Tip: Using the Energizer XP18000 Rechargeable Power Pack with a MacBook Pro
XPAL Power's Energizer XP18000 Rechargeable Power Pack for Laptops is a popular portable power charger for mobile systems and smartphones. Now it can be used with a MacBook Pro, but with a twist.
In his blog, developer Scott Gruby last weekend told a tale about making a home-brew cable that connects a MagSafe power plug with the Energizer XP18000. It let the pack recharge his MacBook Pro.
However, he said that he recently found that XPAL has come up with a free adapter for the XP1800 (and $3.95 handling). (And be patient with the slow Energizer site.) The hitch? It requires Apple's $49 MagSafe Airline Adapter. And doesn't recharge.
The Airline Adapter doesn't charge the battery of a connected device, but powers it during the flight, and it's the same when used with the XP1800.
Gruby said that's okay with him. Compiling code takes a lot of power.
The cables that I used were regular charger cables, so they charge the computer when the battery is connected. In my case, the battery heated up quickly as it was charging the computer. With the XPAL Power solution, my computer didn’t charge, but the battery stayed cool.
He said the combination of the Apple cable and the adapter works well.