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0 pointsziml7715d ago0 comments

Ah that's a fun misuse of USB ports. The companies will often even dodge issues with the USB-IF by labeling the ports as Type C and letting the customer's mind fill in the word USB.

I wish these devices would just use barrel jacks, labeled with the voltage and polarity. But these manufacturers know that the USB-C port weighs into buying decisions (and they know that most people have zero clue about the difference between a physical port and the electrical/protocol specs).

0 comments

SoftTalker15d ago

I hate barrel jacks, it seems that every single time I encounter one it's different from any adaptor I have. Size, voltage, and polarity can all differ. People got sick of having 10 differnet power adatpters to charge stuff. Hence the demand for "single connector" which seems to have converged on the USB-C form factor.

ziml77OP15d ago

Right, but if it's not actually USB-C, at best you're looking at the device not working when plugged into a proper USB-C power supply. At worst you're facing fried electronics.

SoftTalker15d ago

Agreed that would be like wiring a standard North American household wall outlet with 240VAC. Technically possible, but will probably fry anything not expecting it.

ssl-315d ago

I came across a group of racks in the IT room in a (US) factory once that had 208v on their standard NEMA 5-15R sockets.

Their global-market IT stuff didn't care at all. But some of the US-market audio stuff I was integrating came with old-school linear power supplies, and those items cared a great deal.

flemhans15d ago

Or just include a $0.03 pd negotiator in the circuit

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

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SoftTalker15d ago

ziml77OP15d ago

Right, but if it's not actually USB-C, at best you're looking at the device not working when plugged into a proper USB-C power supply. At worst you're facing fried electronics.

SoftTalker15d ago

Agreed that would be like wiring a standard North American household wall outlet with 240VAC. Technically possible, but will probably fry anything not expecting it.

ssl-315d ago

I came across a group of racks in the IT room in a (US) factory once that had 208v on their standard NEMA 5-15R sockets.

Their global-market IT stuff didn't care at all. But some of the US-market audio stuff I was integrating came with old-school linear power supplies, and those items cared a great deal.

flemhans15d ago

Or just include a $0.03 pd negotiator in the circuit

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse