Charging an iPad Air 4th gen

Question

Level 1

9 points

Charging an iPad Air 4th gen

iPad Air 4th gen

I have a charger cord from an Android item, plugged into a USB slot on a wall plug surge protecter bank. Are there adapters for the USB-C plug that I could get for this cord? I want to use it for the iPad because it is a long one, which I need.

Alternately, I have an Apple lightning cord, also long, that I could use for the iPad with a USB-C adapter. This is also plugged into the same wall plug adapter and is a regular USB.

I’d like to avoid buying another long cord if possible.

Does the USB-C cord need the larger brick plug, or can it be plugged directly into a USB slot on a surge protector?

Thanks for any guidance you can offer.

Marj

iPad Air, iPadOS 14

Posted on Dec 23, 2020 10:20 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

LotusPilot

Community+ 2024

Level 10

289,608 points

Dec 23, 2020 10:29 AM in response to codymae

Your iPad requires a Power Adapter rated to at least 10-12W; lower powered Power Adapters are inadequate.

iPad Air4 also supports USB-PD Fast Charging by compatible Power Adapters. The Power Apapter supplied with the Air4 is USB-PD complaint - at 20W - providing optimal charging.

If you wish to use an older style USB Power Adapter with a USB Type-A connector, subject to meeting the minimum power capabilities, you’ll need a USB Type-A to USB-C cable. Here are two cables marketted by Apple:

mophie USB-A Cable with USB-C Connector (1 m)

https://store.apple.com/uk/xc/product/HN892ZM/A

mophie USB-A Cable with USB-C Connector (2 m)

https://store.apple.com/uk/xc/product/HN8A2ZM/A

Reply

Answer 2

codymae Author

Level 1

9 points

Dec 23, 2020 11:55 AM in response to LotusPilot

Thanks for your response.

So if I am understanding this correctly, I basically cannot do what I described in my question. I figured as much, but wanted to be sure.

I have the power adapter that came with my iPhone X, can I use that with the Android cable, and put a USB-C adapter on it? If yes, where would I find the micro to USB-C adapter?

thanks again

Reply

Answer 3

Dec 23, 2020 4:14 PM in response to codymae

The majority of phone chargers cannot provide adequate power (often rated at 5W, some even less at 2.5W). Similarly, many phone charging cables have wires that a too small to efficiently carry the current (~2.0-2.4A @5V) required by the iPad.

Whilst in some situations adapters can help with a data connection, they often create more issues than they solve. For charging, it is an a false economy to skimp on the Power Adapter or charging cable. Whilst the choice is ultimately yours to make, on the basis of experience, I personally do not recommend following the path that you tread.

Reliability and consistency of the power supply - and cabled connection - are crucial for charging power hungry devices such as iPad.

Reply

Charging an iPad Air 4th gen

Similar questions