Can HP Spectre 13 (13-v011dx) be charged with non-HP USB C charger after December BIOS update?

[johnsmith4]

The reviews when it first came out say no, but I've heard that a recent bios change has removed HP's restriction.

I want to use a battery bank, specifically the 2-USB version of the EC Technology 22400mAh Power Bank. I also want to use a USB-C cable with magsafe connectors like the WSKEN Mini2 USB, along with any normal phone wall charger. 

Has anyone successfully charged it with a different charger or battery bank? I don't have a USB-C to A cable and don't want to buy one if I'm not sure it'll work. I have tried a USB-C to micro USB adapter along with a micro USB cable and wall charger. It didn't work, but that could be because of the adapter. 2 adapters - USB C to micro USB to USB A - work, but USB C to micro USB memory stick doesn't, although it could be an OTG issue which laptops don't use. 

[Lausbub · Accepted solution]

Hi,

yes, it works. But not with all AC Adapters. The one working for me is this one:

RAVPower Type-C Charger 36W 2-Port USB Typ C

I bought it at Amazon ...

[johnsmith4]

Thanks for the reply. I'm guessing you charge it with the USB C port rather than the USB A one. Are you able to test whether it works, even if slowly, with the USB A port? It doesn't look like it provides enough volts/watts/amps. Also, the adapter looks to be the same size as the HP adapter, minus the compact wall plug. Portable USB C chargers seem prohibitively expensive. But it looks like the Spectre can share some accessories with the Macbook. 

[Lausbub]

Just tried it with USB A  - didn't work when notebook is running. USB C works.

USB C output is 20V /1.5A Max - that seems to be enough.

What I recognized is that some USB charger work while the notebook is off.