SnoopyDec 30, 2023

The EU common charger : USB-C

https://jlai.lu/post/3227375

The EU common charger : USB-C - jlai.lu

cross-posted from: https://jlai.lu/post/3226934 [https://jlai.lu/post/3226934] > [https://jlai.lu/pictrs/image/30d0a9c2-bf46-49a9-84b7-9fc92fac469e.jpeg] > > The wait is finally over. From 2024, USB-C will be the common standard for electronic devices in the EU – and we have already seen the impact ! > > It means > * 🔌The same charger for all phones, tablets and cameras > * ⚡ Harmonised fast-charging technology > * 🔄Reduced e-waste > > One charger to rule them all. > > Now, a reality. > > Learn more about the #EUCommonCharger here: https://europa.eu/!hwjj3G [https://europa.eu/!hwjj3G] > > Unbundling the sale of a charger from the sale of the electronic device . > > >The ‘common charging’ requirements will apply to all handheld mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones, headsets, portable speakers, handheld videogame consoles, e-readers, earbuds, keyboards, mice, and portable navigation systems as of 2024. These requirements will also apply to laptops as of 2026. Such transition periods will give industry sufficient time to adapt before the entry into application. > > >Consumers will be able to purchase a new electronic device without a new charger. This will limit the number of chargers on the market or left unused. Reducing production and disposal of new chargers is estimated to reduce the amount of electronic waste by 980 tonnes yearly > > >Producers will need to provide relevant visual and written information about charging characteristics, including information on the power the device requires and whether it supports fast charging. This will help consumers understand if their existing chargers meet their new device’s requirements and/or help them select a compatible charger. Combined with the other measures, this will help consumers to limit the number of new chargers purchased and save at least €250 million a year on unnecessary charger purchases. > > > — > > L’attente est finalement terminĂ©e. À partir de 2024, l’USB-C deviendra la norme commune pour les appareils Ă©lectroniques dans l’UE – et nous avons dĂ©jĂ  vu son impact ! > > Cela signifie > > * 🔌Le mĂȘme chargeur pour tous les tĂ©lĂ©phones, tablettes et appareils photo > * ⚡ Technologie de charge rapide harmonisĂ©e > * 🔄RĂ©duction des dĂ©chets Ă©lectroniques > > Un chargeur pour les gouverner tous. Maintenant, une rĂ©alitĂ©. Pour en savoir plus sur le #EUCommonCharger, cliquez ici : https://europa.eu/!hwjj3G [https://europa.eu/!hwjj3G] > > >Les exigences de « charge commune » s’appliqueront Ă  tous les tĂ©lĂ©phones mobiles portables, tablettes, appareils photo numĂ©riques, Ă©couteurs, casques, haut-parleurs portables, consoles de jeux vidĂ©o portables, liseuses Ă©lectroniques, Ă©couteurs, claviers, souris et systĂšmes de navigation portables Ă  partir de 2024. Ces exigences s’appliquera Ă©galement aux ordinateurs portables Ă  partir de 2026. De telles pĂ©riodes de transition donneront Ă  l’industrie suffisamment de temps pour s’adapter avant l’entrĂ©e en application. > > >Les consommateurs pourront acheter un nouvel appareil Ă©lectronique sans nouveau chargeur. Cela limitera le nombre de chargeurs sur le marchĂ© ou inutilisĂ©s. On estime que la rĂ©duction de la production et de l’élimination des nouveaux chargeurs permettrait de rĂ©duire la quantitĂ© de dĂ©chets Ă©lectroniques de 980 tonnes par an. > > > Les producteurs devront fournir des informations visuelles et Ă©crites pertinentes sur les caractĂ©ristiques de charge, y compris des informations sur la puissance requise par l’appareil et s’il prend en charge une charge rapide. Cela aidera les consommateurs Ă  comprendre si leurs chargeurs existants rĂ©pondent aux exigences de leur nouvel appareil et/ou les aidera Ă  sĂ©lectionner un chargeur compatible. CombinĂ©e aux autres mesures, cette mesure aidera les consommateurs Ă  limiter le nombre de nouveaux chargeurs achetĂ©s et Ă  Ă©conomiser au moins 250 millions d’euros par an sur les achats inutiles de chargeurs

Show threadcaptainastronaut
I just wish there was a standard for marking the cables, so you could look at the cable and tell what it was capable of. All the cables and chargers look the same but have wildly different capabilities. ïżŒ
Dec 30, 2023 at 2:49pmWeb
Show threadSnoopyDec 30, 2023

Yeah i discovered that and i was extremely furious. I bought a usbc cable around 10€ and it wasn’t working because the device only supported a certain type of usbc. Apparently, there is some info about information in the eu website.

But i’m not able to understand any technical part
i just want a color : yellow charger/cable go with yellow port. Etc.

Show threadabhibeckertDec 30, 2023

i’m not able to understand any technical part

I’ll break it down for you - it’s a long list but easy to understand:

  • Some cables have four internal wires. Others have over a dozen wires.
  • Some have thin wires, some have thick wires. The thick ones cost more and are less flexible - the main benefit is they can be longer while charging quickly.
  • Some cables have the internal wires wrapped in plastic. Others have them wrapped in plastic then that’s wrapped in a metal shield, then that’s wrapped in another plastic layer. The latter is more reliable and not just for the cable itself (without shielding, the cable can interfere with other electronics that are near the cable - such as your computer or phone.
  • Some are just ordinary cabling, and some have complex circuitry embedded in the cable to run advanced algorithms to remove noise from the cable - this is necessary to achieve high data rates at long cable lengths.
  • Nearly all use copper cables. A few use fibre optic cables. This can handle even longer cable lengths
  • Some cables are just like “whatever this will do”, and others are well designed and carefully manufactured/tested/etc.
  • That’s just the basics - I could go on.

i just want a color : yellow charger/cable go with yellow port. Etc.

There would need to be something like a hundred colors. The USB standards body is pushing cable manufacturers to use labels that show data rates (gigabits per second) and power capabilities (watts). That will help a lot, but for all the other stuff (especially shielding and general quality
) you need to rely on either brand reputation or third party tests that either cut the cable open or run it through a CT scan.

Show threadSnoopyDec 30, 2023

Well i didn’t expect ton of features. I just wanted a simple cable to transfer data. According to the cable notice, it should. But fiio sold a device with an proprietary usbc cable that can only transfert data in one direction. And no usbc-usbc can connect to it, i have to buy a fiio’s cable as apple’s lightening.

Then i dig and discovered this whole usb-c mess. It breaks intoperability. That’s why i was mad. It’s inefficient and wasteful
and no vendors were able to help me when i asked which cable can work with it.

They don’t know cable as you do, and i guess i have to take lesson on cable myself as i can’t trust manufacturer nor vendors that are as knowledgeable as me. I should have gone to the hacker fab lab first.

Show threadSnoopyDec 30, 2023
And thank a lot for this great recap, i’m saving it. â˜ș
Show threadcmnyboDec 30, 2023
Even worse, many of the features require a ID chip in the cable, so a simple continuity test can’t determine what the cable actually supports.
Show threadrockSlayerDec 30, 2023
It’s because the USB-IF is fucking terrible at their jobs and can’t figure out how to name things in a meaningful way.
Show threadKptnAutismusDec 30, 2023

and the naming scheme doesn’t make it any better, “USB 3.2 Gen 3 with USB PD and/or CuickCharge” just doesn’t make sense to rationally thinking people.

how about “USB C-C up to X amount of mbytes and 100W charging”?

Show threadtowerfulDec 30, 2023
And WiFi is going the opposite direction. From 802.1a/b/ax/whatever to WiFi 5, 6 etc.
(Although the MIMO chains can get a bit more complex, but still fairly simple compared to the USB bs)
Show threadKptnAutismusDec 30, 2023
this is the way.
Show threadSnipingNinjaDec 31, 2023
The last one is what’s happening now, or was that a fever dream I had
Show threadTunaLobsterDec 31, 2023
That’s the latest guidance. Manufactures are free to do whatever they want though.
Show threadbambooDec 31, 2023
The charging side is complicated to mark accurately because it has to consider current and voltage. Like, a cable might be able to do 60W, but only at 2A@30V, 3A@20V would melt the cable.
Show threadsydDec 30, 2023

Absolutely. I think it should have labels instead of colors tho. Because vendors can use different colors for same standards, which they’re doing right now.

For example random unique two-lettered labels printed on the one end of the cable. So we can Google “USB XX” and see what it is capable of and what not. Also vendors can simply say “this product is needed to be used with at least XX USB standard”.

Show threadCavemanDec 30, 2023
We need something like resistor band labeling for chargers. Yellow for 1A, Green for 2A and another band for the charging standard such as PD QC3.0 and so on.
Show threadXatolosDec 30, 2023

USB-C is a connection standard, nothing else. The USB technology in the cabling isn’t what’s being made a standard. It’s like how Cat 5 internet cabling looks identical to Cat 6 internet cabling, but the performance is different.

It doesn’t help the average user, I’ll agree though.

Show threadaardDec 30, 2023
I have stuck labels on all my DP capable cables - it is very annoying not to get video output, and “does this cable even work for video” being one of the things you need to debug.
Show threadMonkderZweiteDec 30, 2023
Yeah, something like ⚡đŸ“ș