External Battery for 2016 MacBook Pros

[bartvk]

The whole USB power distribution things seems a bit immature and confusing?

Yep. USB power has all become very complex.

We already had USB 2.0 (500 mA) and 3.0 (900 mA). And then Apple had a couple of standards, like put 2.0V on the data lines. And Samsung put 2.8V on there. Then Qualcomm added their QuickCharge 2.0 and 3.0.

And then, then we got USB-C with USB-PD (Power Delivery). That also has two versions. And it's not a simple resistance or voltage you measure, it's a digital protocol. The spec is about 250 pages and it's very time-consuming to test all of these edge cases.

So what do you do? Build something, then test it with a couple of popular devices. However, almost anything can charge from USB nowadays So you designed a phone charger one year ago, and guaranteed someone will charge their tablet or their laptop from it.

 

[bartvk]

Today, Nathan K. posted a review of the iMuto power bank. Apparently it's very well tested, just don't use the included cable. https://plus.google.com/102612254593917101378/posts/gXNDSqZJVgv?sfc=true

Amazon link:
https://www.amazon.com/Compact-16750mAh-Portable-Charger-External/dp/B01KHDFXCE/

 

[cdecker15]

Today, Nathan K. posted a review of the iMuto power bank. Apparently it's very well tested, just don't use the included cable. https://plus.google.com/102612254593917101378/posts/gXNDSqZJVgv?sfc=true

Amazon link:
https://www.amazon.com/Compact-16750mAh-Portable-Charger-External/dp/B01KHDFXCE/

Thank you for posting this! Very interesting. He doesn't specify which cable he would recommend, however. I wonder if we should just continue to wait. Hmm...

 

[bartvk]

Thank you for posting this! Very interesting. He doesn't specify which cable he would recommend, however. I wonder if we should just continue to wait. Hmm...

He somewhat maintains a spreadsheet with stuff he recommends:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vnpEXfo2HCGADdd9G2x9dMDWqENiY2kgBJUu29f_TX8/edit#gid=0

Do note the version/serial of each cable. For instance the j5Create JUCX01 is _wildly_ different from the JUCX03. Most manufacturers make a mess out of this, even the big ones.

 

[cdecker15]

He somewhat maintains a spreadsheet with stuff he recommends:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vnpEXfo2HCGADdd9G2x9dMDWqENiY2kgBJUu29f_TX8/edit#gid=0

Do note the version/serial of each cable. For instance the j5Create JUCX01 is _wildly_ different from the JUCX03. Most manufacturers make a mess out of this, even the big ones.

Thanks for that! So what am I looking for when it comes to charging my MacBook? Do I want a faster speed or a higher rating? For example:

j5Create JUCX01 C-C USB 3.1 Gen2 10 gbps 5a (100w)
3 Apple / Belkin F2CD082ds0.5MBK C-C vThunderbolt 3 (Gen2+) 40gbps (10gbps) 3a (60w)

Which do I want for charging? I would imagine the higher rating? Therefore the j5Create in this example? Why don't the battery packs just come with a decent cable...

 

[bartvk]

Thanks for that! So what am I looking for when it comes to charging my MacBook? Do I want a faster speed or a higher rating?

If you don't own Thunderbolt equipment, I'd say get the j5Create one. Note that it's actually pretty hard to get, and the Belkin one is also excellent.

 

[cdecker15]

Guess I will wait until a full and complete solution comes out.

 

[konnyaku]

He somewhat maintains a spreadsheet with stuff he recommends:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vnpEXfo2HCGADdd9G2x9dMDWqENiY2kgBJUu29f_TX8/edit#gid=0

Do note the version/serial of each cable. For instance the j5Create JUCX01 is _wildly_ different from the JUCX03. Most manufacturers make a mess out of this, even the big ones.

Wow, this is a thorough google doc! This guy knows his stuff.

I own the j5create JUCX01, Apple 2m charging cable, and Belkin Thunderbolt 3 cable. They're all great - though the j5create is the one that does it all: fast data transfer, 5A (100W).

 

[bartvk]

Wow, this is a thorough google doc! This guy knows his stuff.
I own the j5create JUCX01

Yeah, it's quite frankly amazing. If you read his Google Plus posts, he takes it quite seriously. He painstakingly goes through the specs, sniffs the binary USB Power Deliver protocol and then tests cables in all kinds of ways. Then he notifies the manufacturer. He has singlehandedly caused several product recalls from Anker and the likes. He even found out that Apple has silently been replacing its USB-C cable as well (box changed from square to rectangular).