4 ms·

A power-only (2 wire) magnetic USB-C cable will be as safe as prior generation magnetic USB cables (it won't be more likely to damage your device)

Eisenstein 4y ago
Sure, it will be safe because it won't be able to go above 5V 3.0A (15W) at absolute max since it won't be negotiating PD. Most likely it won't have the proper termination resistors on the CC line and will get a whopping 900mA@5V = 4.5W * https://i.imgur.com/n3IjcQE.png https://i.imgur.com/n3IjcQE.png I encourage everyone to actually read the USB 3.2/C/PD spec sheets.
- felurx 4y ago
  15W (and even 4.5W) sound like enough for charging stuff like controllers, headphones and whatever other small battery-powered devices one has. (Also, do devices like that actually respect that 900mA thing, assuming they're capable of pulling that much power?) Aside from that: It's obviously not enough for a laptop, but what other devices do you really need that much more for in your day-to-day life? I think I haven't used a USB charger capable of outputting more than 10W in a while (aside from my Nintendo Switch and its charging brick, but because of the dock it wouldn't make much sense to use a magnet adapter anyway). At home, there's always a charger nearby, and when I leave the house my phone usually has enough power anyways, or the trip is long enough for me to throw a powerbank in my backpack no matter how full the phone battery is. And if you end up in a situation where you really need to quick-charge something, there's nothing stopping you from just taking the plug out for a short while.
  - Eisenstein 4y ago
    The thing is that USB-C was designed to be the universal connector, for both high and low power devices, for charging and data. Should there be a qualification: 'use the specification and standards violating magnetic adapters IF your device is X and not Y or else your macbook might get toasted and btw your warranty is now void for using it.' Or, just 'don't use shady spec violating components that don't exist in spec for good reasons'? > Also, do devices like that actually respect that 900mA thing, assuming they're capable of pulling that much power? USB-C will not 'give it' power unless it conforms to certain parameters like having a resistor on the CC line. This is the reason that crappy devices which merely changed the physical ports from micro-USB to USB-C and come with a USB-C (device end) to USB-A (charge end) will not charge with a USB-C to USB-C cable. The device never got updated to request the power and the USB-C port on the charger just ignores it.
greggsy 4y ago
I’m comfortable using the round two pin charging ones for things that only use the port for charging, not data, like mice, headphones, radios and speakers. The data ones are almost universally sketchy, as they expose pins (and sensitive internal circuitry) that should absolutely be kept away from the outside world. There is an emerging range that reduce the exposure somewhat, but I’m still wary.

Eisenstein 4y ago

Sure, it will be safe because it won't be able to go above 5V 3.0A (15W) at absolute max since it won't be negotiating PD. Most likely it won't have the proper termination resistors on the CC line and will get a whopping 900mA@5V = 4.5W * https://i.imgur.com/n3IjcQE.png https://i.imgur.com/n3IjcQE.png I encourage everyone to actually read the USB 3.2/C/PD spec sheets.

felurx 4y ago
15W (and even 4.5W) sound like enough for charging stuff like controllers, headphones and whatever other small battery-powered devices one has. (Also, do devices like that actually respect that 900mA thing, assuming they're capable of pulling that much power?) Aside from that: It's obviously not enough for a laptop, but what other devices do you really need that much more for in your day-to-day life? I think I haven't used a USB charger capable of outputting more than 10W in a while (aside from my Nintendo Switch and its charging brick, but because of the dock it wouldn't make much sense to use a magnet adapter anyway). At home, there's always a charger nearby, and when I leave the house my phone usually has enough power anyways, or the trip is long enough for me to throw a powerbank in my backpack no matter how full the phone battery is. And if you end up in a situation where you really need to quick-charge something, there's nothing stopping you from just taking the plug out for a short while.
- Eisenstein 4y ago
  The thing is that USB-C was designed to be the universal connector, for both high and low power devices, for charging and data. Should there be a qualification: 'use the specification and standards violating magnetic adapters IF your device is X and not Y or else your macbook might get toasted and btw your warranty is now void for using it.' Or, just 'don't use shady spec violating components that don't exist in spec for good reasons'? > Also, do devices like that actually respect that 900mA thing, assuming they're capable of pulling that much power? USB-C will not 'give it' power unless it conforms to certain parameters like having a resistor on the CC line. This is the reason that crappy devices which merely changed the physical ports from micro-USB to USB-C and come with a USB-C (device end) to USB-A (charge end) will not charge with a USB-C to USB-C cable. The device never got updated to request the power and the USB-C port on the charger just ignores it.

greggsy 4y ago

I’m comfortable using the round two pin charging ones for things that only use the port for charging, not data, like mice, headphones, radios and speakers. The data ones are almost universally sketchy, as they expose pins (and sensitive internal circuitry) that should absolutely be kept away from the outside world. There is an emerging range that reduce the exposure somewhat, but I’m still wary.