How do I charge a MacBook using a 12V solar power setup?

Question

How do I charge a MacBook using a 12V solar power setup?

I’m moving to a country place that has only solar power 12 V available. I desperately want to take my MacBook, but I’m not sure of what the setup should be to charge it and keep it running. I have bought an 85 W MagSafe two power adapter from the Apple shop, but I don’t know yet if it can be connected to a 12 V power supply.

Please make suggestions and let me know how I can make this happen Claire H*******d.

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[Edited by Moderator]

Original Title: I need to be able to charge my MacBook from a 12 V solar power set up. Does it does anybody have a suggestion as to how that might be possible? Clare?

MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 11.7

Posted on Oct 26, 2025 10:04 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

kaz-k

Level 9

51,054 points

Oct 26, 2025 10:39 PM in response to ClareHeadland

Hi,

To charge a MacBook from a 12V solar setup, you must connect the solar panel to a battery via a charge controller, then use a power inverter or a high-wattage 12V USB-C adapter connected to the battery to provide the correct power to your MacBook. Do not connect the solar panel directly to the MacBook.

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Answer 2

Oct 26, 2025 11:01 PM in response to kaz-k

kaz-k wrote:

Hi,

To charge a MacBook from a 12V solar setup, you must connect the solar panel to a battery via a charge controller, then use a power inverter or a high-wattage 12V USB-C adapter connected to the battery to provide the correct power to your MacBook. Do not connect the solar panel directly to the MacBook.

I wondered about that. Since the output of the solar panel is going to vary as the intensity of sunlight changes from moment to moment, you probably want to make sure that whatever power you are feeding into the Mac is nice and stable.

Here I take it the idea is that you let the charge controller and/or the battery deal with voltage swings – so that when you later use the battery as a power source, that power is more stable?!?

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Answer 3

Oct 26, 2025 10:56 PM in response to ClareHeadland

I don't know if something like this might work.

RevoPower – Ultra-Lightweight Step Down Solar Panel USB-C PD Adapter, 140W Output w fast Power Delivery charging and portability

This is just a random example found through searching and poking around a bit. I have no experience with this product or this company, so I am not making a recommendation. Just pointing out that some power converters suitable for the job might exist.

There are two ways of delivering power over USB-C:

Traditional 5V power. I believe this can be up to 3A @ 5V (15W). While it may be OK for charging an iPhone, notebook computers are probably going to want the other type.
USB-C Power Delivery (PD) power. This is negotiated between two devices and can support more power. I believe that you want a supply that supports USB-C Power Delivery (see second Support article below).

Charge your MacBook Air or MacBook Pro - Apple Support

Use a power adapter with your Mac - Apple Support

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