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iPad Pro IPP & 29 watt charger question

McSheltie

McSheltie

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Mar 8, 2016
4
1
Ohio
Long time lurker, short time member, first time poster so be kind if this is a stupid or redundant question.
I purchased the 29 w charger and cable at the Apple Store 2 days ago to take advantage of the fast charge. The Apple tech at the time told me it would make no difference. Based on what I had read here and elsewhere, I politely disagreed.

When I returned the charger today because I found it cheaper(open box) at Best Buy, I was told not to fast charge often as it would fry my battery. Now the folks here seem to understand battery wattage ,trickle charge, etc. far better than I do. My question: was she blowing me smoke or is there some truth?
 
McSheltie said:
Long time lurker, short time member, first time poster so be kind if this is a stupid or redundant question.
I purchased the 29 w charger and cable at the Apple Store 2 days ago to take advantage of the fast charge. The Apple tech at the time told me it would make no difference. Based on what I had read here and elsewhere, I politely disagreed.

When I returned the charger today because I found it cheaper(open box) at Best Buy, I was told not to fast charge often as it would fry my battery. Now the folks here seem to understand battery wattage ,trickle charge, etc. far better than I do. My question: was she blowing me smoke or is there some truth?
Click to expand...

Only works in the larger iPad Pro and not the smaller. The 9.7 does not support fast charging.

I also doubt it will fry your battery as Apple pretty well controls the charging going into the battery.
 
I should have been clearer, I have the big one and the charger works wonderfully.
 
McSheltie said:
When I returned the charger today because I found it cheaper(open box) at Best Buy, I was told not to fast charge often as it would fry my battery. Now the folks here seem to understand battery wattage ,trickle charge, etc. far better than I do. My question: was she blowing me smoke or is there some truth?
Click to expand...

Based on my own testing, the power is regulated as the battery approaches 100%. In an experiment, I unplugged and replugged in the cable when it was more than 90%, and I noticed (via the excellent but sadly now defunct Battery Health app) that the charging speed dropped from 14.5V/2A to 5V/2.4A, i.e. 29W to 12W, so it's quite safe.
 
I ordered the 29W charger, too. What adapter cable will I need to use it? I ordered the USB 3 Camera connector because it appears to have a lightning port. Hopefully that will work.

Thanks.

--jag
 
Apple itself lists fast charging the 12.9 IPP as one of the uses for the 29 W power adapter + USB-C to Lightning cable, so it should be perfectly safe.
 
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McSheltie said:
When I returned the charger today because I found it cheaper(open box) at Best Buy, I was told not to fast charge often as it would fry my battery. Now the folks here seem to understand battery wattage ,trickle charge, etc. far better than I do. My question: was she blowing me smoke or is there some truth?
Click to expand...
People who work at stores largely have no idea what they're talking about. Employees at Apple Stores are STILL telling people to quit background apps to make their iOS devices "faster".
 
It's designed to fast charge with the 29W adapter, nothing whatsoever to worry about. That's why Apple sell them.

You could even plug the 9.7" one into the 29W adapter and it won't do any damage. It won't charge any faster as it doesn't have a USB 3 compatible Lightning port like the 12.9" does, but it would be safe to do it nonetheless.

All Apple devices, cables and chargers communicate with each other to ensure they never take more than their maximum specified power requirements.

Cheapo eBay specials on the other hand, well there's no guarantee of safety with those. But stick to Apple and reputable 3rd party manufacturers and you can just plug and forget about it.
 
TrueBlou said:
You could even plug the 9.7" one into the 29W adapter and it won't do any damage.
Click to expand...
To further illustrate your point, using a 29W adapter to charge something as tiny as a Siri Remote is kosher in Apple's book... talk about overkill! :D

From Skitch.png
 
Brookzy said:
To further illustrate your point, using a 29W adapter to charge something as tiny as a Siri Remote is kosher in Apple's book... talk about overkill! :D

View attachment 627128
Click to expand...


Oh yeah, forgot about that. Nutters :D

I'm just waiting on my cable arriving, my poor 29W charger is just sitting looking sad and lonely. I'll have to buy something that charges from USB-C to keep it company while it waits :p

....... Or maybe I've just had too much morphine today and I'm over thinking it :confused:
 
I bought the charger and cable. Not cheap. Will report later to see if purchase was worth it or not
 
35 quid for a cable! In the past I've stuck up for Apple when others have complained about their uk pricing but this takes the biscuit. I think it is the first time in modern times that Apple have gone with 1$=1£
 
rasputin1969 said:
35 quid for a cable! In the past I've stuck up for Apple when others have complained about their uk pricing but this takes the biscuit. I think it is the first time in modern times that Apple have gone with 1$=1£
Click to expand...

I'm not defending Apple here, but don't forget how strong the $ is against the £ at the moment.
 
rasputin1969 said:
35 quid for a cable! In the past I've stuck up for Apple when others have complained about their uk pricing but this takes the biscuit. I think it is the first time in modern times that Apple have gone with 1$=1£
Click to expand...
I couldn't believe that either. Daylight robbery. The dollar is strong at the moment but that doesn't explain why only the accessories have been price inflated and not devices.
 
I will start with a welkin 2.1 amp auto charger since I will mostly be using my 12.9 in my truck. But in a couple of months, I will get the 29V charger to charge at home.
I plan on getting a Belkin braided usb-c to lightening cable when the time arrives.
 
masotime said:
Based on my own testing, the power is regulated as the battery approaches 100%. In an experiment, I unplugged and replugged in the cable when it was more than 90%, and I noticed (via the excellent but sadly now defunct Battery Health app) that the charging speed dropped from 14.5V/2A to 5V/2.4A, i.e. 29W to 12W, so it's quite safe.
Click to expand...

Is there any other app besides the now defunct Battery Health app that will show the charging speed? I have my iPad Pro 12.9", I've picked up the Apple 29 watt USB-C charger and the Apple USB-C to Lightening cable. I have noticed that it does charge faster.

Another good thing is that I now use the 12 watt charger for my iPhone 6s Plus so it charges faster too. Win/Win.
 
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Southern Dad said:
Is there any other app besides the now defunct Battery Health app that will show the charging speed? I have my iPad Pro 12.9", I've picked up the Apple 29 watt USB-C charger and the Apple USB-C to Lightening cable. I have noticed that it does charge faster.

Another good thing is that I now use the 12 watt charger for my iPhone 6s Plus so it charges faster too. Win/Win.
Click to expand...
There is an app called Battery Life that shows charging current in mA, and I'm no electrician but if you know the charging voltage (I think it's 14.5V on the 29W USB-C charger?) you could do P = IV to work out the charging wattage?
 
Brookzy said:
There is an app called Battery Life that shows charging current in mA, and I'm no electrician but if you know the charging voltage (I think it's 14.5V on the 29W USB-C charger?) you could do P = IV to work out the charging wattage?
Click to expand...

That app is Battery Life on the iOS store, in case someone else wants to check it out. My iPad Pro 12.9" is currently at a 100% but I've given it to a child to watch Netflix so it should be depleted enough to charge in a little while.
 
Brookzy said:
There is an app called Battery Life that shows charging current in mA, and I'm no electrician but if you know the charging voltage (I think it's 14.5V on the 29W USB-C charger?) you could do P = IV to work out the charging wattage?
Click to expand...

Unfortunately with 2 variables, you can't really be sure. You can assume 2A means 29W charging, but personally is rather see the voltage, as 2A can simply mean 10W charging
 
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