Dumb question: I have an M1 Mac Pro that requires 61W of charging power.

I have the power adapter. I also have a USB C hub for external monitor, SSD (Time Machine).

The hub requires 15W to operate (I think it can get this through the USB C connection). However, it has a USB C power delivery input; if I supply power to it for the hub, it can also provide power to the laptop.

However, I think I prefer to power the laptop through it's original charger.

Dumb question: Can I use the original laptop charger and also have a power adapter supply power to the hub (which I can can be used by the laptop as well)? Or should I only use the laptop charger and NOT provide any power to the hub (I'm worried that w/o power supply to the hub, the hub may draw too much power from the laptop USB C port and/or not power the SSD sufficiently resulting in bad backups).

USB in general is notorious for disconnection/data loss due to power starvation. I'd plug both the laptop, and the hub/docking station to a reliable power source, perhaps a battery-backed UPS, especially if your devices have storage with non-fault-tolerant file systems on them.

Newer versions of macOS use APFS which has some fault-tolerance characteristics, but if you originally installed on an older version, you might still be using a fragile FS. Check with Disk Utility.

Thanks. Yea, I was feeling that it would be safer to power both the laptop directly and the USB hub separately. So good to hear the recommendation.

What I wasn't sure about in this case is whether or not it would be okay to have the laptop have two USB C ports be a potential power supply source - one from the wall charger, one via the USB hub (pass through power delivery and data for the monitor / SSD).

Seems like and sounds like it would be okay but not sure how that works.

I'll try to check out the FS - originally installed w/ whatever macOS was default for the M1. Would that be considered new or older? Not sure what file system is used for Time Machine - not sure I have a choice (unless I create a new SSD assuming I have APFS on the Mac now).

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Originally posted by konata88:
Thanks. Yea, I was feeling that it would be safer to power both the laptop directly and the USB hub separately. So good to hear the recommendation.

What I wasn't sure about in this case is whether or not it would be okay to have the laptop have two USB C ports be a potential power supply source - one from the wall charger, one via the USB hub (pass through power delivery and data for the monitor / SSD).

Seems like and sounds like it would be okay but not sure how that works.

I'll try to check out the FS - originally installed w/ whatever macOS was default for the M1. Would that be considered new or older? Not sure what file system is used for Time Machine - not sure I have a choice (unless I create a new SSD assuming I have APFS on the Mac now).

Should be OK, but I'd be more worried about the hub "borrowing" power from the laptop's USB-C than the other way around. Just make sure the supplies (e.g. "wall warts") for both the hub and laptop have some headroom over the minimums the components spec. as they require.

Also, you definitely do not want an SSD powered via USB if at all practicable. You might consider purchasing an external enclosure that has its own wall wart to house your external drive(s).

Thanks. Okay, I'll power the laptop and hub separately. Hope the hub will just use the power delivered to it from the wall and not be parasitic to the laptop usb port. But I have a 96W adapter for the laptop - 61W for the laptop with some to spare. Hopefully all nets out well.

The problem w/ the M1 is that it only has two ports. 1 will be used for power. The other for the hub (monitor and SSD); again, I will supply power to the hub as well. I'm using Samsung SSD for Time Machine. I don't see a self powered SSD offering, only ones that draw power from the USB C cable that attaches to the hub. Prices are way up for Samsung SSDs now too; I paid $90, current price for the same drive is $250. Tariffs I guess.

^^^^^

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Tariffs I guess.

I heard that the big increase in memory cost was due to demand caused by AI hardware.

Memory shortages? That makes more sense. Although one would think Samsung would be more immune... Perhaps not.

Different hubs have different abilities to provide power to the ports they have. Forgetting the pass through power port, some hubs provide 30w to their USB-C ports, some 15w, some 15w to the first port and only 7.5w to the second port. Of course, you have to have a big enough wall wart to run the hub and the device plugged into it.

In your case, I’d power the hub with your 90w, plug everything including the MacBook into it, and call it a day. The MacBook’s battery will act as a UPS for at least MacBook itself and possibly the hub.

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resulting in bad backups

That might be a risk if you were to charge using battery power and it ran out of charge midway.

If you make it your policy to always have stuff plugged in when you backup, Bob is and will remain your uncle.