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EugW

macrumors G5
Original poster
Jun 18, 2017
13,090
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iPhone 12 Pro Max, power measured by Kill-A-Watt:

7-8 Watts - MagSafe with Apple MacBook 29 Watt USB-C charger - (Occasionally reads 6 and 9 Watts.)
15 Watts - MagSafe with Apple 20 Watt USB-C charger (Fluctuates a fair bit)
0 Watts - MagSafe with Apple iPad 12 Watt USB-A charger through USB-C to USB-A adapter (Not recognized.)
0 Watts - MagSafe with Apple iPhone 5 Watt USB-A charger through USB-C to USB-A adapter (Not recognized.)
0 Watts - MagSafe with Monoprice USB-A car charger through USB-C to USB-A adapter (Not recognized.)

21 Watts - USB-C Lightning cable with Apple MacBook 29 Watt USB-C charger
20 Watts - USB-C Lightning cable with Apple 20 Watt USB-C charger
8 Watts - USB-C Lightning cable with Apple iPad 12 Watt USB-A charger through USB-C to USB-A adapter
11 Watts - USB-A Lightning cable with Apple iPad 12 Watt USB-A charger
6-7 Watts - USB-C Lightning cable with Apple iPhone 5 Watt USB-A charger through USB-C to USB-A adapter
5 Watts - USB-A Lightning cable with Apple iPhone 5 Watt USB-A charger

BTW, the MagSafe charger will charge fine at the same wattage through my a non-MagSafe case I got off Amazon. However, the magnetic attraction is not very strong. With the case on, the magnets can hold the weight of the Magsafe charger, but it can't hold the weight of the phone. OTOH, with the case off, the magnets can hold the weight of the phone.

Does this matter? Yes, because if I want to use that case from Amazon, I can't use it easily with MagSafe in my car. Fortunately, the back of the MagSafe adapter is strongly held by the magnetic mount in my car. However, if I put the phone on the MagSafe adapter, the phone will fall off if lightly bumped. In contrast, if I remove the case, everything stays in place nicely even if bumped.

BTW, the MagSafe cable is relatively short. It looks like I'll be getting an extension cord for my desk. And I'll pick up a USB-C PD car charger as well for a second MagSafe charger in the car. Damn this is getting expensive. :confused:
 
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EugW

macrumors G5
Original poster
Jun 18, 2017
13,090
10,362
BTW, the MagSafe charger will charge fine at the same wattage through my a non-MagSafe case I got off Amazon. However, the magnetic attraction is not very strong. With the case on, the magnets can hold the weight of the Magsafe charger, but it can't hold the weight of the phone. OTOH, with the case off, the magnets can hold the weight of the phone.

Does this matter? Yes, because if I want to use that case from Amazon, I can't use it easily with MagSafe in my car. Fortunately, the back of the MagSafe adapter is strongly held by the magnetic mount in my car. However, if I put the phone on the MagSafe adapter, the phone will fall off if lightly bumped. In contrast, if I remove the case, everything stays in place nicely even if bumped.

BTW, the MagSafe cable is relatively short. It looks like I'll be getting an extension cord for my desk. And I'll pick up a USB-C PD car charger as well for a second MagSafe charger in the car. Damn this is getting expensive. :confused:
As expected my MagSafe charger will not charge through a USB-C to USB-A adapter with my MFi Monoprice USB-A car charger.

So, I picked up a ugreen USB-C PD + USB-A car charger and the MagSafe charger works fine through that... sort of.

61zw5QEqivL._AC_SL1500_.jpg


If I plug in the MagSafe to the ugreen car charger and leave the charging phone on the seat, it charges fine. (Note, I picked an Apple leather Magsafe case so now the magnetic attraction is strong.) However, I can magnetically attach the MagSafe charger to my pre-existing magnetic phone mount, and the connection is strong.

IMG_1107.jpeg


IMG_1108.jpeg


However, if I do this, the MagSafe charger no longer works. It says it's charging but it periodically loses the connection temporarily, or else loses it completely. And it doesn't charge, or at least not to any significant amount, so that if I'm using it while it's attached that way, the charge will actually deplete. I took the MagSafe back off the magnetic mount, and again it charges my iPhone just fine.

Hoping it was just due to some weird third party incompatibility, I went out and bought the Mophie USB-C/USB-A car charger from the Apple Store.

HN822


It appears to keep the connection longer, but still periodically loses the connection for a split second. However, it never completely loses the connection. Does this mean it works better than the ugreen? Unfortunately no. It also does not charge that way. Again, the only way it works is if I remove the MagSafe charger from the magnetic car mount.

Now I have to figure out another way to use a MagSafe charger in the car. The Belkin car charger doesn't seem like it would work for my car. I have seen this one, but it looks really low end:


618n819sGdL._AC_SL1500_.jpg


I might give it a shot though.
 
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M5RahuL

macrumors 68040
Aug 1, 2009
3,325
1,914
TeXaS
Sub’d! Looking for a magnetic mount ( wireless charger or not at this point ) that will support the weight of the PM with a case ( Apple leather case ) because as of now, I literally have no solution ( my iOttie easy mount 4 with wireless charging will not work with the case on plus doesn’t support the weight and the entire unit falls off of the dashboard!! ) and really need one!!
 

EugW

macrumors G5
Original poster
Jun 18, 2017
13,090
10,362
I ordered that MagSafe car holder on AliExpress from a seller who ships from the US to Canada. It may take a while to get here though.
 

nephron8

macrumors regular
Apr 24, 2012
193
5
whats max charging speed through higher chargers like 100 watt usb c pd charging?
 

lordhamster

macrumors 68000
Jan 23, 2008
1,582
1,513
whats max charging speed through higher chargers like 100 watt usb c pd charging?
Of the ones he tests, I own the 120w baseus one and can confirm in my own tests it achieves peak charging. I have a similar USB-C tester to what the guy has.
 

EugW

macrumors G5
Original poster
Jun 18, 2017
13,090
10,362
For a car charger (or any charger for that matter), you'll want a USB-C PD 3.0 charger with >20w, ideally one that supports the PPS protocol. I use this: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B08G1MS6JW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Can confirm it gives the full 15w as confirmed by my USB-C tester thingie.
The Ugreen power adapter I mentioned above is a 18 Watt dual USB-A/USB-C charger with USB-C PD 3.0. I didn't measure max output, but it seems fast with the MagSafe charger.

However, this guy measured it at 12.x Watts, but then says it's 18 Watts somewhere else in the review:


I also bought the Apple mophie dual USB-C/USB-A adapter, but it doesn't seem to offer much real-world advantage, at least with one phone charged at a time. I didn't try charging two phones at a time.
 
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TotalMacMove

macrumors 6502a
Jun 18, 2013
852
1,366
Texas
I use this AUKEY Car Charger and it works really well with magsafe. It says it supports up to 30watts if only the usb-c port is being utilized but have not tested it. I will say it charges MUCH faster than my old USB-A car charger.

670a8fe822024519ce2dcfca304fa3be.jpg
 
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nmeed

macrumors 6502a
Dec 1, 2014
515
185
As expected my MagSafe charger will not charge through a USB-C to USB-A adapter with my MFi Monoprice USB-A car charger.

So, I picked up a ugreen USB-C PD + USB-A car charger and the MagSafe charger works fine through that... sort of.

61zw5QEqivL._AC_SL1500_.jpg


If I plug in the MagSafe to the ugreen car charger and leave the charging phone on the seat, it charges fine. (Note, I picked an Apple leather Magsafe case so now the magnetic attraction is strong.) However, I can magnetically attach the MagSafe charger to my pre-existing magnetic phone mount, and the connection is strong.

View attachment 1681992

View attachment 1681991

However, if I do this, the MagSafe charger no longer works. It says it's charging but it periodically loses the connection temporarily, or else loses it completely. And it doesn't charge, or at least not to any significant amount, so that if I'm using it while it's attached that way, the charge will actually deplete. I took the MagSafe back off the magnetic mount, and again it charges my iPhone just fine.

Hoping it was just due to some weird third party incompatibility, I went out and bought the Mophie USB-C/USB-A car charger from the Apple Store.

HN822


It appears to keep the connection longer, but still periodically loses the connection for a split second. However, it never completely loses the connection. Does this mean it works better than the ugreen? Unfortunately no. It also does not charge that way. Again, the only way it works is if I remove the MagSafe charger from the magnetic car mount.

Now I have to figure out another way to use a MagSafe charger in the car. The Belkin car charger doesn't seem like it would work for my car. I have seen this one, but it looks really low end:


618n819sGdL._AC_SL1500_.jpg


I might give it a shot though.
Off topic, but could you please tell me if that Mophie charger has the UL certified stamp on it? Or if you could take a picture of the the side of the charger with the seals and voltage information it.
 

EugW

macrumors G5
Original poster
Jun 18, 2017
13,090
10,362
Off topic, but could you please tell me if that Mophie charger has the UL certified stamp on it? Or if you could take a picture of the the side of the charger with the seals and voltage information it.
Mophie:

13E49575-E01C-4BE5-9665-21E6DFC30BE2.jpeg EAA5FB43-709C-4B84-81FF-9E6D6D6F185D.jpeg

Ugreen:

976CD61B-D298-489B-A41E-D3EBCDAA2AD7.jpeg 61A3FF82-5CA1-40D6-8D8A-849450D177E5.jpeg
 
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EugW

macrumors G5
Original poster
Jun 18, 2017
13,090
10,362
Mophie support told me it’s UL certified and based on that I purchased it. Oh well. Thank you.
CE + FCC not good enough?

But no, it doesn't have either UL or CSA logos anywhere as far as I can tell.

EDIT:

So I just looked this up. You generally don't need UL certification if it doesn't plug into an AC outlet.
 
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EugW

macrumors G5
Original poster
Jun 18, 2017
13,090
10,362
I use this AUKEY Car Charger and it works really well with magsafe. It says it supports up to 30watts if only the usb-c port is being utilized but have not tested it. I will say it charges MUCH faster than my old USB-A car charger.

670a8fe822024519ce2dcfca304fa3be.jpg
Glad it works for you, although it blocks your screen. I am personally not a big fan of vent mounts and I also have the main vents above my screen so I didn't want to go with something like that for those reasons.

BTW, it turns out the Belkin MagSafe vent mount doesn't actually have a charge function anyway. Lame.

 

nmeed

macrumors 6502a
Dec 1, 2014
515
185
CE + FCC not good enough?

But no, it doesn't have either UL or CSA logos anywhere as far as I can tell.

EDIT:

So I just looked this up. You generally don't need UL certification if it doesn't plug into an AC outlet.
I’m super OCD about UL certification so unless it’s TUV certified, I really won’t feel great using it. Then again Apple sells it, so it can’t be too sketchy. As far as your edit, I had a feeling that might be the case just based on how difficult it is finding a UL certified charger. Though I must say Anker does sell a few.
 

TotalMacMove

macrumors 6502a
Jun 18, 2013
852
1,366
Texas
Glad it works for you, although it blocks your screen. I am personally not a big fan of vent mounts and I also have the main vents above my screen so I didn't want to go with something like that for those reasons.

BTW, it turns out the Belkin MagSafe vent mount doesn't actually have a charge function anyway. Lame.


Well this is a iOttie magnetic CD mount that I attached my magsafe to. If I use my phone in landscape mode, it does not block my screen (which is pretty useless anyway besides the backup camera)
 

EugW

macrumors G5
Original poster
Jun 18, 2017
13,090
10,362
So, I picked up a ugreen USB-C PD + USB-A car charger and the MagSafe charger works fine through that... sort of.


If I plug in the MagSafe to the ugreen car charger and leave the charging phone on the seat, it charges fine. (Note, I picked an Apple leather Magsafe case so now the magnetic attraction is strong.) However, I can magnetically attach the MagSafe charger to my pre-existing magnetic phone mount, and the connection is strong.


However, if I do this, the MagSafe charger no longer works. It says it's charging but it periodically loses the connection temporarily, or else loses it completely. And it doesn't charge, or at least not to any significant amount, so that if I'm using it while it's attached that way, the charge will actually deplete. I took the MagSafe back off the magnetic mount, and again it charges my iPhone just fine.

Hoping it was just due to some weird third party incompatibility, I went out and bought the Mophie USB-C/USB-A car charger from the Apple Store.


It appears to keep the connection longer, but still periodically loses the connection for a split second. However, it never completely loses the connection. Does this mean it works better than the ugreen? Unfortunately no. It also does not charge that way. Again, the only way it works is if I remove the MagSafe charger from the magnetic car mount.

Now I have to figure out another way to use a MagSafe charger in the car. The Belkin car charger doesn't seem like it would work for my car. I have seen this one, but it looks really low end:


618n819sGdL._AC_SL1500_.jpg


I might give it a shot though.

I got the above mount from AliExpress recently.

To my surprise, this mount works really well. Yes it's cheap and doesn't have great looks, but nonetheless it works. The mount base is firmly attached to the surface on my dash even though the dash is somewhat rounded. The round soft holder in which the charger is placed is soft enough to come right off the mount easily but in real world usage it is strong enough to hold the weight of the Pro Max firmly without even a hint of it wanting to come off. Note that mine is one at an angle and not vertical, but I think it would work fine vertically also. The only issue is that the charger is held in place in that soft round holder not by the edges of the mount, but by an adhesive sticker inside, so you need to have the charger dedicated for this purpose.

IMG_1275.jpeg


IMG_0381.jpeg


Also, if you want to change the orientation, instead of turning the mount head, all you have to do is lift off the phone and re-orient it.

IMG_0383.jpeg


You can also just turn the whole assembly, but this is not ideal because it moves the charger cable too. If you look at the picture below, I had turned the phone from portrait to landscape but that pushed the charger cable to the right. That wouldn't work if the cable was tight though. I have since run the cable along the seam of the dash panel so it can't move like this, so to move the screen like that I have to lift it off and put it back, which is fine.

IMG_0382.jpeg


BTW, it turns out the Belkin one I mentioned before isn't actually a charger. It's just a MagSafe mount, so that wouldn't have been useful for me anyway.
 
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EugW

macrumors G5
Original poster
Jun 18, 2017
13,090
10,362
This is that mount on Amazon.com:


However, as mentioned, I bought it on AliExpress.

Side view:

IMG_1344 2.jpeg


Charger holder removed from mount base:

IMG_1345 2.jpeg


The actual charger is on the other side. I'm showing you the bottom. This whole piece is flexible, and the rim on this side is what holds it to the mount base. As I mentioned, it's quite soft but it still holds quite well.

Here is the Amazon pic showing the different pieces:

61eNQwtXOjL._AC_SL1200_.jpg
 

EugW

macrumors G5
Original poster
Jun 18, 2017
13,090
10,362
MaxTech reviewed the same MagSafe car mount charger:


The review of this starts at 7:52.
 
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