With the downtime that the Covid lockdown gave me, my thoughts turned to how I could lighten my bikepacking gear. I carry a notebook computer with me as I blog and vlog along the way. It’s heavy! Along with the laptop I need to carry the charging gear; a mains plug that has a thick mains lead, a power supply box and another lead with the jack plug that connects to the notebook.
I spent many weeks researching my options, I could get a mains plug with the power supply attached, that would save a few grams only, but that wasn’t enough. I knew that high-end laptops had charging via a USB C PD cable, I couldn’t afford a new computer, so I spent a further few weeks sourcing components to enable my Asus notebook to charge via USB C PD.
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To see my YouTube on this subject click here
Considerations
· Laptop input – 19V 45W 2.37A
· Emulator – 20V 3A max
· Joining lead – 60-100W input 18-29V output
· Laptop connector – 2.5mm Jack
Stage 1
I needed to find an emulator that would convert the USB C PD output into something my Asus would accept. At one end it needed to connect to my computer, at the other end it needed to be a USB C male plug or female socket that I could connect a USB C male connector. I couldn’t find an emulator lead that had the correct jack plug but I found one with a larger jack plug, luckily I had a set of jack plug adapters (details listed below), one of which I knew would connect to the jack plug on the emulator lead. The other end being a USB C female socket.
Stage 2
I searched for a wall adapter that had a USB C PD output, if the adapter could also have some USB A outputs, I wouldn’t need to take my multi-plug charger bikepacking either. Eventually I settled for the Tommox multi-output wall charger.
Stage 3
I needed a lead to join the emulator and the wall charger, so needed a male USB C to male USB C lead, as both the wall charger and the emulator had female USB C sockets. There is a specific lead for carrying the USB C PD output, so make sure you don’t use a normal USB C cable.
Caution!
· It’s important to note that not all USB C devices like to be charged via a high-output USB C PD
· You need to be aware that the components I sourced are suitable for the input of my laptop.
· If you decide to carry out this conversion, it will be necessary for you to research the specific input
requirements for your laptop.
· Do not blindly buy what I have bought, do your research.
· You carry out this conversion at your own risk, be aware it could invalidate your laptop’s warranty …..
or blow it up!!
I have been using the above components for around four months now, without a problem. It only cost me around £60 in total!
Good luck!