Daft question, I know, but have just got a new iMac and need to replace my old USB 2 dock with a USB 3 one. The USB C docks look useful, with HDMI ports and audio ports in addition to USB ones but they seem designed for laptops and I wonder how much power they supply? Could the port rom iMac charge an iPad through the dock or power an optical drive? Some of them can take a MacBook power supply over USB C, which brings me back to original question? Would connecting a MacBook power supply damage an iMac?
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What happens when you plug in a MacBook charger into an iMac?
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Very confusingly worded question but...
By the specification, downstream USB-C ports supply up to 15W*. The iMac's Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports can supply up to 15W each. I routinely trickle charge my Retina MacBook overnight by connecting it to my iMac.
Spec-compliant docks and hubs will do the same, however there are many around that are not spec-compliant.
Regarding optical drives - in theory they should work, however the Apple USB SuperDrive is hit-and-miss - the seller of a dock/hub usually says whether it will work.
*By downstream, I mean ports that are connected to devices that are taking power (e.g. an iPad), rather than devices that are giving power (e.g. a USB-C charger, which can supply up to 100W).
By the specification, downstream USB-C ports supply up to 15W*. The iMac's Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports can supply up to 15W each. I routinely trickle charge my Retina MacBook overnight by connecting it to my iMac.
Spec-compliant docks and hubs will do the same, however there are many around that are not spec-compliant.
Regarding optical drives - in theory they should work, however the Apple USB SuperDrive is hit-and-miss - the seller of a dock/hub usually says whether it will work.
*By downstream, I mean ports that are connected to devices that are taking power (e.g. an iPad), rather than devices that are giving power (e.g. a USB-C charger, which can supply up to 100W).
Sorry for confusion. A better question to ask would be, if I bought a dock like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/Anker-Prem...TF8&qid=1518641580&sr=8-7&keywords=USB+c+dock for my iMac. Then found out that there wasn’t enough power to run my devices, wold adding a MacBook charger damage he iMac?
If you read this link you will see Apple recommend magsafe chargers only be used on MB and MBP's so I would not use one as it may well void your warranty if there are problems. Maybe look for a mains powered USBC-1 Dock.
http://appleinsider.com/articles/16...usb-c-thunderbolt-3-on-apples-new-macbook-pro
http://appleinsider.com/articles/16...usb-c-thunderbolt-3-on-apples-new-macbook-pro