Feb 10, 2019, 10:52 am
Last edit by: cheltzel
If you want to use USB C for more than charging, then these two posts are useful: 1 2.
When planning your charger loadout, do note the charger your laptop shipped with is not a requirement, a lower one will be fine. For example, https://9to5mac.com/2018/09/25/60w-u...-all-macbooks/ says
On the other hand, most laptops are not built to use higher wattage even if available. It won't hurt your laptop, though.
Buy chargers on Amazon at your own risk, they are known to commingle stock from every third party sellers. But, the chargers here do not have fakes (yet?) so even Amazon might be safe.
The smallest USB C chargers:
Cabling wise, AmazomBasics and Monoprice is your friend. Do not use female USB C to USB A / micro USB adapters, these are explicitly forbidden by the USB C standard. Male USB C to USB A / micro USB is fine.
When planning your charger loadout, do note the charger your laptop shipped with is not a requirement, a lower one will be fine. For example, https://9to5mac.com/2018/09/25/60w-u...-all-macbooks/ says
the 87W charger filled up my 15-inch MacBook Pro battery more quickly than the 60W charger, but not by very much. After an hour and a half, the 87W charger added 76% battery while the 60W charger added 72%.
Buy chargers on Amazon at your own risk, they are known to commingle stock from every third party sellers. But, the chargers here do not have fakes (yet?) so even Amazon might be safe.
The smallest USB C chargers:
- Mu One. 45W. Comes with UK, US, EU folding plugs. 96 x 55 x 14mm, 82g with the UK plug attached. 3.78 x 2.17 x 0.55 inch, 2.89oz. Manufacturer shop, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07N1PK1RP https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07N1PK1RP
- RAVPower GaN 45W : 72 x 54 x 14.9mm / 2.83 x 2.12 x 0.59inch, 75g / 2.65oz. This is a similar charger to Mu One only without the nifty plug heads. It is marginally cheaper, but without the unique multi-region folding plugs it isn't as good of an option for international travelers. Manufacturer shop, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H9WMW6N
- Innergie 60C (nee 55CC): 65W 60 x 30 x 30mm / 2.3 x 1.2 x 1.2 inch, 85g. While much thicker than the previous two, when the socket is hidden in a recess this has a much better chance to fit. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GBYVF4Q Also, a cable is available to charge legacy laptops https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GBYL5KZ only compatible with the Innergie 60C. This makes the Finsix Dart fully obsolete, it started as a legacy laptop charger and a USB C cable was planned and reviewed two years ago but never shipped.
- Satechi 75W: USB C 60W, USB C 18W, two USB A share 12W. 4" x 2.63" x 1", 11.14 oz. Manufacturer shop https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078864F15
- LVSUN LS-PD87-2C sold as Hyperjuice 87W charger: two USB C and one USB A all three share 87W. 4.33" x 3.86" x 0.79", 8.32oz Aliexpress Hyper https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KLWDY9C
- Hyperjuice battery: 27000 mAh USB C 100W, USB C 60W, USB A 18W. 7.2" x 3" x 0.84" / 183.2 x 77.1 x 21.3 mm Manufacturer shop (although it goes through indiegogo, it is not crowdfunding, it's just a shop)
- Maru & Masa Kickstarter: Maru is a 82mm/3.23" diameter bagel, 28mm/1.1" thick, 7.4oz, USB C 45W, USB C 18W, two USB A share 15W, three international AC sockets, nifty interchangeable international plugs. Masa is a battery 80 x 80 x 28 / 3.15" x 3.15" x 1.1" , 11.3oz 18000 mAh, USB C 45W, USB C 15W, Qi 7.5W, kickstand. Promised shipping: April 2019 https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...e-yet-powerful
- SuperTank & SuperPort 4 Kickstarter: SuperPort 4 is a 114 x 100 x 24 / 4.5" x 3.95" x .95" charger, weight not disclosed, USB C 100W, USB C 18W, two USB ports share 18W. SuperTank is a 27000 mAh battery w/ lots of features, 4.7" x 2.8" x 1.6", 17oz USB C 100W, USB C 60W, USB A 18W, USB A 15W all ports share 138W Promised shipping: May 2019 https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...ek-recharge-in
- AlsterPlus Kickstarter: 7.4" x 3.28" x 0.85", 20oz / 568gr, 27000mAh battery with 2 x 100W USB-C + 2x 18W USB-A, lots of features. All ports share 156W.
- Anker Atom PD4. Two USB C, two USB A all share 100W, USB A per port is 12W max. 4.1" x 3.3" x 1.3", 13.5oz. https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Chargin.../dp/B07VSMK849
- MagicFox PD180. This is a DC-DC unit, it takes 12-28V 180W via a 5.5mm x 2.5mm jack or 100W max via USB- C input and provides three ports: USB C 100W, USB C 40W, USB A 40W. Size 3.15" x 2.76" x 0.53", 3.44oz. Possible interesting AC-DC choices: Lenovo 4X20Q88542 at 135W either from Encompass with very long ship times or from Japan via Rakuten, Lenovo-to-5.5mm plug adapter here. 4.65" x 3" x .83", 15.24oz. If that's not enough Razer has a 180W which, AFAIK has the right plug. Notably light at 14.82oz, 5.98" / 152mm x 2.87" / 73mm x 0.93" / 23.5mm. The MagicFox PD180 itself is, so far, China only, I had good experiences with Superbuy as proxy so https://www.superbuy.com/en/page/buy...832086035.html While the MagicFox PD180 itself is cheap, high wattage, quality, lightweight AC-DC adapters are anything but.
Cabling wise, AmazomBasics and Monoprice is your friend. Do not use female USB C to USB A / micro USB adapters, these are explicitly forbidden by the USB C standard. Male USB C to USB A / micro USB is fine.
Outfitting your travel kit for USB-C
Apr 1, 2019, 9:18 am
#151
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Edit: The Anker Atom PD1 did a fantastic job of fast charging my iPad Pro and my iPhone XS, but it could not keep up with the 15” macbook pro playing youtube videos. I let it run for 1 hour and it lost 4% while plugged into the Anker Atom. Which is to be expected as the anker unit is only 30W.
Apr 1, 2019, 12:12 pm
#152
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So after 10 hours, it would've lost around 40% battery. That's not bad. When thinking about a scenario where you just need something to tide over your battery over a work day (like being forced to work in an off-site conference room), I think that is serviceable. I'm sure it could charge back up to 100% overnight.
Frankly I've been using a 60W charger w/ this macbook instead of the 87W one it comes with for quite some time, and as I confirmed up thread, the 45W charger is actually enough to keep it running at full battery. So for all intents and purposes, I could "get away with" the 30W PD1. but frankly, that one will stay home in my kitchen for fast charging my iPhone. Meanwhile I'll pack the thinner/lighter more travel friendly RavPower unit. I'll report back here on the longevity. Meanwhile, I may give one of the two I bought to my wife, then pick up a MU One at LHR at the end of April when I head over there.
As a minimalist and onebagger, I love the idea of these new GaN chargers. Now if only iPhone switched to USB-C
Apr 3, 2019, 1:12 pm
#153
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,303
Anker released a new USB-C PD + A GaN charger with 5,000 mAh battery. The Anker Powercore Fusion sells for $99.95 at the Apple Store.
https://www.apple.com/shop/product/H...ry-and-charger
Folding plug but the weight practically guarantees it will fall out of a loose vertical socket. A short extender (grounded for planes to get a better grip) would probably come in handy. I'm still keeping an eye open for ~ 5,000 mAh USB-C PD 30W battery. This is the closest so far but I'm looking for a standalone battery to reduce carrying weight while on day trips.
https://www.apple.com/shop/product/H...ry-and-charger
Charger mode simultaneously provides 30W with Power Delivery and 12W PIQ for rapid charging
...
Height: 1.24 in./3.15 cm
Length: 3.37 in./8.55 cm
Width: 3.21 in./8.15 cm
Weight: 8.78 oz./249 g
...
Height: 1.24 in./3.15 cm
Length: 3.37 in./8.55 cm
Width: 3.21 in./8.15 cm
Weight: 8.78 oz./249 g
Apr 9, 2019, 2:32 am
#154
Join Date: May 2017
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New to this thread, but stumbled up on it and I am always up for reducing the number of power adaptors and cables etc.
I have an ipad Pro the latest 2019 version and a Windows Surface Pro latest version and all the other USB stuff like Apple Watch and Iphone and airpods etc.
I got a Tommox wall charger that has a power rating of 60W Type-C PD QC3.0. One PD and 2 USB sockets.
https://www.tommox.com/products/49.html
Annoyingly the Windows surface doesn't have USB-C!! I mean what backwards tech? But luckily I found a company that makes a custom USB-C to Windows Surface magnetic powercord - J-Go from the US.
https://jgotech.com/collections/for-surface-pro
Cost me an arm and a leg to get it shipped to the UK, plus import charges!!
But in the end it worked and now I only have one power adapter for everything. But a lot of cables.
Hope this is useful for someone. Though no doubt someone has probably talked about this previously and I am late to the game.
I have an ipad Pro the latest 2019 version and a Windows Surface Pro latest version and all the other USB stuff like Apple Watch and Iphone and airpods etc.
I got a Tommox wall charger that has a power rating of 60W Type-C PD QC3.0. One PD and 2 USB sockets.
https://www.tommox.com/products/49.html
Annoyingly the Windows surface doesn't have USB-C!! I mean what backwards tech? But luckily I found a company that makes a custom USB-C to Windows Surface magnetic powercord - J-Go from the US.
https://jgotech.com/collections/for-surface-pro
Cost me an arm and a leg to get it shipped to the UK, plus import charges!!
But in the end it worked and now I only have one power adapter for everything. But a lot of cables.
Hope this is useful for someone. Though no doubt someone has probably talked about this previously and I am late to the game.
Apr 9, 2019, 3:52 am
#155
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Spite? You mean trying to protect real innovative small companies from Chinese blatant knockoffs these days is called "spite"? https://images.indiegogo.com/file_at...jpg?1423051721 here you can see some of the early timeline. It all started with a folding UK plug ten years ago... I wrote the wiki and stand by it. Hurray for innovation! Shame on the sniveling governments allowing China to get away with blatant IP theft!
And yes, I am aware Navitas provided both of them with the platform https://www.ganfast.com/products/ but this doesn't change the facts above. Like, why it's 14mm? Because the Mu Plug is 14mm...
And yes, I am aware Navitas provided both of them with the platform https://www.ganfast.com/products/ but this doesn't change the facts above. Like, why it's 14mm? Because the Mu Plug is 14mm...
I still have it.
Apr 9, 2019, 9:12 am
#156
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It is particularly interesting because the patent and all of the activity (including presentation to the queen) have NOTHING to do with GaN or USB-C charging... it is purely about their unique adapter head. A cool feature for international travel, but absolutely doesn't support the assertion that the RavPower is a knockoff in any way shape or form.
Last edited by LordHamster; Apr 9, 2019 at 9:22 am
Apr 9, 2019, 9:20 am
#157
Join Date: May 2017
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It is particularly interesting because the patent and all of the activity (including presentation to the queen) have NOTHING to do with GaN or USB-C charging... it is purely about their unique adapter head. Cool, but absolutely doesn't support the assertion that the RavPower is a knockoff in any way shape or form.
They even have it on their own website??
https://www.themu.co.uk/collections/...-international
Or am I misunderstanding something?
Apr 9, 2019, 9:36 am
#158
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?? Knock off, but surely from what I can read from their website is that they have partnered with Gan to produce a Mu plug USB C charger??
They even have it on their own website??
https://www.themu.co.uk/collections/...-international
Or am I misunderstanding something?
They even have it on their own website??
https://www.themu.co.uk/collections/...-international
Or am I misunderstanding something?
Spite? You mean trying to protect real innovative small companies from Chinese blatant knockoffs these days is called "spite"? https://images.indiegogo.com/file_at...jpg?1423051721 here you can see some of the early timeline. It all started with a folding UK plug ten years ago... I wrote the wiki and stand by it. Hurray for innovation! Shame on the sniveling governments allowing China to get away with blatant IP theft!
And yes, I am aware Navitas provided both of them with the platform https://www.ganfast.com/products/ but this doesn't change the facts above. Like, why it's 14mm? Because the Mu Plug is 14mm...
And yes, I am aware Navitas provided both of them with the platform https://www.ganfast.com/products/ but this doesn't change the facts above. Like, why it's 14mm? Because the Mu Plug is 14mm...
Apr 11, 2019, 12:55 am
#159
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- Mu designs their plug long ago. It's 14mm thick.
- They work with Navitas to create a 14mm version of the GaN charger. The earlier Navitas reference design was 20.5mm cased and 65W.
- They do a successful crowdfunding campaign.
- RAVPower takes the platform from Navitas and adds ... nothing.
Apr 11, 2019, 6:16 am
#160
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- Mu designs their plug long ago. It's 14mm thick.
- They work with Navitas to create a 14mm version of the GaN charger. The earlier Navitas reference design was 20.5mm cased and 65W.
- They do a successful crowdfunding campaign.
- RAVPower takes the platform from Navitas and adds ... nothing.
1. The MU "PLUG" you have quoted and linked to before is simply a PLUG adapter head.... an admittedly clever implementation of a travel adapter, but hardly "revolutionary" Personally I get more utility from: The plug is 14mm thick. I don't know why you are so fixated on that dimension since the NONE of the competitors share this dimension. MU is the thinnest by a decent margin.
2. They purchased components from Navitas, a big semi-conductor company that is supplying these chips to DOZENS of other suppliers and created a 14mm thin charger (A thin charger... how brilliant) utilizing the technology purchased from Navitas.
3. Yes, MU was crowdfunded
4. Ravpower BUYS the same components from Navitas (as do dozens of other companies in the charger business) and makes a charger that also happens to be "THIN" at 15mm. Includes foldable prongs unlike their competitor Anker and sells it at a good price-point more importantly makes it available by selling directly through Amazon.
NONE of this supports your original assertion that Ravpower is a ripoff of Mu. There is no doubt that the MU product is very cool, and probably a better choice for travelers, but you made a very specific accusation which is entirely unsupported.
To sum up, MU "innovated" by creating a thin rectangular box.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miniaturization
But in the interest of not going too far off topic.... I'll agree to disagree and move on.
----------
PS. Anyone know where in London I can pick up the Mu One? I'm going back to London next week and want to get a MuOne to finalize my kit. I'll then give my second RavPower unit to the wife.
Last edited by LordHamster; Apr 16, 2019 at 7:41 am
Apr 16, 2019, 3:59 pm
#161
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LOL that's rich, that Kikkerland adapter is a knockoff of the Japanese Road Warrior original (or perhaps licensed?). ROTLFMAO. Just so you know the original has improved since Kikkerland came out with their version. https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B014IP1VIW/ this is the RW101, the Kikkerland copied the RW75. You can see the improvements at http://www.warrior.co.jp/E/product/rw101/
The Mu heads are revolutionary, Min-Kyu Choi literally invented the folding UK plug. https://www.dezeen.com/2009/06/29/fo...-min-kyu-choi/
The Mu heads are revolutionary, Min-Kyu Choi literally invented the folding UK plug. https://www.dezeen.com/2009/06/29/fo...-min-kyu-choi/
Apr 16, 2019, 8:56 pm
#162
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LOL that's rich, that Kikkerland adapter is a knockoff of the Japanese Road Warrior original (or perhaps licensed?). ROTLFMAO. Just so you know the original has improved since Kikkerland came out with their version. https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B014IP1VIW/ this is the RW101, the Kikkerland copied the RW75. You can see the improvements at ROAD WARRIOR-Go!con ? | Product | ROAD WARRIOR
The Mu heads are revolutionary, Min-Kyu Choi literally invented the folding UK plug. https://www.dezeen.com/2009/06/29/fo...-min-kyu-choi/
The Mu heads are revolutionary, Min-Kyu Choi literally invented the folding UK plug. https://www.dezeen.com/2009/06/29/fo...-min-kyu-choi/
Last edited by LordHamster; Apr 16, 2019 at 9:03 pm
Apr 19, 2019, 2:53 pm
#163
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 460
Not something you want to put in your travel kit but I've found a USB Power Meter to be useful in a USB-C kit for characterizing chargers, power banks, laptops etc to see if they actually live up to to the PD specs they advertise. For example, this one supports PD as well as proprietary implementations such as Quick Charge, Apple, Samsung etc as well as will read E-Markers and measure resistance of cables.
There are simpler/cheaper ones that display the voltage and current flow between two USB PD devices and the voltages on D+ and D- wires.
There are simpler/cheaper ones that display the voltage and current flow between two USB PD devices and the voltages on D+ and D- wires.
Apr 21, 2019, 3:44 pm
#164
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Check USB power meter/tester thread - YZXStudio, Power-Z and more. Formerly "YZXstudio devices discussion" | BudgetLightForum.com for those devices. Seems like the links in the first post to the https://lygte-info.dk/ site are double escaped, either Google the title like YZXStudio ZY1273 site:https://lygte-info.dk/ or manually delete the 25 from "%2520" in the URL.
Last edited by chx1975; Apr 21, 2019 at 4:52 pm
Apr 21, 2019, 8:48 pm
#165
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I bought the :-
- Satechi 75W: USB C 60W, USB C 18W, two USB A share 12W. 4" x 2.63" x 1", 11.14 oz. Manufacturer shop