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The next generation of wall chargers

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Re: The next generation of wall chargers

#51

Post by cjcampbell »

nwienert wrote: post #11

And then there’s this thing which is smaller than either and 60W https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GBYVF4Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Fu...

I recommend the RavPower 61W GaN over Innergie. The Innergie is smaller, but it is 3x the cost and, in my experience, less reliable and less ergonomic.

I purchased the Innergie after a previous travel charger failed. Loved it at first, but started experiencing issues pretty quickly. The first issue I encountered was that the plug would fold in frequently while I was trying to plug into outlet. Over the course of a couple months, I started seeing more issues with the reliability of the charger as well. It never completely failed, but I would often have to play around with reversing the cable and the direction of the outlet side usb-c in order to get charging to start. This was a bit concerning to me given that complaint USB-C cables are completely bi-directional.

Re: The next generation of wall chargers

#52

Post by dzhiurgis »

> It’s not perfect yet: Anker’s 30W Atom PD 1 struggles to power something as large as a 13-inch MacBook Pro

Umm wot, maybe older MacBooks, maybe when gaming or rendering. For writing code and browsing on a 15incher I'm averaging 20watts. Cheap 12v cigarette lighter one that does 24w is enough (but barely) to keep things running for me. If I turn off most of apps I get as low 6watts on a hexacore device. I use iStat menus to monitor my power use which is quite exciting.

Re: The next generation of wall chargers

#53

Post by agurk »

When I got a new laptop this summer I researched what chargers were out there, as I was fed up with carrying the normal assortment of cables and chargers. I settled for another GaN charger - the Innergie Powergear 60c[0] which is a very decent size for 60w and not having a mains lead built into it (still very common on non-mac chargers) makes it a lot more compact.

I travel a lot, often with more than one laptop, so now I'm very happy I can charge all my electronics with this one charger and also with the changeable country tips it's more compact than a travel adaptor.

The only downside I've had with it is the US power tip got bent the first time I used it - I contacted Innergie to see if I could get a replacement, but they never got back to me.

[0] http://www.myinnergie.com/sg/product/136

Re: The next generation of wall chargers

#54

Post by technofiend »

floatboth wrote: post #39
toomuchtodo wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you have an example you'd hold up as the ideal or best case outlet?

Schuko/Europlug is a very good system.

>Schuko/Europlug is a very good system.

Perhaps it isn't common, but my experience with the sockets in Belgium was scary to me because there were two outlets embedded in a recess quite close to each other. Close enough I was afraid I'd shock myself trying to get a good grip on my plug and pull it out.

Re: The next generation of wall chargers

#55

Post by javagram »

dzhiurgis wrote: post #52

> It’s not perfect yet: Anker’s 30W Atom PD 1 struggles to power something as large as a 13-inch MacBook Pro Umm wot, maybe older MacBooks, maybe when gaming or rendering. For writing code and browsing on a 15incher I'm averaging 20watts. Cheap 12v cigarette lighter one that does 24w is enough (but barely) to keep things running for me. If I turn off most of apps I get as low 6watts on a hexacore device. I use iStat…

Apple’s recommended charger for a 13inch MBP is a 61W adapter, for the 15 inch is an 87W and for the 16 inch is a 96W.

Although you can use an under-specced adapter it probably won’t be enough to power and charge the system while fully using the CPU, GPU, and screen.

Re: The next generation of wall chargers

#56

Post by technofiend »

Nextgrid wrote: post #24
ST2084 wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

UK

UK is probably the safest but it’s also bulky and presents an unlikely kind of danger: it tends to lay with the pins upward when on the floor which is deadly when stepping on them in the dark. European plugs IMO have the right balance between safety and size, with the bonus that they don’t stab your feet if you step on them.

>UK is probably the safest but it’s also bulky

True but I have to say the combination of UK plug adapter mated with a US power strip is extremely convenient. Particularly since modern UK outlets all have individual switches which comes in handy when you don't want a snap and a spark plugging something into the power strip. :-)

Re: The next generation of wall chargers

#57

Post by dzhiurgis »

Nextgrid wrote: post #24
ST2084 wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

UK

UK is probably the safest but it’s also bulky and presents an unlikely kind of danger: it tends to lay with the pins upward when on the floor which is deadly when stepping on them in the dark. European plugs IMO have the right balance between safety and size, with the bonus that they don’t stab your feet if you step on them.

I probably prefer Aussie ones. Lightweight and doesn't take too much force to plug in and out.

Re: The next generation of wall chargers

#58

Post by noir_lord »

dpeck wrote: post #21
toomuchtodo wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you have an example you'd hold up as the ideal or best case outlet?

The UK plug design is generally regarded as the best of the standard ones https://www.fastcompany.com/3032807/why-england-has-the-best... From my experience with some amount of traveling, I would agree that its very nice to use in practice and definitely got a lot of things right.

Til you step on one face up at 3am when heading to the loo.

Anyone who thinks the English are a reserved polite people has never seen one step on the surprise plug.

Re: The next generation of wall chargers

#59

Post by dmurray »

epanchin wrote: post #42
_Microft wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Did I understand correctly that outlets contain a switch and are off by default and that the grounding pin switches them on when inserting the plug? That's great.

Not an electrical switch. The outlets contain a physical gate over live and neutral that is pushed open by the longer earth pin.

Which means you can use a European plug in a UK socket, if you first put something in the earth slot (a key works well).

European travellers are generally impressed when I show them this trick, and sometimes rightly concerned that I'm sticking metal objects into a power outlet. If there's any chance the outlet is wired incorrectly, don't do this unless you can isolate the outlet or the key.

Re: The next generation of wall chargers

#60

Post by huslage »

ksec wrote: post #36

I asked a year ago When could we expect GaN to be more widely available and it seems the answer is still true as of today. GaN mosfet costs 10x more [1] than a silicon one of similar power rating. And the multiples gets wider at 15x for 1K units. I doubt we will see Apple include a GaN charger as default for quite some time. [1]: IPAW60R380CEXKSA1 (silicon) costs $1.26, IGT60R190D1SATMA1 (GaN) costs $13.

I just got a new 16" MacBook Pro and the power brick is 96W, but the same size as the 60W from a few years ago. I'd say this is likely a GaN unit, but I don't have any proof of that.
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