4 ms·

Back in 2011 it was easy to just use a power only USB cable. Is there something like that for modern USB-C style charging?

thaumasiotes 4y ago
USB-C has meant that cables have split into one paradigm with high power draw and low data transfer speed (for charging), and a separate paradigm with low power draw and high data transfer speed (for data transfer). You need to buy separate cables and then keep track of which is which, but, luckily for you, they have exactly the same connectors. It is not clear to me why this represents a technological advance over the ancient system of having separate power and data cables using different connectors. On the other hand, you don't see power cables with no data transfer capabilities. For phones, the obvious solution would appear to be the fact that when you plug your phone into a power source that also has data capabilities, it defaults to "USB is for power only", and you'd have to manually switch it to data transfer if you actually wanted data transfer. For laptops... how often do USB-C-charging laptops accept data through the charging port?
- Tagbert 4y ago
  If you buy regular USB-C cables design for data they will charge exactly as fast as the USB-PD cables. UBS-PD is setup as a spec so companies can sell cheaper cables just for charging. To avoid this kind of problem, you need to add an adaptor or cable with the data pins disabled. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082WDHS22/ref=vp_d_cpf-substitute-widget_pd?_encoding=UTF8&pf_rd_p=f3e0f858-bc1b-4cf8-bdca-f6e1481f1fbe&pf_rd_r=6PQWC22S9HWNM6D9TBY2&pd_rd_wg=xpOJk&pd_rd_i=B082WDHS22&pd_rd_w=GgZvq&content-id=amzn1.sym.f3e0f858-bc1b-4cf8-bdca-f6e1481f1fbe&pd_rd_r=1d138427-be27-442d-ae20-0b98fe22aacd https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082WDHS22/ref=vp_d_cpf-substitute...
Johnny555 4y ago
I just use a battery pack as a go between -- I never plug my phone directly into a public charger, I either use a tiny charge cube and plug into the wall (if I can find an outlet), or recharge a battery pack that I use to charge my phone. Another advantage of the battery pack is that I'm a lot less worried about leaving a $15 battery pack unattended while I go pick up some food than my $500 phone.
- Eduard 4y ago
  All this assuming there didn't exist an exploitable firmware in your USB chargers and powerbanks, which could be used to spread a USB virus or install a payload.
  - UltimateEdge 4y ago
    I doubt the USB data lines on a portable charger are connected to anything. When did you last update the firmware for your charger?
    - asddubs 4y ago
      they might have a resistor to indicate how much current is okay to draw, or they might be hooked up to a chip negotiating things like the voltage for the pd protocol, but usually it will be an asic that doesn't even really have firmware
  - Johnny555 4y ago
    Are there any $15 battery packs that have exposed firmware?
  - JohnFen 4y ago
    Not saying they don't exist, but I've never seen a power bank that had the output data lines wired up to anything.
- quickthrower2 4y ago
  2033: Virus that infects battery pack smart wifi connection and then infects phone that it charges
Tagbert 4y ago
Yes, I keep exactly that kind of short cable in my travel bag. There are also USB-A versions for the more common kind of port you might find. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082WDHS22/ref=vp_d_cpf-substitute-widget_pd?_encoding=UTF8&pf_rd_p=f3e0f858-bc1b-4cf8-bdca-f6e1481f1fbe&pf_rd_r=6PQWC22S9HWNM6D9TBY2&pd_rd_wg=xpOJk&pd_rd_i=B082WDHS22&pd_rd_w=GgZvq&content-id=amzn1.sym.f3e0f858-bc1b-4cf8-bdca-f6e1481f1fbe&pd_rd_r=1d138427-be27-442d-ae20-0b98fe22aacd https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082WDHS22/ref=vp_d_cpf-substitute...
- HnUser12 4y ago
  The problem with buying stuff off Amazon is, we don’t know if the stuff itself is compromised[1][2]. I wish some well-known manufacturer would offer something like this. [1] https://www.pcmag.com/news/android-tv-box-sold-on-amazon-comes-with-a-special-treat-malware https://www.pcmag.com/news/android-tv-box-sold-on-amazon-com... [2] https://youtu.be/1vpepaQ-VQQ https://youtu.be/1vpepaQ-VQQ (Youtube)
Turing_Machine 4y ago
There appear to be numerous choices on Amazon, both cables and dongles that work with your existing cables. Of course, that depends on the data blocker itself not being compromised. :-)
thefz 4y ago
Exactly my thought as well: aren't data and power pins on all USB standards separate anyway? Just buy a charge only cable.

thaumasiotes 4y ago

USB-C has meant that cables have split into one paradigm with high power draw and low data transfer speed (for charging), and a separate paradigm with low power draw and high data transfer speed (for data transfer). You need to buy separate cables and then keep track of which is which, but, luckily for you, they have exactly the same connectors. It is not clear to me why this represents a technological advance over the ancient system of having separate power and data cables using different connectors. On the other hand, you don't see power cables with no data transfer capabilities. For phones, the obvious solution would appear to be the fact that when you plug your phone into a power source that also has data capabilities, it defaults to "USB is for power only", and you'd have to manually switch it to data transfer if you actually wanted data transfer. For laptops... how often do USB-C-charging laptops accept data through the charging port?

Tagbert 4y ago
If you buy regular USB-C cables design for data they will charge exactly as fast as the USB-PD cables. UBS-PD is setup as a spec so companies can sell cheaper cables just for charging. To avoid this kind of problem, you need to add an adaptor or cable with the data pins disabled. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082WDHS22/ref=vp_d_cpf-substitute-widget_pd?_encoding=UTF8&pf_rd_p=f3e0f858-bc1b-4cf8-bdca-f6e1481f1fbe&pf_rd_r=6PQWC22S9HWNM6D9TBY2&pd_rd_wg=xpOJk&pd_rd_i=B082WDHS22&pd_rd_w=GgZvq&content-id=amzn1.sym.f3e0f858-bc1b-4cf8-bdca-f6e1481f1fbe&pd_rd_r=1d138427-be27-442d-ae20-0b98fe22aacd https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082WDHS22/ref=vp_d_cpf-substitute...

Johnny555 4y ago

I just use a battery pack as a go between -- I never plug my phone directly into a public charger, I either use a tiny charge cube and plug into the wall (if I can find an outlet), or recharge a battery pack that I use to charge my phone. Another advantage of the battery pack is that I'm a lot less worried about leaving a $15 battery pack unattended while I go pick up some food than my $500 phone.

Eduard 4y ago
All this assuming there didn't exist an exploitable firmware in your USB chargers and powerbanks, which could be used to spread a USB virus or install a payload.
- UltimateEdge 4y ago
  I doubt the USB data lines on a portable charger are connected to anything. When did you last update the firmware for your charger?
  - asddubs 4y ago
    they might have a resistor to indicate how much current is okay to draw, or they might be hooked up to a chip negotiating things like the voltage for the pd protocol, but usually it will be an asic that doesn't even really have firmware
- Johnny555 4y ago
  Are there any $15 battery packs that have exposed firmware?
- JohnFen 4y ago
  Not saying they don't exist, but I've never seen a power bank that had the output data lines wired up to anything.
quickthrower2 4y ago
2033: Virus that infects battery pack smart wifi connection and then infects phone that it charges

Tagbert 4y ago

Yes, I keep exactly that kind of short cable in my travel bag. There are also USB-A versions for the more common kind of port you might find. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082WDHS22/ref=vp_d_cpf-substitute-widget_pd?_encoding=UTF8&pf_rd_p=f3e0f858-bc1b-4cf8-bdca-f6e1481f1fbe&pf_rd_r=6PQWC22S9HWNM6D9TBY2&pd_rd_wg=xpOJk&pd_rd_i=B082WDHS22&pd_rd_w=GgZvq&content-id=amzn1.sym.f3e0f858-bc1b-4cf8-bdca-f6e1481f1fbe&pd_rd_r=1d138427-be27-442d-ae20-0b98fe22aacd https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082WDHS22/ref=vp_d_cpf-substitute...

HnUser12 4y ago
The problem with buying stuff off Amazon is, we don’t know if the stuff itself is compromised[1][2]. I wish some well-known manufacturer would offer something like this. [1] https://www.pcmag.com/news/android-tv-box-sold-on-amazon-comes-with-a-special-treat-malware https://www.pcmag.com/news/android-tv-box-sold-on-amazon-com... [2] https://youtu.be/1vpepaQ-VQQ https://youtu.be/1vpepaQ-VQQ (Youtube)

Turing_Machine 4y ago

There appear to be numerous choices on Amazon, both cables and dongles that work with your existing cables. Of course, that depends on the data blocker itself not being compromised. :-)

thefz 4y ago

Exactly my thought as well: aren't data and power pins on all USB standards separate anyway? Just buy a charge only cable.