Split 96w Power Brick

[brn2ski00]

I've got an old MacBook Pro usb C power brick that I'd like to use to charge a phone, other peripherals, etc

How does splitting power work with these bricks? if split two ways, would each device pull what it needs for power up to 96w?

 

[Bigwaff]

've got an old MacBook Pro usb C power brick that I'd like to use to charge a phone, other peripherals, etc

How does splitting power work with these bricks? if split two ways, would each device pull what it needs for power up to 96w?

Devices will only "pull the charge" they support. If device charges at 5W, it will only use 5W. Curious... how do plan to simultaneously "split" the Apple MBP USB-C power adapter across multiple devices?

 

[brn2ski00]

Devices will only "pull the charge" they support. If device charges at 5W, it will only use 5W. Curious... how do plan to simultaneously "split" the Apple MBP USB-C power adapter across multiple devices?

That's kind of the question - could a male to (2 or more) female USB C cable work? If that even exists... that's the thought anyway.

Basesailor USB C Male to Dual USB Female Cable Splitter 1FT,Thunderbolt 3 to Double Type A 2.0 OTG Adapter Cord Converter Multiple Hub for iPhone 15 Max,MacBook Pro,iPad Air 4 5 Mini 6,Surface GO,S23

Basesailor USB C Male to Dual USB Female Cable Splitter 1FT,Thunderbolt 3 to Double Type A 2.0 OTG Adapter Cord Converter Multiple Hub for iPhone 15 Max,MacBook Pro,iPad Air 4 5 Mini 6,Surface GO,S23

www.amazon.com

Maybe something like this?

 

[Fishrrman]

I could be wrong, but I don't think the Apple charger will work with more than one device at a time.

If you use a "Y" adapter... what happens if the charger "confuses the connections"... and sends too much power to a connected device that can't handle it?

 

[jaytv111]

That's kind of the question - could a male to (2 or more) female USB C cable work? If that even exists... that's the thought anyway.

Basesailor USB C Male to Dual USB Female Cable Splitter 1FT,Thunderbolt 3 to Double Type A 2.0 OTG Adapter Cord Converter Multiple Hub for iPhone 15 Max,MacBook Pro,iPad Air 4 5 Mini 6,Surface GO,S23

Basesailor USB C Male to Dual USB Female Cable Splitter 1FT,Thunderbolt 3 to Double Type A 2.0 OTG Adapter Cord Converter Multiple Hub for iPhone 15 Max,MacBook Pro,iPad Air 4 5 Mini 6,Surface GO,S23

www.amazon.com

Maybe something like this?

You can use that for low power devices. It won't use anywhere near the 96 watts of the adapter, will be limited to 2 amps total, 1 amp each device, so your devices will charge at 5 watts with that splitter, and that's good for mice and keyboards and Apple Watch and Airpods, and slow charging an iPhone. Anything more powerful or requiring type-C won't work with that.

 

[iStorm]

If you use a "Y" adapter... what happens if the charger "confuses the connections"... and sends too much power to a connected device that can't handle it?

Exactly. Modern USB-C devices and chargers have chips in them so they can negotiate which power profile to use. You can't have a single charging port/split cable supplying two different power profiles.

For example, the 96W charger is capable of the following voltages and amps:
Output Voltage: 5V, 9V, 12V, 15V, 18V, 20V
Output Amps: 2.4A, 3A, 4.8A

Say you plug in a computer, it'll likely do 20V & 4.8A (96W); but if you plug in a phone, it may do something like 9V & 3A (18W). Now what if you had a computer plugged in and it's sending 20V down the split cable...and then you plug in a phone. You could potentially fry the phone if it can't handle the 20V already on the wire before it had a chance to negotiate with the charger (assuming the cable itself isn't already limiting the power as the previous poster mentioned).

This is essentially how some third party docks bricked the Nintendo Switch. The Switch can only handle a max of 6V, but some third party docks passed more than 6V through if you didn't use the original charger.

If you're wanting to have a brick charge multiple devices, you'd be better off getting one designed for that purpose so each port can mange its own power profile.

 

[JPack]

You don't split. Those cables completely violate USB spec. There's a reason why no name brand sells them.