Can the laptop be charged from either side with the USB-C expansion card?
The laptop is charged through any of the four Expansion Card bays, through a USB-C Expansion Card.
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Brilliant setup with the charging scheme here.
I use a 1 Netbook Onemix 3pt currently for my on the go work load, just out of sheer convenience. (well not really. That kind of portable power is just super cool.) It can charge via USB C using a external battery that you would use for your phone, etc. I see that more and more laptops are supporting charging via USB C, but they don’t all support a wide range of chargers. Allowing one to use their phone charger with the laptop is just a good idea, that also makes it easier to pack for traveling.
Kudos and job well done!
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Curious question: Since you can charge from any port on the laptop, could you theoretically use 4 15W chargers to add up to the recommended 60W or does it only allow charging from one port?
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How did you get stuck with a load of >=4 15W PD chargers? 
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@John_Comeaux the laptop will only charge from one port at a time. It chooses the port with the highest available power.
This is due to a hardware limitation, as we only have one charge controller, and charging from multiple ports would require per port load balancing. I do not think many, if any laptops would support this feature.
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I didn’t, just a purely theoretical question. Though I could imagine someone having multiple phone chargers nearby with at least 15W.
Thanks for answering, that does make sense though my hardware knowledge is limited to knowing about components rather than circuitry, so that is interesting.
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Having four user selectable expansion slots is a great, I love the concept BUT there is a minor problem: The charging port is a dual purposed USB4/Power port which effectively forces user into having at least one USB-C slot for charging, which kinda defies the purpose beside the ability of chosing which side will contain the charging port. Older laptops had a seperate (sometimes clunky) charging port, but at least it didn’t take up any USB, video, etc. port.
My suggestion: Since the USB-C connector is so small, there should be a “hard implemented” port for charging only (and maybe USB HS) maybe for future models.
Better suggestion: Please release an expansion card which features two USB4 connections or maybe one USB4 + USB-PD port for charging and actually using the port.
Greetings
EDIT: There are already threads talking about this issue/idea
FURTHER EDIT: First answer to why it’s not doable (so far)
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Greetings, I got a question about how USB C works.
Can you use a USB C for charging and sharing media on a monitor at the same time?
For example the Gigabyte M32Q has a USB C and I want to know if it is possible.
One thing I can say as a use case for its current design: I’m currently sitting at an unusual desk for me and it was annoying to have power on the left (where I usually have it). I just flipped the card to the other side.
Made me laugh but it was super convenient!
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@Fidel_Ernesto_Arias Yes, you can. I used to have a LG 27UK850 monitor. You would connect a suitable cable between the laptop and the monitor. The monitor would provide power to the laptop and at the same time receive 4K video from the laptop. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this monitor for reasons relating to the display panel. I don’t know whether the Gigabyte M32Q has power delivery.
I don’t have that same monitor, however the manual says it will negotiate to one of the following settings:
0.5V/3A,
9V/2A,
12V/1.5A,
15V/1A
So you’re looking at 18W max. Which probably won’t be enough to keep the laptop charged. I have a Gigabyte m28u in the mail which will have the exact same problem. My solution will be to just plug in another cable for charging.
18W might be acceptable if you A) Close the laptop lid so it’s display isn’t being used, not use any peripherals and set the windows performance slider to best battery or B) Allow the battery to slowly drain (but slower than normal) throughout the day and have it charge back up overnight.
Sounds about right. I’m seeing 10-15W draw with power saving mode on, internal screen off, and Firefox open with ~20 tabs.
what kind of amps does it need if it is charging @ 60W? My charger says it has can only output 12 amp
Howdy. You may be reading the wrong stats on your charger. USB-PD chargers only go up to 5A (at 20V) for a delivery of 100W.
Here is a graph describing the modes that USB-PD will negotiate to:
If this doesn’t answer your question feel free to post a photo of the data on the power supply and we can have a go at deciphering.
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So I’m kind of re-asking the initial question, but is there any concern using the “fruit” company 96W USB-C power adapter?
Nope! Use at will! The Framework team basically made this thing able to charge from a 5V potato battery if you had USB-C hooked up…
On a serious note don’t try the potato thing, I’m 90% sure it won’t work…
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But if you have a goat on a wheel chasing the potato, you’ll be set!
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You may be onto something, a goat can potentially provide the 57W electrical power required to charge the Framework laptop at its maximum charge rate.
Accounting for a 40% conversion efficiency (assuming a pretty finely engineered theoretical goat power → electrical power turbine/generator of some kind) that means a 143W goat. 143W*(1HP/746W) ≈ 3/16HP. It seems possible that a horse is actually just 5 1/3 goats in a trenchcoat. I’m calling this one plausible.
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For additional alternate energy sources if you have a cow or cows you can just attach this near their rear and “catch the wind”.
WaterLily Turbine USB Charger - A Portable Water and Wind Turbine Charger to Charge All USB Devices Amazon.com