4 ms·

Ok, this is all nice and true, but how would such a thing be handled in practice? There's a difference between "Standards Compliant" and "Does not work for me".

by cnvogel 11y ago

Ok, this is all nice and true, but how would such a thing be handled in practice? There's a difference between "Standards Compliant" and "Does not work for me". Many of the standards compliant cables might work just fine for a majority of users. Most specifically, the typical non-conformance was a wrong resistor value indicating that an A-to-C cable would be free to draw up to 3A from the A socket. This was in violation of maximum current allowed on an A connector, but I guess this is what many users appreciated, because it made the tablets charge faster. So, who gets to decide if a USB-C cable is nonconforming? Remember, we are not talking about expensive industrial or laboratory equipment but $10 (or ceaper) cables. Do I get to send it back to Amazon if it doesn't work with my USB-C device [which itself might be too picky, violating the standard] Or may I send it back when I can show a non-conformance using proper test equipment, even though the cable would work for most users? Does every vendor have to provide a certificate for successful passing of a testsuite/measurement? -- Also keep in mind that the specification doesn't only cover charge currents (which is pretty much exclusively what Benson Leungh had tested). And when I have demonstratively proven that a cable is dangerous, will Amazon reimburse all buyers?

majewsky 11y ago
> There's a difference between "Standards Compliant" and "Does not work for me". Many of the standards compliant cables might work just fine for a majority of users. I'd assume that a USB-Type C recepticle embedded in a costly device, such as a smartphone or notebook, is more likely to be manufactured by someone who adheres to the specs, or at least strives to.
- cnvogel 11y ago
  Yes, I had assumed such things in the past, too... ;-). But of course you are right in general: A smartphone, notebook or tablet manufactured will likely be built to stricter standards than a random cable from a random Amazon seller. Nevertheless, "works with a good notebook" is generally not a replacement for a proper acceptance test. -- Typically it will be in favor of the marginally failing component, as standards always employ some safety margins, and properly built hardware will be forgiving for "slightly broken" cables. Such a cable may as well, and rightfully, fail with any number of other perfectly standards compliant computers.

by cnvogel 11y ago

majewsky 11y ago

> There's a difference between "Standards Compliant" and "Does not work for me". Many of the standards compliant cables might work just fine for a majority of users. I'd assume that a USB-Type C recepticle embedded in a costly device, such as a smartphone or notebook, is more likely to be manufactured by someone who adheres to the specs, or at least strives to.

cnvogel 11y ago
Yes, I had assumed such things in the past, too... ;-). But of course you are right in general: A smartphone, notebook or tablet manufactured will likely be built to stricter standards than a random cable from a random Amazon seller. Nevertheless, "works with a good notebook" is generally not a replacement for a proper acceptance test. -- Typically it will be in favor of the marginally failing component, as standards always employ some safety margins, and properly built hardware will be forgiving for "slightly broken" cables. Such a cable may as well, and rightfully, fail with any number of other perfectly standards compliant computers.