admittedly!) It have been able to do exactly what you are attempting in a pinch using a multi-USB hub - iPad charger to multi-hub to charge my iPhone and iPad simultaneously.

I think the reason it doesn't work is because Apple did not use a multi-port USB-C to USB-A hub circuit. It appears they used two single port circuits instead, so the USB-C female doesn't actually have an electrical connection at all to the USB-A female, it just goes straight in (also as a power only connection) to the USB-C male.

So, the USB-C male is the only port "talking" to the USB-A female port.

In other words, the charging current to the USB-A port comes from the MB's battery and not the wall charger.

The Hub+ charger thread had a post in it from the creators at Nando in which they claimed that a stable USB-C to multi USB 3.0 chipset wasn't available which is why they went with USB 2.0 in their design, but this was deleted by the moderators for a rule violation. Nando has subsequently announced they were able to finally source a stable chipset for USB-C as well, so have changed their design to upgrade to that.

So maybe at the time, Apple couldn't include a multi-port chipset in theirs either, because they wanted to make sure to have USB 3.0 on their USB-A port.