Do monitors and other peripherals - with their own power source - drain power from MacBook when plugged in via USB-C?

I have 2 monitors plugged into my MacBook Pro 2016, one via USB-C and another through a 5-port hub with HDMI. When the MacBook is not plugged in to power (through the hub) it seems to drain power very quickly. Would the monitors cause this? Thx.

Solution 1:

Every device you plug into a USB port has a power requirement.

Some are quite small in the milliamp range and some can be quite large, up to 5A of current. The more devices, the more draw.

When you have monitors hooked up via USB, it's your CPU that is actually driving the display as there is no separate video adapter. Higher CPU cycles, more power draw. As your CPU works harder, fans have to kick on - another device, more draw.

So, in short, yes, your monitors are causing the more rapid drain on your battery.

Solution 2:

This is from both experience and speculation.

My MacBook Pro needs to be connected to power while the lid is shut in order to project the screen onto an external monitor. I imagine this is due to power limitations from the battery, as well as the need for greater power draw from the monitors.

If the lid is open, however, you can keep the power unplugged while still using monitors. This would certainly drain the battery faster, as the device now needs to project the display to one or more external monitors.