> I’m sure it’s only a matter of time until Amazon is flooded with cheap versions of this idea that tweak it just enough to avoid patent issues. I look forward to buying $3 breakaway USB-C cables in the future.
Has this guy not seen what's going on with Amazon and the cheap USB-C cables that are flooding it[0]? They're literally destroying people's laptops by drawing too much power and frying either end.
"It’s not the Nexus’ fault that my MacBook got fried — it was just doing what it was supposed to do: ask for as much power as it can get. It’s not the MacBook’s fault either — its ports weren’t designed to handle delivering that much juice nor to know that they shouldn’t even try. It is the fault of the cable, which is supposed to protect both sides from screwing up the energy equation with resistors and proper wiring."
This is simply not true. Both the device that is supplying and receiving power should be regulating. The cable should just be "dumb". I've done a bunch of testing on various chargers using cheap USB power meters and 2A USB dummy loads. For instance iPhones/iPads will monitor the voltage of the charger and if it starts sagging will reduce the amperage they draw. (my own testing has only been with "classic" USB type A stuff though)
The only cable I've heard of that actually fried anything was one that was wired completely wrong putting power on the data pins or something like that.
Are you familiar with Benson Leung (Google hardware engineer working on the Pixel) work reviewing various USB-C cables and accessories? He's extensively demonstrated that there are USB-C cables on the market that are dangerous.
Yes, he is who I was referring to when I mentioned "The only cable I've heard of that actually fried anything was one that was wired completely wrong putting power on the data pins or something like that."
edit: I will admit I am partially wrong though - checking a sample of his reviews reveals the case of Type A <> C cables, where as a bridge between the standards the cable is presenting as a charger - in those cases, yes it should not just be "dumb". I still maintain that well-behaved chargers should not supply more power than they are capable of, and well-behaved devices should (and many do) monitor their charging environment and back off when the voltage sags.
I fried my Nexus 5 with the original google USB-C cable and charger.
It's not always a wrong cable. It can be a small connection problem.
Then the USB-C power protocol goes up with it's power, similar to cell power with a bad signal.
Then it gets hot and catches fire.
Beware if you charge via USB-C in our bed. you can be dead.
> I’m sure it’s only a matter of time until Amazon is flooded with cheap versions of this idea that tweak it just enough to avoid patent issues. I look forward to buying $3 breakaway USB-C cables in the future.
Has this guy not seen what's going on with Amazon and the cheap USB-C cables that are flooding it[0]? They're literally destroying people's laptops by drawing too much power and frying either end.
[0]: http://www.theverge.com/2016/2/4/10916264/usb-c-russian-roul...