Yeah that’s when they cheap out on a resistor to make it USB/USB-C compliant (since without that they simply don’t request any power. There isn’t any power provided if nothing is requested)
Comment on The EU common charger : USB-C
TenderfootGungi@lemmy.world 8 months ago
In the US we are seeing a lot of cheap products that are supposedly USB-C. Like the flashlight I got for Christmas. But they will only charge with a USB-A to USB-C cable. They are basically USB-A chargers with a different shaped plug. They will not charge with a real USB-C cable. Is this also true in the EU?
only0218@sh.itjust.works 8 months ago
ekky@sopuli.xyz 8 months ago
I’m do not understand why it would not be able to charge with a X to USB-C.
As far as I’m aware, even if one of the two connected devices (such as charger and flashlight) doesn’t have a proper chip for agreeing on voltage, it will just default to 5v. The only thing that should prevent that is a damaged (as in no + or - connection) cable. Even if the data connections are damaged, it should still charge in slow-mode.
Needless to say, I have never experienced that problem even with cheap china cables/chargers, except, of course, for damaged cables.
Player2@sopuli.xyz 8 months ago
For c to c cables, the devices need to be able to communicate with each other to establish which one is the host (the charger in this case). With a to c cables, the type a side is assumed to be the host by default. You’ll often find that manufacturers of cheaper devices prefer not to spend the extra money to implement this technology, though some will, and in fact allow for even more functionality. For example, one of my flashlights does have that chip, so it can both charge from a c to c cable if a charger is detected, and also automatically act as a power bank if I connect a device to it such as a mobile phone.
vaionko@sopuli.xyz 8 months ago
The technology you’re talking about is literally two resistors - parts that cost less than a cent a piece when you get a few hundred.
Player2@sopuli.xyz 8 months ago
All I’m hearing is potential savings $$$
barsoap@lemm.ee 8 months ago
They’re probably using one of the non-standard quick-charge modes and can’t fall back to slow charging. Likely won’t work at just every USB-A port then either as there’s a couple of those standards around and computers don’t tend to support them (not just their USB-C ports, but all).
USB-C has its own quickcharge standard, USB-PD, and that’s also what’s required by EU rules.
MaXsteri@lemmy.world 8 months ago
Currently this also seems true in the UK. The cheap USB-C devices I have refuse to charge using a real USB cable. And instead need a USB-A to USB-C cable.