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Unintended consequences will be that we will have drawers full of USB-C cables working with certain devices. Case in point, family member came over before xmas.

Unintended consequences will be that we will have drawers full of USB-C cables working with certain devices. Case in point, family member came over before xmas. They wanted to download videos from their dash cam, they asked for a USB-C cable. None of the three cables I shared with them, of various brands, powered their camera. They had to use that “special” USB-C cable that came with their camera.

ianburrell 2y ago
USB-C cables are standardized. Nearly everything will charge with standard cable and charger. There is a problem with the cheap devices that will only charge from USB-A chargers not USB-C. The reason is that they don't spend the cents for USB-C charging chip or the resistors to signal that support legacy USB mode to USB-C charger. The problem isn't the cable or charger, the device is defective.
- rad_gruchalski 2y ago
  Whatever the reason. “But it has a USB-C port”.
tpmoney 2y ago
The most likely cause of this is a failure of the device manufacturer to adhere to the USB specs. USB-C (or maybe 3.0 or maybe PD) requires some resistors on the data lines for power negotiation. Even when you just want low level 5V at 0.5A you’re supposed to have some specific resistors to tell the upstream power provider what you want/need. Previous USB power didn’t require this and a bunch of devices that were designed for micro usb were updated to C connectors without revisiting the power circuit. As a result these non-compliant devices can’t pull power from compliant power supplies and computers. Options are to use the “special” cable (which is almost invariably a USB-A to USB-C cable since non-C ports provide 5V at 0.5-1A continuously) or to use “dumb” or otherwise non-compliant power supply (non-PD compatible power banks for example might still supply current on the USB-C out) And yes this is stupidly annoying
- deleted 2y ago
  [deleted]

ianburrell 2y ago

USB-C cables are standardized. Nearly everything will charge with standard cable and charger. There is a problem with the cheap devices that will only charge from USB-A chargers not USB-C. The reason is that they don't spend the cents for USB-C charging chip or the resistors to signal that support legacy USB mode to USB-C charger. The problem isn't the cable or charger, the device is defective.

rad_gruchalski 2y ago
Whatever the reason. “But it has a USB-C port”.

tpmoney 2y ago

The most likely cause of this is a failure of the device manufacturer to adhere to the USB specs. USB-C (or maybe 3.0 or maybe PD) requires some resistors on the data lines for power negotiation. Even when you just want low level 5V at 0.5A you’re supposed to have some specific resistors to tell the upstream power provider what you want/need. Previous USB power didn’t require this and a bunch of devices that were designed for micro usb were updated to C connectors without revisiting the power circuit. As a result these non-compliant devices can’t pull power from compliant power supplies and computers. Options are to use the “special” cable (which is almost invariably a USB-A to USB-C cable since non-C ports provide 5V at 0.5-1A continuously) or to use “dumb” or otherwise non-compliant power supply (non-PD compatible power banks for example might still supply current on the USB-C out) And yes this is stupidly annoying

deleted 2y ago
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