Common charging cable for electronic devices.

[otherclive]

Quite a while back the EU decided that a common charging cable design was required from December 2024. This was to reduce electrical waste. Britain decided at the time not to follow suit but is now going into a consultation mode.

Isn’t this closing the stable door when the horse has bolted as three devices bought since June have either included a USB-C cable, or required us to provide one. I dare say there’s existing stock that will have older type charging cables but it’s clear that the majority in future will be USB-C. I like the USB-C as just like Apple connectors it can be inserted any way and even in semi gloom it’s easy to insert it.

Time to wake up and smell the coffee methinks.

 

[RogerL]

The UK market is probably too small for manufacturers to justify anything other than EU standards, so this would be a de facto standard anyway - better late than never.

 

[Jcloughie]

I do not know what the legal obligations are, but I thought USB C had become the norm. I think Android were a bit ahead with this.

I am now down to USB C, Micro USB, Lightning, and two sizes of jack plugs.

I do like standardisation, but it can stiffle inovation. Even my newish car. Ones with USB A and C.



John

 

[otherclive]

I do not know what the legal obligations are, but I thought USB C had become the norm. I think Android were a bit ahead with this.

I am now down to USB C, Micro USB, Lightning, and two sizes of jack plugs.

I do like standardisation, but it can stiffle inovation. Even my newish car. Ones with USB A and C.



John

USB-C has become the norm due to the EU requirement but in Britain the last government decided not to mandate it. Clearly a failure to face up to reality that we are a small market compared to our near neighbours and businesses would supply their products to us irrespective. So now I’ve got one charging cable ( not data) with USB, USB- C and Lightning outputs. Its input is USB-A connector. The other N cables sit in a cupboard replicating the snakes wedding.

 

[Buckman]

I use an adapter on my old cables which converts the plus to USB C.

 

[Sam Vimes]

I'm still getting devices to test which use various versions of all the currently available USB connector standards. Of course they all come from the Middle Kingdom and I reckon that even in 2025 they'll still be coming like that.

I've also got various converters and cables and it's interesting to note that despite USB C connectors supposedly being able to plug in either way around some cables and converters don't work correctly. You can physically plug them in either way around but they don't have the full functionality. Either won't charge or won't support the speed rating.

 

[German in the blood]

Apple are the worst for this. My Son and Wife have watches and Ipads I have a Ipad as well and we must take enough cable for Network rail to go from London to Edinburgh. But while away in Wells the other week we went into the local hardware store I like these shops like going back in time but any way Son wanted a cable to go from Ipad to TV, Low and behold they had such a cable all be it 3 MTRS long.

 

[Woodentop]

Apple are the worst for this. My Son and Wife have watches and Ipads I have a Ipad as well and we must take enough cable for Network rail to go from London to Edinburgh. But while away in Wells the other week we went into the local hardware store I like these shops like going back in time but any way Son wanted a cable to go from Ipad to TV, Low and behold they had such a cable all be it 3 MTRS long.

When we travel from Harrogate to visit our daughter in Bath, wife and daughter almost always toddle off to Wells to visit a super shoe shop. Meanwhile I go have a look in the shop you mention. It is rare these days to find such a shop that sells all the connectors/cables/interfaces be they for hi-fi, TV, phones etc, or even mains that one may need, so it becomes harder and harder to avoid spending far too much money whilst in there. What is more they know and understand what they sell.

I would also add that Wells has a traditional camera shop albeit mainly Canon, and for those that don't already know most of the film Hot Fuzz was filmed in the market square, the Crown pub, and around the Bishop's Palace.
For those that visit I would also highly recommend the Loft Cafe at the Cathedral.

 

[Sam Vimes]

I think it was a good move when some phone manufacturers stopped including chargers with their devices because so many people have them already. I think it wouldn't have hurt to stopped supplying cables as well.

This morning I went through my charger and cable collections to try and minimise the pile. Various types and lengths and even some that came with cheap devices, like a torch, that didn't even work.

The heap didn't get any smaller but did get better organised. I hate throwing things away because of the 'Just in case rule' at which Mrs V shakes her head.

 

[Buckman]

I think it was a good move when some phone manufacturers stopped including chargers with their devices because so many people have them already. I think it wouldn't have hurt to stopped supplying cables as well.

This morning I went through my charger and cable collections to try and minimise the pile. Various types and lengths and even some that came with cheap devices, like a torch, that didn't even work.

The heap didn't get any smaller but did get better organised. I hate throwing things away because of the 'Just in case rule' at which Mrs V shakes her head.

Annoyingly many of my chargers use a USB port for the charging cable and when the phone arrives the cable has two C connections so cannot charge the phone. I have had buy new plugs consigning the older still in working order plus to the scrap heap!

 

[JTQ]

Annoyingly many of my chargers use a USB port for the charging cable and when the phone arrives the cable has two C connections so cannot charge the phone. I have had buy new plugs consigning the older still in working order plus to the scrap heap!

Saving up to buy a couple of these might help LINK?

 

[otherclive]

I’ve got a couple of charging cables that have USB input but Lightning, USB-C and micro usb output. They charge devices but do not handle data. Made by Anka available on Amazon.

 

[Sam Vimes]

Annoyingly many of my chargers use a USB port for the charging cable and when the phone arrives the cable has two C connections so cannot charge the phone. I have had buy new plugs consigning the older still in working order plus to the scrap heap!

If you have a USB A to USB C on your old charger, this would still work with your new phone. I have a number of different chargers some have dual ports A anc C, others have 6 ports - 3 x A and 3 x C.

Sometimes the chargers wont necessarily support fast or super fast charging and neither will all cables but I'm not usually in a hurry.

 

[JTQ]

These non OEM cables are readily available made for both charging and data, or are for the range of USB if not for "Lightning", a brand specific area I have never ventured into.

 

[Woodentop]

If anyone is interested...
If you want a good quality charging cable for microUSB, Lightning, or USB-C go have a look in Ikea. They do several types of cable which are stoutly made with a cloth cover, usually around 1.5m long, and cost about £4. Have a look on their web site.

 

[Mr Plodd]

Annoyingly many of my chargers use a USB port for the charging cable and when the phone arrives the cable has two C connections so cannot charge the phone. I have had buy new plugs consigning the older still in working order plus to the scrap heap!

The USB C to C cable is designed to link 2 phones/tablets together for the quick and easy transfer of contacts, pictures, apps etc from one device to the other.
I have just done exactly that with 2 new tablets (both of which came with said cable)
I buy my cables from Amazon, usually 5 at a time! I have multiple cables both in the house and in the caravan (along with a couple in the car for phone charging if needed)
Tablets and phones get plugged in every night so are always charged.
Don't bother telling me I shouldn't do that

 

[Sam Vimes]

The USB C to C cable is designed to link 2 phones/tablets together for the quick and easy transfer of contacts, pictures, apps etc

Also for faster data rates and faster charging.

 

[Mr Plodd]

Charging rate is dependent on the chargers output, not the cable connecting it to the device..

 

[Sam Vimes]

Charging rate is dependent on charger, device being charged and cable. Charging currents can be as high as 5A and not all cables can support that. Not only that but the charging rate has to be negotiated between the charger and device. Some cheap cables don't have all the connections to support that negotiation.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Not all of us immediately opt for the latest tech when it comes out, so I still have loads of different power connectors, and that fact that most new tech is using USB C doesn't help me, in fact when i change my car it will be massive issue as Ill have to find USBC to older style connectors which from what I can see at the moment will be a nightmare.

Then in 4 or 5 years time, the tech industries will be be finding out that USB C can't meet their needs, and another "standard" will be introduced, and the cable merry-go-round will start again.

 

[otherclive]

Not all of us immediately opt for the latest tech when it comes out, so I still have loads of different power connectors, and that fact that most new tech is using USB C doesn't help me, in fact when i change my car it will be massive issue as Ill have to find USBC to older style connectors which from what I can see at the moment will be a nightmare.

Then in 4 or 5 years time, the tech industries will be be finding out that USB C can't meet their needs, and another "standard" will be introduced, and the cable merry-go-round will start again.

I have one cable that has a USB end and at the other are USB-C, Lightning and micro USB. It’s a charging cable not a data cable. On my Bose sound reducing headphones I have an adaptor connection that will feed a standard jack, or USB-C so both my ipad and my wife’s newer IPad can be used. I’m sure you will find suitable connector/adaptors somewhere.

 

[JTQ]

Ill have to find USBC to older style connectors which from what I can see at the moment will be a nightmare.

I am quite sure in the scale of life's challenges, finding a cable or even an adaptor to exploit using your existing cables, will not prove as dreadful as you fear.
Here, the likes of eBay and a couple of quid will sort things out, now and in 4 years time.

 

[Sam Vimes]

I've tried a number of adapters and found them to be more trouble than they're worth. Better in my opinion to get new cables. One less interconnection to worry about.

The USB A to C adapters have wide bodies and trying to plug the C end into a phone with a case just didn't work as it couldn't go in all the way.

 

[Buckman]

We have been using adapters for a while with no issues.

 

[Sam Vimes]

As the saying goes - Mileage May Vary