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The idea of "hacking together" a charger sounds worrisome on the surface. Does anyone remember "Benson-approved" USB-C chargers? The first generation of USB-C c

The idea of "hacking together" a charger sounds worrisome on the surface. Does anyone remember "Benson-approved" USB-C chargers? The first generation of USB-C chargers were so bad that a Google Engineer (Benson Leung) had a side-project to test every USB-C cable he could find off Amazon and determine if it correctly followed the USB-C spec. The reason why he was doing this became clear when one of the cables he tested was so bad that it fried the USB port on his Chromebook Pixel 2015.[0] [0] https://www.androidpolice.com/2016/02/02/google-engineer-benson-leung-finds-a-usb-type-c-cable-that-isnt-just-dangerous-on-paper-it-allegedly-fried-his-hardware/ https://www.androidpolice.com/2016/02/02/google-engineer-ben...

nudgeee 6y ago
In order to carry the USB logo, chargers/cables/connectors/etc must pass a suite of compliance testing to get certification. Specifically for USB-C, you can find details of the USB Power Delivery 2.0/3.0 Compliance Plans at https://www.usb.org/usbc https://www.usb.org/usbc. This of course does not stop cheap knock-offs being made without proper compliance testing. I think as long as these hacks stay in 'prototype' mode, and is clearly called out as such, then it is fine. Once it goes beyond that (ie for sale without proper testing, etc), then it gets worrisome.
- gambiting 6y ago
  Nintendo Switch has the official USB-C logo on the box and it's not compliant, in fact plugging in the "wrong"(but also USB-C compliant) charger can break the device.
  - Dylan16807 6y ago
    The only chargers to break the switch were putting 9 volts on a low voltage data wire. Definitely not compliant. The switch has a couple issues with how it requests power but they're minor and mostly on the dock rather than the actual console.
OJFord 6y ago
The way around it's done in TFA though (adding a USB-C port to a DC barrel) seems least risky thing you could do to me - assuming you're using a known-good standards-compliant supply, you're only relying on the 'PD trigger' board requesting the correct voltage. Could add OV protection or a regulator if you don't trust it.
ogre_codes 6y ago
The title is a bit of a misnomer. They hacked a laptop with a barrel adaptor power supply so they can use a USB-C charger with it. So the issues dealing with USB-C PD aren't really there. (Or exist in the reverse which I suspect is more tolerant?)
Dylan16807 6y ago
> The reason why he was doing this became clear when one of the cables he tested was so bad that it fried the USB port on his Chromebook Pixel 2015. Nnnnnnot really. He was checking for cables that were misrepresenting themselves and might cause the wrong amount of current to be drawn. He found one cable that had the power wires completely backwards. That means it was a very blatant mistake that could just as easily happen to any kind of cable.

nudgeee 6y ago

In order to carry the USB logo, chargers/cables/connectors/etc must pass a suite of compliance testing to get certification. Specifically for USB-C, you can find details of the USB Power Delivery 2.0/3.0 Compliance Plans at https://www.usb.org/usbc https://www.usb.org/usbc. This of course does not stop cheap knock-offs being made without proper compliance testing. I think as long as these hacks stay in 'prototype' mode, and is clearly called out as such, then it is fine. Once it goes beyond that (ie for sale without proper testing, etc), then it gets worrisome.

gambiting 6y ago
Nintendo Switch has the official USB-C logo on the box and it's not compliant, in fact plugging in the "wrong"(but also USB-C compliant) charger can break the device.
- Dylan16807 6y ago
  The only chargers to break the switch were putting 9 volts on a low voltage data wire. Definitely not compliant. The switch has a couple issues with how it requests power but they're minor and mostly on the dock rather than the actual console.

OJFord 6y ago

The way around it's done in TFA though (adding a USB-C port to a DC barrel) seems least risky thing you could do to me - assuming you're using a known-good standards-compliant supply, you're only relying on the 'PD trigger' board requesting the correct voltage. Could add OV protection or a regulator if you don't trust it.

ogre_codes 6y ago

The title is a bit of a misnomer. They hacked a laptop with a barrel adaptor power supply so they can use a USB-C charger with it. So the issues dealing with USB-C PD aren't really there. (Or exist in the reverse which I suspect is more tolerant?)

Dylan16807 6y ago

> The reason why he was doing this became clear when one of the cables he tested was so bad that it fried the USB port on his Chromebook Pixel 2015. Nnnnnnot really. He was checking for cables that were misrepresenting themselves and might cause the wrong amount of current to be drawn. He found one cable that had the power wires completely backwards. That means it was a very blatant mistake that could just as easily happen to any kind of cable.