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Be careful about borrowing a charging cable

Seek assistance with all types of tech. - computer, phone, TV, heating controls etc.
Clitheroekid
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Be careful about borrowing a charging cable

#256790

Postby Clitheroekid » October 9th, 2019, 2:15 pm

Sorry if it's been posted before - I don't follow this board - but a chum sent me this recently, and I felt it merited publicising - https://www.fastcompany.com/90413945/th ... hone-cable

Infrasonic
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Re: Be careful about borrowing a charging cable

#256791

Postby Infrasonic » October 9th, 2019, 2:30 pm

You can buy 'condom' adapters that block the data pins on USB leads, allowing charging only (or it's a 30 second DIY job with bits of tape, although USB C might be a bit fiddly...).
https://www.amazon.co.uk/PortaPow-PPSCA ... B00QRRZ2QM

Lightning 'charge only' cables...https://www.amazon.co.uk/PortaPow-Speci ... WWFV0PJ0PZ

AleisterCrowley
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Re: Be careful about borrowing a charging cable

#256808

Postby AleisterCrowley » October 9th, 2019, 4:35 pm

My elderly iPhone needs a data connection before it will charge via USB, or an intermediate voltage on the data lines

Infrasonic
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Re: Be careful about borrowing a charging cable

#256937

Postby Infrasonic » October 10th, 2019, 12:48 pm

AleisterCrowley wrote:My elderly iPhone needs a data connection before it will charge via USB, or an intermediate voltage on the data lines


I've read recently about laptop OEM's like Dell doing a handshake routine with external PSU's and if it detects a non original it undeclocks the voltage, presumably as a safety feature, or (tinfoil hat) a deliberate performance hit to dissuade buying generic third party accessories... :twisted:

AleisterCrowley
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Re: Be careful about borrowing a charging cable

#256956

Postby AleisterCrowley » October 10th, 2019, 2:08 pm

It certainly was the case that iPhones etc wouldn't charge if connected to a USB charger with floating data lines. If they can't do a handshake/negotiation they look for fixed 'non logic level' voltages on the data lines. From memory 2V on both denoted a low power charger and 2V on one and 2.8V on t'other was a >1A jobbie


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