3 ms·

USB-C cables can have all sorts of logic embedded in the cable, including inline resistors to signal capabilities. However, when it comes to power delivery. Fo

USB-C cables can have all sorts of logic embedded in the cable, including inline resistors to signal capabilities. However, when it comes to power delivery. For both old style USB and newer USB-C, the thickness of the copper matters for how much amps the wire can carry. IE apple has a 30W charger that comes with a different thickness than their 61W charger. And using the 30W cable with the 61W charger. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201700#usbc https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201700#usbc > For the best charging experience, you should use the USB-C charge cable that comes with your Mac notebook. If you use a higher wattage USB-C cable, your Mac will still charge normally. USB-C cables rated for 29W or 30W will work with any USB-C power adapter, but won't provide enough power when connected to a power adapter that is more than 61W, such as the 96W USB-C Power Adapter. The best part is that the cables look nearly identical with some very small print on the cable that says they are different.

consp 5y ago
As a solution by anecdote: My (by now) ancient laptop simply won't charge (or boot if cold) if the wattage of the psu is insufficient. This will easily solve that problem as you find out when the battery runs out of juice. I noticed this as it originally came with a 45 watt charger but after a processor upgrade the required power would be at least 60 watt. Note that it will charge the battery when off with any charger, it is just slower.
crispyambulance 5y ago
> The best part is that the cables look nearly identical with some very small print on the cable that says they are different. If you're lucky, that is. One would think that after nearly 2 decades of USB cable confusion the standards bodies and vendors would make an effort to make the cable identification easy, but no. I suspect it's because they actually want consumers to end up buying lots cables and the churn it causes.

consp 5y ago

As a solution by anecdote: My (by now) ancient laptop simply won't charge (or boot if cold) if the wattage of the psu is insufficient. This will easily solve that problem as you find out when the battery runs out of juice. I noticed this as it originally came with a 45 watt charger but after a processor upgrade the required power would be at least 60 watt. Note that it will charge the battery when off with any charger, it is just slower.

crispyambulance 5y ago

> The best part is that the cables look nearly identical with some very small print on the cable that says they are different. If you're lucky, that is. One would think that after nearly 2 decades of USB cable confusion the standards bodies and vendors would make an effort to make the cable identification easy, but no. I suspect it's because they actually want consumers to end up buying lots cables and the churn it causes.