USB-C is about to go from 100W to 240W, enough to power beefier laptops

Post by leoc » Wed, May 26, 2021, 5:16 PM UTC

dijit wrote: post #16

TeMPOraL wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At which point do we change assumptions about safety of USB cables though? Myself and most people I know always considered USB connection to be safe-ish - that is, you can keep the cable connected on the supply side, and have the receiver end just lie on the desk on the floor, and the worst that could possibly happen is some tiny sparking if the stray end touches something conductive in a very unlucky way. But the mo…

I mean, I share that worry, but isn’t the “-PD” part of “USB-PD” a negotiation step? I have very little worry that my carpet can accidentally negotiate 60w and up. I _am_ worried about cheap USB-PD devices that forgoe this negotiation as it is complex and expensive to implement.

Post by xen2xen1 » Wed, May 26, 2021, 5:18 PM UTC

yboris wrote: post #62

mavhc wrote: post #52

Powering 90% of the things in your house via DC power should be the future, no more switching from DC solar/battery back to AC and then back to DC again for no reason.

Semi related question : has anyone come across a product that would let me replace an outlet or a light fixture with a flush (clean design) thing that provides enough power for an LED strip? I don't like having a large DC converter hanging off a switch hanging off an outlet. And I can't have a DC converter hang off a ceiling (nor do I want to wire it directly and hide inside the ceiling either).

Post by jerf » Wed, May 26, 2021, 5:20 PM UTC

rini17 wrote: post #61

cletus wrote: post #11

I look forward to USB 4.1a Type C.2 Phase iii.b Gen 3E and the 482646282 different cable capability combinations that all plug in and have no distinction of those capabilities whatsoever. I also look forward to all the necessary and helpful posts telling me how the identical ports on my laptop are in fact diffferent despite their identical appearance. But at least everything uses the same plug, so that’s nice.

Are there cheap devices that measure USB cables? So that user plugs the cable into it (both ends) and it will list what protocols/bandwidth does it support. And electrical resistance of course.

Post by OnlyOneCannolo » Wed, May 26, 2021, 5:26 PM UTC

baybal2 wrote: post #86

Uh.... Melting USB-C connectors at 65W are already bad enough. The problem is that there is no way to detect a bad contact, and they tend to be. Few specs of dust, and you have 5 amps going to a single pin. Even if you have split seconds momentary disconnects, you can get welds in contact pads, which will over time degrade the contact. On other note, Intel may be increasing laptop CPU power budgets into 60W-70W terri…

Post by Causality1 » Wed, May 26, 2021, 5:27 PM UTC

jessikat wrote: post #92

cletus wrote: post #11

I look forward to USB 4.1a Type C.2 Phase iii.b Gen 3E and the 482646282 different cable capability combinations that all plug in and have no distinction of those capabilities whatsoever. I also look forward to all the necessary and helpful posts telling me how the identical ports on my laptop are in fact diffferent despite their identical appearance. But at least everything uses the same plug, so that’s nice.

At least USB-A receptacles were coloured... did we really need to descend into hell for a slightly slimmer reversible plug that wears out even faster than USB-A cables?