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So many MagSafe adapters - who knew?

By | February 10, 2008, 8:34pm PST

Summary: A recent Apple technote details the correct MagSafe adapters for various flavors of MacBooks. While most look alike, some have different power ratings.

So many MagSafe adapters - who knew?A recent Apple technote details the correct MagSafe adapters for various flavors of MacBooks. While most look alike, some have different power ratings.

Released on Sunday, the support document shows the part numbers and images of the MagSafe adapters, AC plugs (the “duck head” adapter) and power cords.

Until the latest “Late 2007″ model, MacBooks used the same 60-Watt MagSafe adapter. Saving a bit of confusion, all of Apple’s notebooks, including the MacBook Air, use the same power cord and duck head plug.

However, the document isn’t really clear about the 85-Watt adapter used on the MacBook Pro. The first versions used the 4259 adapter. The Core 2 Duo models went with the 4339 adapter.

The low-power MacBook Air uses a small 45-Watt adapter.

It’s only for U.S. notebooks, Apple said.

Check out the recent article: Keep your MagSafe power plug clean.

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Adapter, Apple MacBook, MacBook Air, David Morgenstern

David Morgenstern has covered the Mac market and other technology segments for 20 years.

Disclosure

David Morgenstern

Freelance journalist/blogger David Morgenstern has nothing to disclose.

Biography

David Morgenstern

David Morgenstern has covered the Mac market and other technology segments for 20 years. In the recent past, he founded Ziff-Davis' Storage Supersite, served as news editor for Ziff Davis Internet and held several executive editorial positions at eWEEK. In the 1990s, David was editor of Ziff Davis' award-winning MacWEEK news publication as well as its successor title, eMediaWEEKly, which focused on multiplatform professional content creation. His byline can be found online and in print publications including CreativePro.com, Peachpit Press' Mac Bible and Popular Photography.

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RE: So many MagSafe adapters - who knew?
tomlin21-24319035676893835085146735905770 11th Oct
Protect submitting points for reebok jersey example this i truly like it
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MagSafe
rhokin@... 11th Feb 2008
Aside from form factor compatibility, what about electrical compatibility with MBA?
0 Votes
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RE: So many MagSafe adapters - who knew?
phatkat 11th Feb 2008
A larger capacity power adapter will work on a MBA, as long it fits in to the port, into a lower powered devices.
For example, a new 85-watt MacBookPro MagSafe power adapter will charge a smaller MacBookAir but you cannot use a 45-watt MacbookAir MagSafe power adapter to charge a larger MacBookPro.
I did remember that the MBA 45-watt power adapter is MagSafe is physical connector size as the 85-watt but the cord comes out at a different angle than the 85-watt power adapter so I don't know how does this affect the plug. Also the 85-watt weighs more than the 45-watt power adapter.
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Kind of Off-Topic - But I REALLY Wish Apple Would License MagSafe to Others
drprodny 11th Feb 2008
I'm getting really sick, not only of the high price tag for MagSafe adapters, but also for the VERY limited sets of "allowed" MagSafe devices. Not having a direct car adapter or connection to long-life battery pack really irritates me....
0 Votes
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Another Solution would be a power inverter...
mrOSX 12th Feb 2008
You can find them for less $70 (US) and then you can use your
Apple supplied power adapter in the car.
0 Votes
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Intenal Components: Tear Down Analysis
DaveLG526 11th Feb 2008
Has anyone ever done a tear down of the power modules to see what components are inside?
0 Votes
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RE: So many MagSafe adapters - who knew?
tomlin21-24319035676893835085146735905770 11th Oct
Protect submitting points for reebok jersey example this i truly like it

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