Power Usage (Mini)

**Lake** · 01-27-2005, 08:48 PM

I dug up some information on power usage in different modes for the Mini Mac that others might find useful. Boyd Waters was kind enough to plug his power meter into his new Mini in different modes of operation. You can read the posting on this page (scroll down to Jan 25, heading Power Consumption).

The short version is:

Off: 0-2 Watts
Booting: 30-40 Watts
Idle: 25 Watts
Sleep: 3-5 Watts (almost always 3)

Again, further details are available in the original posting.

~Lake

**rockthevolvo** · 01-27-2005, 09:25 PM

That is so unbelievably low

i thought it was around 85w for peak consumption

**Lake** · 01-27-2005, 11:03 PM

The power supply is rated to 85w, and the Apple Tech Specs say 85w max which is where everyone got that number. These are more usable numbers for predicting typical power consumption instead of just making sure you don't blow a fuse.

~Lake

P.S. alot of that 85W comes from meeting the requirements of supplying power to bus-powered USB and Firewire devices.

**Lake** · 01-28-2005, 12:24 AM

Here's yet another tidbit.

An Optima Yellow top (depending on model and voltage assumptions) has about 660 watt hours of energy. At a 3 watt drain that's a little over a week.

~Lake

**MikeH** · 01-28-2005, 07:55 AM

Off: 0-2 Watts
Booting: 30-40 Watts
Idle: 25 Watts
Sleep: 3-5 Watts (almost always 3)

These are very similar to the measurements I took directly at the Mac DC power input. Keep in mind you will be adding peripheral USB devices which may push this up substantially.

**mattdisaster** · 01-28-2005, 10:39 AM

Yea, and I know a few people who are planning on adding at least 2 external things (lets say a firewire drive, and usb2 gps). Mike will your powersource be similiar to the carnetix 1260? In that it works with the orig morex powerboard?

-matt

**MikeH** · 01-28-2005, 10:45 AM

Yes...similar concept. The P1900 will work with the existing 90W and 120W Morex PSUs in the Travla C137/138, IWill, EzGo, etc. Anything that needs +18V/19V/20V supply. Including the Mac Mini. It will also provide +12V to power your screen.

**capvent** · 01-28-2005, 04:57 PM

Mike - when can we expect the power supply? I want to plan my Mac purchase around the release. Let us know. Thanks.

**MikeH** · 01-28-2005, 05:52 PM

when can we expect the power supply?

I can't really give you a date yet because of a number of variables.

However, the biggest concern is the lack of an appropriate Power connector and ACPI connector. If we can't identify these, you will have to:

1) Cut your power cable from your AC adapter and splice it to the P1900 (this is what I have done for testing...not recommended for the faint of heart).

OR

2) Solder power wires directly to the MacMini motherboard (very undesirable, but leaves your AC adapter intact).

the ACPI connector workaround is:

3) Solder two small (22GA) wires directly to your motherboard or in parallel with your power switch to allow the Startup/Shutdown controller to work.

I would much prefer to find a source of these connectors. But so far we've not been successful.

**Delivery_Guy** · 01-28-2005, 06:08 PM

Originally Posted by MikeH

I can't really give you a date yet because of a number of variables.

However, the biggest concern is the lack of an appropriate Power connector and ACPI connector. If we can't identify these, you will have to:

1) Cut your power cable from your AC adapter and splice it to the P1900 (this is what I have done for testing...not recommended for the faint of heart).

OR

2) Solder power wires directly to the MacMini motherboard (very undesirable, but leaves your AC adapter intact).

the ACPI connector workaround is:

3) Solder two small (22GA) wires directly to your motherboard or in parallel with your power switch to allow the Startup/Shutdown controller to work.

I would much prefer to find a source of these connectors. But so far we've not been successful.

I know this is a dumb question, but have you tried asking Apple? Long shot, but might pan out.