MagSafe – Voltaic Systems Blog https://blog.voltaicsystems.com Solar Tutorial and DIY Solar Guides Mon, 05 Aug 2024 17:24:21 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://blog.voltaicsystems.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/cropped-Favicon_48x48-32x32.png MagSafe – Voltaic Systems Blog https://blog.voltaicsystems.com 32 32 Making MagSafes Again… https://blog.voltaicsystems.com/making-magsafes-again/ https://blog.voltaicsystems.com/making-magsafes-again/#comments Thu, 15 Sep 2011 19:55:43 +0000 http://80ca4ebf1c.nxcli.io/?p=2385 As we prep to get our solar MacBook chargers back in stock, we got together in our Brooklyn conference room to make some MagSafe adapters. They are not works of art, but they are functional. We splice used MagSafe adapters from old MacBook AC chargers to our DC Out Cables using X-Acto blades, wire strippers, solder, heat shrink tubing and caffeine.

If you have an old MacBook AC charger that you aren’t using, don’t throw it away! Send us the last 10-12 inches leading up to the MagSafe and we’ll pay you $10 and give you a big virtual hug.

]]> https://blog.voltaicsystems.com/making-magsafes-again/feed/ 2 Build your own MacBook MagSafe1/MagSafe2 adapter https://blog.voltaicsystems.com/build-your-own-macbook-magsafe-adapter/ Fri, 15 May 2009 19:01:52 +0000 http://voltaicsystems.com/diy/?p=3

UPDATE: We now sell MagSafe2’s! Feel free to skip all these hacking steps and purchase one for your laptop today. Be sure to also check out the rest of our MacBook solar charger products here.

If you have an old MagSafe1 / MagSafe2 power cable available, you can build your own adapter to connect with the Voltaic Generator battery. Depending on your MacBook, you will get between 1 to 3.5 hours of runtime from a full Voltaic battery.
Warning: Your Apple is an expensive machine and we would not want to see you damage your power supply. Please be careful with the polarities. Voltaic Systems is not responsible for any damages to your machine.Parts:
1 MagSafe cable – Apple Repair shops sometimes have a few of these in the back they are sometimes willing to part with for free or a small charge.
1 Generator DC Out Cable (4.0mm plug)
Soldering tool and solder
Electrical tapeStep 1: Prepare the DC Out cable
Remove the female end of DC out cable off. Strip about an inch of the black insulating cable from the DC Out and about a half inch from the 2 interior wires.
Step 2: Prepare the MagSafe Cable
Cut the cable about 12 inches from the MagSafe connector (you can remove less or more depending on your needs).The MagSafe cable is a Coaxial cable. Strip away about an inch of the outer insulation and coil / braid the outer fibers into a single wire. Strip away about a quarter to a half inch of the inner core. You want to make sure that you leave room between the inner and outer wires so that they do not connect.
Step 3: Solder and join the two cablesThe outer cable, like most charging cables, is negative. The inner cable is positive. Twist the outer MagSafe wire to the white / negative wire from the DC Out. Twist the inner MagSafe wire to the red / positive wire from the DC Out. Solder the connections, then wrap each connection with electrical tape. Wrap the complete connection with tape so that it is secure.
Step 4: Test
Turn on the Generator battery and select the 12-20 Voltage range. Plug the cable into the battery and the MacBook. You should see the lighting bolt symbol on you MacBook.
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