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Apple didn't revolutionize power supplies; new transistors did (2012)

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Re: Apple didn't revolutionize power supplies; new transistors did (2012)

#151
post #44

And now power supplies are getting another step smaller and more efficient by switching from silicon transistors to GaN. ( https://www.cui.com/blog/how-gallium-nitride-gan-enables-sma... )

It surprises me that GaN marketed power supplies cost extra. The actual GaN transistors are under 10 cents now, and by using one you can use a smaller inductor, smaller capacitor and smaller heatsinks. Those smaller components lead to a smaller plastic case and smaller circuit board. All of those smaller things cost less, so the finished product has lower production costs.

The ones I've bought haven't been terribly expensive. About half the price of Apple chargers. I daresay you don't want to go too cheap with chargers as they can overheat/pack up/damage things.

Re: Apple didn't revolutionize power supplies; new transistors did (2012)

#152
post #139
post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've been using a GaN-based power supply for my MacBook Pro and it's just as good as advertised. Slightly bigger than a deck of cards, yet it runs cooler than the stock unit. Hopefully this tech finds its way into more devices as it gets cheaper. It would be neat to have GaN based inverters for electric cars.

They work great to charge my Android. One day MacBook chargers may even charge iPhones!

I use a MacBook charger with my iPhone every night...

Re: Apple didn't revolutionize power supplies; new transistors did (2012)

#153
Whenever Apple is discussed, there often seems to be a conflation of invention (coming up with something new) with innovation (applying an invention in a way that changes things.)

Apple didn't invent the personal computer, or the GUI, or Wi-Fi, or MP3 players, or smartphones, or app stores, or tablets, or smartwatches, or ARM processors – but they introduced innovative, and indeed transformative, products in those categories.

Re: Apple didn't revolutionize power supplies; new transistors did (2012)

#154

Whenever Apple is discussed, there often seems to be a conflation of invention (coming up with something new) with innovation (applying an invention in a way that changes things.) Apple didn't invent the personal computer, or the GUI, or Wi-Fi, or MP3 players, or smartphones, or app stores, or tablets, or smartwatches, or ARM processors – but they introduced innovative, and indeed transformative, products in those ca…

Came to say the same

Re: Apple didn't revolutionize power supplies; new transistors did (2012)

#155

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Any advice on buying these? A lot of the GaN bricks look impressive, but they're always made by a sketchy peripheral maker.

> A lot of the GaN bricks look impressive, but they're always made by a sketchy peripheral maker. 90% of them are in fact just exact copies of Navitas reference design, and are made by just a few factories which sell white label.

Infineon: https://www.infineon.com/cms/en/product/power/gan-hemt-galli...

Nexperia: https://efficiencywins.nexperia.com/efficient-products/mosfe...

TI: https://www.ti.com/lit/pdf/tiduds8a

Re: Apple didn't revolutionize power supplies; new transistors did (2012)

#156
post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've been using a GaN-based power supply for my MacBook Pro and it's just as good as advertised. Slightly bigger than a deck of cards, yet it runs cooler than the stock unit. Hopefully this tech finds its way into more devices as it gets cheaper. It would be neat to have GaN based inverters for electric cars.

May I ask which model you use?

Sure! I was trying to avoid mentioning it to avoid seeming like an advertisement. (I have the HyperJuice 100W USB-C adapter)

Re: Apple didn't revolutionize power supplies; new transistors did (2012)

#157

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even-though the Anker brick I have does not have an Underwriters Laboratory logo on it, it does have a TUV and a CE logo. TUV is the equivalent to UL but is a testing house mostly geared towards Europe. That being said, TUV like UL is listed as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) in the United States (for more information see: https://www.tuv.com/usa/en/ctuvus-certification.html ) and thus is just as sa…

A TUV mark would only be accepted in North America it was a cTUVus stamp on it. What I wonder is if TUV in Europe just tests at just 240V if it’s labelled 100v-240v, or across the labelled voltages (though lower voltage should mean fewer problems).

The Anker power charger I have on my desk has a cTUVus logo on it.

Re: Apple didn't revolutionize power supplies; new transistors did (2012)

#158
post #139

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They work great to charge my Android. One day MacBook chargers may even charge iPhones!

I use a MacBook charger with my iPhone every night...

Using the USB-C cable that came with your MacBook? Or a cable you paid extra for?

Re: Apple didn't revolutionize power supplies; new transistors did (2012)

#159
post #44

And now power supplies are getting another step smaller and more efficient by switching from silicon transistors to GaN. ( https://www.cui.com/blog/how-gallium-nitride-gan-enables-sma... )

Any advice on buying these? A lot of the GaN bricks look impressive, but they're always made by a sketchy peripheral maker.

I have a collection of RAVPower GaN chargers that are very solid so far. Been using them for about a year now.

In fact, the Apple power brick that came with my M1 MacBook Pro is still in its original packaging; I have not used it yet. The 65 Watt RAVPower one seems as if it's about half the size. More than half the mass, though.

(I have never needed to try warranty support for RAVPower things.)

Re: Apple didn't revolutionize power supplies; new transistors did (2012)

#160
post #158

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I use a MacBook charger with my iPhone every night...

Using the USB-C cable that came with your MacBook? Or a cable you paid extra for?

Using the USB-C to Lightning cable that came with their iPhone. They still ship with that.
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