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Am I suppose to connect Power Adapter Usb-c to the Usb-c PD of Satechi Multiport pro?

Am I suppose to connect the Power Adapter Usb-c which come along with my MacBook Pro, to the Usb-c PD of Satechi Multiport pro (https://www.apple.com/shop/product/HMYE2ZM/A/satechi-aluminum-usb-c-multiport-pro-adapter?fnode=f5438015f95ce2c8acc951f41b5501166c5b7b4e85df7260669ead82c5e0191921a0d610ffb1e6d925e95fa649f9aaa9fa9e06f8726cc75cb56850b3bfb94bde078891dcdc27e1f44e1f203bcc63af67f0ff2bddb81a778b5d94585ee865baee) to charge my 16'' MacBook pro??

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Jul 18, 2020 11:55 AM

Reply
14 replies

Jul 19, 2020 7:52 AM in response to neuroanatomist

Yes.

The reason we use a hub is to get more slots to connect to more devices. I searched apple store and apple's selling Caldigit thunderbolt 3 hub , it gives 85W power but still less than the 97W power adapter which come along with my MacBook Pro. So this is getting more interesting:


  1. If I just connect this Satechi hub to my macbook pro, even though it has PD, it supports to the current to flow both way, but as long as the PD is not connected, the current only flows one way and this is really a Hub which only uses power just like a regular hub, correct?
  2. I can purchase a Caldigit thunderbolt 3 hub (https://www.apple.com/shop/product/HMX12ZM/A/caldigit-ts3-plus-dock?fnode=232a484454b96237354109dd1f6ede61568d11213bd4236dac586de1fce04e80ee4af189b9ed36fc5614525c4a0ea97b157154d6f993b19e23684661a363466bef4b74ec763e745dbce2004bd6de1a6b7f7553c60c3c636aa02d865f008b2e8d)which gives me 85W power, or I can buy another bus-powered hub with HDMI, gigabit ethernet port,usb3 (Caldigit Mini dock https://www.apple.com/shop/product/HMX02ZM/A/caldigit-thunderbolt-3-mini-dock?fnode=94f7e3563bc6ee874a6841d33d5f20b8edc128e31ab33080eb4e0b7db188cdac47c1157654a8d1a2ae442a4350f1252596c59736cf06c8d1be392b3b30c718c09af1c8620fa7c65fe8637f8f06c781bd9123a557173531790a6acf19aed87a20). I know probably going with mini dock is better for performance as it will allow me to connect my original power adapter 96w, correct?
  3. So I go with the cal digit mini dock (fully loaded with HDMI, rj45, usb3,etc.) while connecting with original power adapter, and the other 2 ports with all full loads(full of usb devices in hub, and hub in a hub, etc.) , will this cause any damage to the battery as the 3 tb3 ports are drawing too much power?
  4. if I use cal digit thunberbolt3 hub I don't think I should connect my original power adapter to this 16'' mbp to avoid any problems (I don't want to have 2 power adapters to charge the computer or have the potential to cause any potential problems to battery, am I thinking correct?

Jul 19, 2020 7:40 AM in response to rockman44413

Yes, the computer will throttle back if it needs to. That’s why Apple doesn’t recommend using a power adapter of lower wattage than the one that came with your Mac.


I note they state the hub you bought is compatible with the 16” MBP, I’d say not fully compatible. Useful as a hub, and for power with ‘normal’ use.


Personally, I use an Elgato TB3 dock with 85W pass-through power with my 15” MBP, which takes an 87W adapter. The 2W makes no difference. The dock is at work, and I haven’t tried it with my 16” MBP.

Jul 19, 2020 6:49 AM in response to neuroanatomist

I wonder where did you find that "60w" information as I couldn't get this info from searching all over internet.


What if Im doing pro-work and it's super intense load and heavy loads for the MacBook pro, connecting a lot of usb drives ,SSD drives, etc., could the load be more than 60w so it will actually use battery power even when connected?

Jul 19, 2020 8:07 AM in response to neuroanatomist

I guess my #2 can be changed into:

I can purchase a Elgato tb 3 dock which gives me 85W power, or I can buy another bus-powered hub with HDMI, gigabit ethernet port,usb3 and I can use my original power adapter. Probably going with mini dock is better for performance as it will allow me to connect my original power adapter 96w, correct?


Am I suppose to connect Power Adapter Usb-c to the Usb-c PD of Satechi Multiport pro?

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