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It's not fully impossible to build an up-to-specs magnetic USB C connector, it just hasn't happened yet. I am 100% if anyone ever pulls it off, it'll be Apple.

by chx 6y ago

It's not fully impossible to build an up-to-specs magnetic USB C connector, it just hasn't happened yet. I am 100% if anyone ever pulls it off, it'll be Apple. https://twitter.com/USBCGuy/status/1186718432932159488 https://twitter.com/USBCGuy/status/1186718432932159488 > No, because per the spec, and current technological limitations, there is no way to do a proper connector and logic board. > It might be possible some day with active electronics, and special electrooptical couplers. But I haven't seen any yet. Written by Nathan Kolluru. He and Benson Leung were the two guys who did early through technical reviews of USB C cables, later he joined Google as well as a Hardware Engineer, Technical Program Manager. They gave this presentation recently https://www.usb.org/sites/default/files/D1T2-3b%20-%20USB%20Type-C%20Linux%20Connector%20Class.pdf https://www.usb.org/sites/default/files/D1T2-3b%20-%20USB%20... In other words, he actually knows what he is talking about USB C wise, unlike little me :D Interesting writings on USB C hw at https://medium.com/@kolluru.nathan https://medium.com/@kolluru.nathan Edit: please, ffs, stop recommending non specs compliant garbage magnetic connectors. One, you might have very serious ESD issues because now your USB C pins are much more exposed than the normal connector. Two, you might have very serious data integrity issues because those pogo pins do not and can not adhere to the very rigorous specs. I find it absolutely astonishing that people would trust a thousand dollar electronic device on a piece of uncertified cable transmitting 100W and tens of gigabits...

jws 6y ago
They could put all the USB C logic required for power negotiation in the molded connector of a USB C cable and expose 5 contacts on the magnetic side of the connector. [gnd-pwr-data-pwr-gnd] that lets you plug it in either way. You would then have a cable that was USB C PD on one end and MagSafe on the other. You could carry your USB-MagSafe cable and still use any USB C power source, or bring one with if you like. It isn't a full USB C with it's score of hair thin wires, but it lets you have some beefy power and ground contacts and enough I/O to chat about voltages, currents, and what color an LED might want to be.
imhoguy 6y ago
I see some 24 pin "magnetic usb-c" adapters with 100W PD and TB3 compatibility on Amazon/Aliexpress. They need an existing cable so likely they just pass-thru cable capability discovery to an existing chip. Apart of some wear issues, reviews are rather positive. Anyone tried such?
- jki275 6y ago
  None of them work unfortunately. They can pass USB 3 through, but you can't run anything beyond that. No video, no thunderbolt. I've tried several variants of them, they're all the exact same product and they don't work.
- woodwireandfood 6y ago
  I got one recently. Haven't had it for long enough to see wear issues, but I'm surprised how well it's worked. Biggest annoyance is that it's sensitive to being jostled. When it was just power, that didn't matter so much, but when it's connected to my docking station, it's the same as yanking the cable. It's staying, for now, but I have to be careful moving things around on my desk. Edit to address sibling concern: It's running a TB3 screen, so seems to be working for that...
  - CameronNemo 6y ago
    Would really appreciate a link. Have been looking at magnetic USB C connectors but some look shady/bad.
    - woodwireandfood 6y ago
      Wanted to wait until this dropped off the front page out of respect for chx's concerns. In that vein, let me say that I have neither the skills nor the equipment to evaluate any of chx's technical concerns. The best I can say is that it seems to do what I want (pass power and TB3 with a magnetic coupling), and there haven't been any symptoms of problems that I've been able to see. Yet. I'm now a little worried, though :| The 24-pin one here is what I'm using: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0896QK2J5 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0896QK2J5
      - panda88888 6y ago
        I use the same one and it works for me with the Caldigit thunderbolt 3 dock.
- deleted 6y ago
Hansi 6y ago
We just use these: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07GHZC8FN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabc_68CaGb4A08SB1 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07GHZC8FN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fa...
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]

by chx 6y ago

jws 6y ago

They could put all the USB C logic required for power negotiation in the molded connector of a USB C cable and expose 5 contacts on the magnetic side of the connector. [gnd-pwr-data-pwr-gnd] that lets you plug it in either way. You would then have a cable that was USB C PD on one end and MagSafe on the other. You could carry your USB-MagSafe cable and still use any USB C power source, or bring one with if you like. It isn't a full USB C with it's score of hair thin wires, but it lets you have some beefy power and ground contacts and enough I/O to chat about voltages, currents, and what color an LED might want to be.

imhoguy 6y ago

I see some 24 pin "magnetic usb-c" adapters with 100W PD and TB3 compatibility on Amazon/Aliexpress. They need an existing cable so likely they just pass-thru cable capability discovery to an existing chip. Apart of some wear issues, reviews are rather positive. Anyone tried such?

jki275 6y ago
None of them work unfortunately. They can pass USB 3 through, but you can't run anything beyond that. No video, no thunderbolt. I've tried several variants of them, they're all the exact same product and they don't work.
woodwireandfood 6y ago
I got one recently. Haven't had it for long enough to see wear issues, but I'm surprised how well it's worked. Biggest annoyance is that it's sensitive to being jostled. When it was just power, that didn't matter so much, but when it's connected to my docking station, it's the same as yanking the cable. It's staying, for now, but I have to be careful moving things around on my desk. Edit to address sibling concern: It's running a TB3 screen, so seems to be working for that...
- CameronNemo 6y ago
  Would really appreciate a link. Have been looking at magnetic USB C connectors but some look shady/bad.
  - woodwireandfood 6y ago
    Wanted to wait until this dropped off the front page out of respect for chx's concerns. In that vein, let me say that I have neither the skills nor the equipment to evaluate any of chx's technical concerns. The best I can say is that it seems to do what I want (pass power and TB3 with a magnetic coupling), and there haven't been any symptoms of problems that I've been able to see. Yet. I'm now a little worried, though :| The 24-pin one here is what I'm using: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0896QK2J5 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0896QK2J5
    - panda88888 6y ago
      I use the same one and it works for me with the Caldigit thunderbolt 3 dock.
deleted 6y ago

Hansi 6y ago

We just use these: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07GHZC8FN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabc_68CaGb4A08SB1 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07GHZC8FN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fa...

deleted 6y ago
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