Can I use 60W Magsafe power adapter to my MBP 15inch ? Is it safe ?

[PinkSakura]

My 85 W PA suddenly died on me and is not working. I am so frustrated and so I tried to use my husband's 60W Magsafe PW and it seemed to be working. The only thing that worries me is that the Power adapter gets so hot while I am charging. Should I be worried, is this normal, is it safe to use this on a 15 inch MBP ?

Many thanks in advance. I hope to hear from someone who could help me out. I would truly appreciate it as I always do.

 

[Macman45]

It Will Work

My 85 W PA suddenly died on me and is not working. I am so frustrated and so I tried to use my husband's 60W Magsafe PW and it seemed to be working. The only thing that worries me is that the Power adapter gets so hot while I am charging. Should I be worried, is this normal, is it safe to use this on a 15 inch MBP ?

Many thanks in advance. I hope to hear from someone who could help me out. I would truly appreciate it as I always do.

But it's not recommended, you are drawing too much current from it really It wasn't designed for it. Have a google for a replacement....They aren't that expensive.

All chargers generate heat when operating, but yours is probably overheating due to the draw on it.

 

[PinkSakura]

thank you.I am actually waiting for the 85 W PA replacement, but Applecare support said that it might 3 days to 1 week for me to receive it. I need to use my computer so I am using this 60 W PA right now. I hope I won't destroy it though

 

[mrsir2009]

Sure, it just won't charge as fast. Just don't use an 85W on a 13" MBP, MB or especially a MBA, and don't use a 60W on a MBA either.

My dad borrows my 13" MBP charger to use on his 15" MBP all the time when he accidentally leaves his charger in Wellington

 

[miles01110]

Sure, it just won't charge as fast. Just don't use an 85W on a 13" MBP, MB or especially a MBA, and don't use a 60W on a MBA either.

Seems like you don't really know what you're talking about. It's fine to use a charger with a higher power rating than what your machine requires. Problems only occur when the power requirements for the computer exceed that which can be provided by the charger.

Generally there aren't many problems using a 60W charger with a machine that "requires" 85W anyways, but using an 85W charger with a 60W or 45W machine is perfectly fine.

 

[PinkSakura]

Seems like you don't really know what you're talking about. It's fine to use a charger with a higher power rating than what your machine requires. Problems only occur when the power requirements for the computer exceed that which can be provided by the charger.

Generally there aren't many problems using a 60W charger with a machine that "requires" 85W anyways, but using an 85W charger with a 60W or 45W machine is perfectly fine.

Hey miles, thank you for adding your post. So do you think it's okay for me to use the 60 W to my MBP 15 inch ?

 

[negativzero]

Hey miles, thank you for adding your post. So do you think it's okay for me to use the 60 W to my MBP 15 inch ?

Yes, its safe and it won't explode on you, however for your MBP to perform at its best, the MBP will draw power from both the battery AND the adapter. So unless you're using the 85W, you won't be getting the most out of your MBP.

 

[teleromeo]

Just the simple fact that all those adapters use the same magsafe plug is a signal that they can be used with models they were not intended for. If it's dangerous to swap those adapters apple should make dedicated plugs for each model.
Another related question that comes to mind is the magsafe plug that comes with the ACD's. I guess that plug can be used with every model that supports the display.

 

[jlc1978]

My 85 W PA suddenly died on me and is not working. I am so frustrated and so I tried to use my husband's 60W Magsafe PW and it seemed to be working. The only thing that worries me is that the Power adapter gets so hot while I am charging. Should I be worried, is this normal, is it safe to use this on a 15 inch MBP ?

Many thanks in advance. I hope to hear from someone who could help me out. I would truly appreciate it as I always do.

Yes. It works just fine. I've been doing it for over a year with no ill effects to the charger or MBP.

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Yes, its safe and it won't explode on you, however for your MBP to perform at its best, the MBP will draw power from both the battery AND the adapter. So unless you're using the 85W, you won't be getting the most out of your MBP.

Not really - it just, at worse, charges a bit slower. I regularly use a 60W PS for hours at a time - and have a fully charged battery at the end. If it was using the battery eventually it would drain the battery - that it doesn't means the battery is not being used with the 60W PS.

 

[mobi]

[/COLOR]

Not really - it just, at worse, charges a bit slower. I regularly use a 60W PS for hours at a time - and have a fully charged battery at the end. If it was using the battery eventually it would drain the battery - that it doesn't means the battery is not being used with the 60W PS.[/QUOTE]

+1 As stated, it will just charge at a slower rate

 

[Naimfan]

Yes, it's perfectly safe. You can use any Apple Magsafe adapter with any Macbook/Pro/Air. If you use a Magsafe adapter that is higher rated than what is required, it will simply not deliver as much power as a higher rated model would (by design). If you use a Magsafe that is lower rated, it will deliver its maximum rated power when called on. Both examples are safe.

Note, however, that if you use a lower rated Magsafe than the laptop is supplied with, it will take longer for the Magsafe to charge the laptop, and that it will run hotter. Still perfectly safe to use.

 

[PinkSakura]

thank you so much for all the responses .
I am here in Japan and when I called the Apple customer care support adviser. He told me that it's not advisable to use the 60 W to MBP 15 inch. He said it would shorten the life span of the 60 W Power Adapter.

Anyhow, I didn't listen to him because I am charging my MBP 15 inch with the 60 W PA right now. I have no choice,otherwise I won't be able to use this computer. I am waiting for the replacement.

 

[Takashi]

As many people said already, it's probably all right to use the 60W adaptor in lieu of the 85W adaptor. It's probably good for the short term but I myself probably won't use it for long term. You (OP) mentioned that the adaptor gets very hot when your MBP is charging and running at the same time. Perhaps you can charge your MBP to full and avoid using the battery unless it is necessary (i.e. plug your computer in all the time). It might remedy the problem of having a hot power supply.

In contrast, it is most likely acceptable to use a 85W power adaptor on a machine that was designed to be paired with the 60W adaptor. The apple power adaptor appears to only draw power as required by the machine (Yes, I tested it with a "Kill-a-watt" device). Being said, the 85W power adaptor will have more head room (25W more) except it will take up more space in your pocket and it is more heavy.

 

[PinkSakura]

As many people said already, it's probably all right to use the 60W adaptor in lieu of the 85W adaptor. It's probably good for the short term but I myself probably won't use it for long term. You (OP) mentioned that the adaptor gets very hot when your MBP is charging and running at the same time. Perhaps you can charge your MBP to full and avoid using the battery unless it is necessary (i.e. plug your computer in all the time). It might remedy the problem of having a hot power supply.

In contrast, it is most likely acceptable to use a 85W power adaptor on a machine that was designed to be paired with the 60W adaptor. The apple power adaptor appears to only draw power as required by the machine (Yes, I tested it with a "Kill-a-watt" device). Being said, the 85W power adaptor will have more head room (25W more) except it will take up more space in your pocket and it is more heavy.

thank you. I noticed that the PA got too hot when it was plug/charging it while I'm using the computer. When it's full I unplugged it.
And then I tried to charge it again but this time I close my computer and it wasn't that hot anymore.

 

[bniu]

an 85W adapter is really the "universal" one as it works perfectly fine with all MacBook models that have ever been released. I have several 85 Watters lying around the house plugged into many hard to reach locations. This way, no matter which class of MacBooks I have, if I see a magsafe cord, I know it's good to charge my MacBook.

 

[GuitarG20]

it's not recommended. You can do it, but it will charge your computer slower and at full load you'll still be running down the battery.

 

[PinkSakura]

I just received the 85 W replacement just now !

Yahoo, I am so happy and very satisfied with AppleCare customer support. I called them for a replacement yesterday and today I got a brand new 85 W Power Adapter So happy !!!

Thank you so much for all the replies and for all the help. I appreciate. My problem is resolved

 

[PinkSakura]

Now I just want to add that I hope I'm going to use the battery properly. Is it really bad to keep the plug attached to the computer even if it's already FULL ?

 

[DWBurke811]

Now I just want to add that I hope I'm going to use the battery properly. Is it really bad to keep the plug attached to the computer even if it's already FULL ?

it's not bad at all; use your laptop without thinking about anything battery/charger related like this, that's the "correct way" to use it.

i know that kinda sounds like a "i'm going to be a jerk about answering your question" answer(which isn't what i'm intending at all), but i couldn't think of a different way to word it. apple designed it so you could use your macbook without having to worry about how long it's plugged in for, *other question about battery/charger*, etc...

 

[mike1123]

I'm fairly certain the 85W adapter is for the auxiliary graphics card not included on lower-end models. As long as you are using the integrated graphics, you should be fine. I've done it plenty of times.

 

[karljudy]

Can using a 60w adaptor on a 17"MBP damage it?

Hey I've been reading the posts on the 60watt adaptors. I have been using a 60w adaptor on my 17" MBP for some time and had not notice anything until recently when my graphics seem to be going funny. One post said the 85w was mainly for the high end graphics card. By using the 60w I havn't damaged my MBP have I? Does anyone know if using those 60w adaptors could actually damage the laptop?

 

[plaske12]

won't be a problem

look at it this way:

a mbp 15" will use at peak say 60W. the chargers are designed to deliver the 60W + additional power (25) to charge the battery while using the laptop. if you use it at peak, it will just work but not charge/ charge slower. the peaks are only when like gaming intensively or so. if u use it for surfing it only uses like 20W so it will charge with the remaining power (40 instead of 65) just as good only a little bit slower.
the laptop wil not drain more out of the adapter since it can not deliver more. so if it exeeds the 60w it will use a little extra from the battery but i don't think mbp15" ever uses more then 60W, maybe if u run it at it's highest peak performance or so

not actual numbers but u know what i mean

ps. using an 300W adapter on a laptop that needs 10W won't destroy it, it will only take 10W from the adapter so the adapter won't even have to work that hard. the price of 40-60-85 magsafes are the same so i recommend taking the highest, extra power is never a bad thing right?

 

[nealh]

thank you so much for all the responses .
I am here in Japan and when I called the Apple customer care support adviser. He told me that it's not advisable to use the 60 W to MBP 15 inch. He said it would shorten the life span of the 60 W Power Adapter.

Anyhow, I didn't listen to him because I am charging my MBP 15 inch with the 60 W PA right now. I have no choice,otherwise I won't be able to use this computer. I am waiting for the replacement.

Shorten life of the adapter why? It will just take longer to charge but I don't life of a chargers would really shorten that much as once your at 100% it stops or trickles.

How often does it have to charge a 100%? This seems like an odd comment to me.

 

[cocoua]

Can using a 60w adaptor on a 17"MBP damage it?

Hey I've been reading the posts on the 60watt adaptors. I have been using a 60w adaptor on my 17" MBP for some time and had not notice anything until recently when my graphics seem to be going funny. One post said the 85w was mainly for the high end graphics card. By using the 60w I havn't damaged my MBP have I? Does anyone know if using those 60w adaptors could actually damage the laptop?

I have same question, my MBP15 motherboard died after using it with a 60w for few days some years ago. Battery was around 40%health , so could it be the problem?? That the MBP15 with external display needed more power and died??

 

[ignatius345]

I've used a really weak 20W power adapter for a MacBook before. It charged eventually but if I used it while it was charging, the battery still went down. In a pinch, though, totally better than nothing.