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charging with usb-c
Just got my shiny ipad pro.
I have everything working great with my ipad and iphone.
I think I can use a usb to usb-c converter from my powered hub, but it won't charge the ipad pro, is that right?
Do I need a new usb-c powered hub?
Or maybe there is a lightning to usb-c converter that charges?
Comments
If you're coming from a previous Lightning iPad, with its USB and HDMI adapters, the simplest approach is the Apple adapter. It's kinda expensive because it essentially combines the two prior adapters. It includes a USB-C charging port for your Apple charger.
If you want to step out into the world of USB-C docks and hubs, it's a bit of a Wild West at the moment. Most of them are trying to be universal docks for computers with minimal ports, so they include everything, much more than we likely need. The watchword here is "USB-C Power Delivery", which defines the way a hub can send power back to the host over the USB-C connection. There are some long threads in this forum, covering the good, not-so-good, and burns-out-iPads examples.
I think with a standard compliant USB-A hub you can’t charge an iPad Pro. If the hub has got a QC (Quick Charge) port it can charge it, but relatively slow. IMHO you should buy a USB-C hub with minimum 40W PD (Power Delivery) and a USB-C charger that can deliver this 40W or better 60W if it has got more than one port and you also want to power other USB gear with it, e.g. your USB-A hub. I bought this one
There is a great choice if USB-C hubs but the cheaper ones might make problems. There are plenty of threads about it on this forum. Avoid these ones that sit on the iPad like a dock - some of them can fry the iPad by twisting the connector. Many of the hubs provide a headphone jack but very often they have a terrible audio quality. I also don‘t need HDMI, card reader, etc. so I decided for a pure USB-C hub and simply use the Apple USB-C headphone dongle that I can also use without the hub when I‘m on the go.
In your case I would buy a pure USB-C hub and connect your existing USB-A hub to it and then power them both from the same multi port charger. Then powering the iPad and your Midi gear on the USB-A hub is separated from each other. That also works great for me when using a USB-C PD powerbank.
Last but not least buy good cables. In the USB-C world you get only the performance of the weakest component. Hubs, cables, adapters, devices - everything negotiates the mode of operation with both ends. This applies to charging as well as to transfer speeds. So, check the fine print of the specs how much PD wattage or which transfer mode they support, e.g. USB 3.2. USB A, B, C is just a connector type. USB x.y are transfer modes. If this isn‘t enough you need DP-Alt support if you want to connect a USB-C monitor. For instance my hub hasn‘t got that, but I don‘t need it.
Good luck 🍀
I charge my ipad pro with a USB-C dongley type hub. It has a USB C male connector on it that you can plug straight into the ipad ORRRRR you can buy a USB C extension lead like I have and have it 50 metres away from civilisation. Well, you know.
I’ve also seen a few reports about the new M1 Macs getting fried in a similar way, though Apple was supposed to have sorted this out via an update.
@krassmann
+10 to all you said. Just one little detail. USB-C PD can use voltages higher than 5 V, allowing faster charging over thin wires. So, using a 5 V power source for both a conventional USB hub and a USB-C power port limits the power to the iPad. The 12 Watts (2.4 A) of a conventional iPad charger is likely the maximum for a 5 V source.
The charger that I linked has got a 60W USB-C PD port to power my USB-C hub and also a QC USB-A port with 12W that powers my USB-A hub - both from the same charger. I also have a powerbank that does something similar. Both allow to power the different hubs with a different and adequate current and voltage.
Sounds good. Covers all the bases. Just important to make that clear to new owners.
Yeah, right. It took me quite some time to understand all this. I think I should write up a wiki article as this is a very common question. Honestly the whole USB „standard“ is a nightmare. It’s too relaxed. It’s like the swinger motto „everything can happen, but nothing must“. If it wouldn‘t be so expensive I would just recommend to buy certified USB4 or Thunderbolt gear where the minimum requirements guarantee a good performance.
Thanks for all of the information! Guess I'll go the usb-c powered hub route. Might try a usb-a to usb-c converter (so no charging) in the meantime, later I think it will be useful for a minimal portable rig powered by the ipad pro. Definitely going to pick up the cheap apple usb-c to headphone audio converter.
I did a bit of googling on the USB standard, and I fully agree.
Just be aware that usually all USB-C hubs have got one USB-C port that is PD only. It is intended to power the hub and can’t be used to connect a device. This is also true for my Sitecom hub. It has got 4 ports but one is the PD port. Unfortunately most multi port USB-C hubs have some USB-A and other ports but the only USB-C port they have is then the PD port. So if you wanna use the apple headphone dongle also with the hub be sure that the hub has got at least one USB-C port that can connect devices.