Modder Tommy Doan shows how to transform a Mac Mini M4 into a portable battery-powered machine that can function without being hooked into a wall outlet. People who stick with desktop computers are typically tempted to its sheer power and familiarity, but they miss out on the opportunity to work from anywhere.
He discovers that the Mac Mini M4 consumes relatively little power. For simple tasks like web browsing, you’ll need 10 to 20 watts, but more intensive jobs like video rendering would require 25 to 40 watts. Apple includes an internal power source that converts AC from the wall to the 12 volts the device requires. Rather than hauling along an inverter-equipped battery pack, he bypassed the internal supply entirely and is now giving the Mac a clean 12-volt DC directly.
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Tommy carefully opens the casing, locates the two tiny golden screws that designate the DC input points, and disconnects them. He then connects a barrel connector directly to those spots, ensuring proper polarity to avoid blowing anything. The power bank itself is a massive UGreen 25,000 mAh unit with high-output USB-C PD. It can’t deliver 12 volts on its own, so he devised a trigger circuit that instructs it to provide 20 volts at 5 amps instead. From there, a buck converter reduces the voltage to a consistent 12 volts. To keep things neat, everything connects to a basic junction box.
He paired the setup with a UPerfect UColor J5 portable display. This compact 17.3-inch 4K IPS panel works at a fast 120Hz, covers 100% of the sRGB and DCI-P3 color spaces, and weighs less than two pounds. It is, however, all in one USB-C cable, which is convenient because it provides power, video, and touch input. When you have all of the pieces close at hand, it takes around 30 seconds to put everything together.
He secures the Mac Mini, power bank, converter chain, and cables inside a repurposed UPerfect monitor case with sticky tape. Why? His 3D-printer was too small to print his custom enclosure design, which means the monitor attaches independently and easily fits into a bag.
In his real-world tests, the 25,000 mAh battery lasted 3 to 3.5 hours for light labor and just slightly less, about 2 hours, when loaded. The pass-through charging feature allows you to recharge the battery from a wall charger while the Mac is operating, which is a terrific method to keep going forever if you do find an outlet. After two weeks of daily use, the system remained rock stable for browsing, administrative chores, and editing, with no major crashes in sight; nevertheless, long-term stability is dependent on ensuring proper wiring.
