IPad Pro 12.9 - can it be charged from a 12v boat?

[Ric]

I recently bought an iPad Pro 12.9, thinking that it would be a low-power consumption to replace the Macbook Pro I normally use on board. But it just will not charge at all from the onboard 12v power supply, despite trying loads of different cables and fag-socket plugs. The only way I can get it to charge is to use the official supplied apple charger and run it through an inverter. Hope I haven’t just wasted my money...

 

[pvb]

Can't see why it shouldn't charge with the USB-C cable plugged in to a USB socket.

 

[lw395]

Can't see why it shouldn't charge with the USB-C cable plugged in to a USB socket.

Might need to be a high current USB socket. And the correct Apple lead?

 

[mbroom]

I charge mine just fine with a 2.4A USB socket

 

[dom]

It might be worth test fitting a small 12V/12V buck-boost to ensure a clean, fully stabilised 12V supply. Also a decent USB socket.

I have the same iPad and it works fine like that, but it immediately drops out if I plug the USB into a non stabilised supply.

 

[pvb]

Might need to be a high current USB socket. And the correct Apple lead?

One USB-C lead is much like any other USB-C lead.

 

[duncan99210]

Looking at things Apple, it seems the iPad Pro needs a higher wattage charger than the older iPads and iPhones. Something delivering 4.5 amps like this https://www.mobilefun.co.uk/official-huawei-supercharge-car-charger-in-silver-with-usb-c-cable-71058.

 

[Richard10002]

I recently bought an iPad Pro 12.9, thinking that it would be a low-power consumption to replace the Macbook Pro I normally use on board. But it just will not charge at all from the onboard 12v power supply, despite trying loads of different cables and fag-socket plugs. The only way I can get it to charge is to use the official supplied apple charger and run it through an inverter. Hope I haven’t just wasted my money...

How many watts, or Amps, does the 240v charger say that it produces?

My 9.7" ipad Pro from 2016 charges fine plugged into a 2.1A USB socket, but not when plugged into a 1A USB socket. So it should be just a case of getting a USB socket that can provide the required Amps, (obviously at 5V).

 

[Richard10002]

This looks like an official Apple approved 12v charger which they say will charge iPad Pro, and provides 36W, (3A at 12V).

https://www.apple.com/uk/shop/product/HLRQ2ZM/A/belkin-usb-c-car-charger?fnode=91

You could expect the 12V chargers with 5A USB sockets would be equally capable as suggested above.

If you are not too far from an Apple shop, could be worth calling in and asking for a car charger for your specific model.

 

[Boo2]

One USB-C lead is much like any other USB-C lead.

I don't think that is really true, Pete :

All USB-C cables must be able to carry a minimum of 3 A current (at 20 V, 60 W) but can also carry high-power 5 A current (at 20 V, 100 W).[10] USB-C to USB-C cables supporting 5A current must contain e-marker chips programmed to identify the cable and its current capabilities. USB Charging ports should also be clearly marked with capable power wattage.[11]

Full-featured USB-C cables that implement USB 3.1 Gen 2 can handle up to 10 Gbit/s data rate at full duplex. They are marked with a SuperSpeed+ (SuperSpeed 10 Gbit/s) logo. There are also cables which can carry only USB 2.0 with up to 480 Mbit/s data rate. There are USB-IF certification programs available for USB-C products and end users are recommended to use USB-IF certified cables.[12]

From Wikipedia here https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB-C

Boo2

 

[noelex]

My 12.9 inch iPad pro will charge fine from a 2.4A socket. 12v sockets that supply this much current are readily available. I suspect it would charge quicker with a higher power socket, but I have not tried this.

From a 2.1A socket it will charge, but if the iPad is on and at full brightness the 2.1A only just keeps with demand so there is little effective increase in the state of charge until the iPad is shut down.

The lead is also important, long thin, low quality leads will reduce the performance of 2.4A socket down to the equivalent of a 2.1A socket.

So it certainly possible to charge the large iPad pro from 12v, but it needs a reasonably high powered converter. This need not be an apple product (I use a BlueSeas model).

Be careful sometimes the listed maximum current is for the device rather than each socket. For example a 12v converter with both a 2.1A and a 1A socket may be listed as delivering 3.1A, but in reality the iPad can only be plugged in to one socket so the iPad charging will be limited to 2.1A despite what the label on the box implies.