Using MacBook USB C charger on other devices

[tmanto02]

Ok, so first off apologies I know this kind of isnt the right place but macrumors is the only forum I follow and I trust you tech savy peeps!

Just started a new job and they’ve given me the latest Dell 2-in-1 windows tablet PC. Now the battery is dead and I’ve left my charger at work and really need to log in urgently. It uses a 45w USB C charger... so was wondering is there any harm in using my MacBook Pro’s 61w USB C charger instead?

 

[M-1]

There should be no harm, you can use your MacBook Pro charger on the Dell.

The Dell will only draw 45W of power which the 61W power adapter can more than sufficiently provide. The only problem is if you were to use it the other way around. Say for example you used the Dell 45W power adapter on the MacBook Pro which requires 61W, it would not charge the MacBook Pro fully or optimally during use and stress the 45W power adapter to it's full potential, therefor generating more heat and lowering the life expectancy of the power adapter. However there should be no harm to either laptop. It is just not recommended to use a lower watt power adapter with a device which requires more wattage but it's perfectly fine to use a higher watt rated power adapter with devices which require less power. Another example, a 15" MacBook Pro charger can be safely used on 13" and 12" MacBooks since they require less power to fully charge. On the flip side it would also be like using a 5W iPhone charger to charge an iPad that usually requires 12W, since the iPad requires more power, it would just take a lot longer to charge. Using an iPad charger for an iPhone would charge it just fine and in some cases even faster. I hope that makes sense.

 

[tmanto02]

There should be no harm, you can use your MacBook Pro charger on the Dell.

The Dell will only draw 45W of power which the 61W power adapter can more than sufficiently provide. The only problem is if you were to use it the other way around. Say for example you used the Dell 45W power adapter on the MacBook Pro which requires 61W, it would not charge the MacBook Pro fully or optimally during use and stress the 45W power adapter to it's full potential, therefor generating more heat and lowering the life expectancy of the power adapter. However there should be no harm to either laptop. It is just not recommended to use a lower watt power adapter with a device which requires more wattage but it's perfectly fine to use a higher watt rated power adapter with devices which require less power. Another example, a 15" MacBook Pro charger can be safely used on a 13" and 12" MacBooks since they require less power to fully charge.

Thanks so much for the quick reply mate! Corporate laptops cost a fortune and didn’t want to fry a brand new machine in my first week on the job!

Once I’ve established myself I’ll be speaking to IT to see what their BYOD policy is and if I can use my Mac. All applications are accessed remotely anyway so logistically it is possible, just depends on their security policies.

Thanks again

 

[jerryk]

Ok, so first off apologies I know this kind of isnt the right place but macrumors is the only forum I follow and I trust you tech savy peeps!

Just started a new job and they’ve given me the latest Dell 2-in-1 windows tablet PC. Now the battery is dead and I’ve left my charger at work and really need to log in urgently. It uses a 45w USB C charger... so was wondering is there any harm in using my MacBook Pro’s 61w USB C charger instead?

I have used mine to charge my phone. Worked fine. Part of the USB-C spec is Power Delivery, which requires the device and charger to communicate and agree on the voltage and current.

 

[VMMan]

This is an example of one of USB-C’s advantages.

 

[tmanto02]

This is an example of one of USB-C’s advantages.

Who would have ever thought the day would come where I could use a mac product to charge a PC!

Bring on USB C for the next iPhone and lets be done with this incompatible world we've been living in.