Belkin USB-A to USB-C cable
Credit: Belkin
How many different types of USB plugs do you own? There's a good chance you own, or have owned, USB A (above), USB B, mini USB & micro USB. There is a smaller chance that you also own a device or devices using the most recent member of the family, USB-C (also shown above).
Combined with the USB 3.1 specification for data transfer & power supply, USB-C is intended to combine the small size required by phones, data transfer rates required by fast discs & video, with the power required to charge laptops.
Unfortunately, some USB-C devices have surfaced, which do not comply.1 Designers of an Indiegogo project took the view that there was not a sufficiently, “unified industry charging standard”, & postponed the USB-C version of their device.2
Whatever the source of problems, the Satechi USB-C Power Meter can check if a third-party charger, cable, or dock will damage your device.
Manufacturer's web site
https://www.satechi.net/index.php/satechi-type-c-power-meter
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1 HitchHikers’ Guide 2 Tech: “Beware bad USB-C cables & adapters – Google engineer names & shames”, http://hhg2tech.blogspot.com/2015/11/beware-bad-usb-c-cables-adapters-google.html
2 Omnicharge Team: “Omnicharge: Smart & Compact Portable Power Bank – Postponing USB-C Option”, https://omnicharge.backerkit.com/hosted_preorders/project_updates?page=2
“Postponing USB-C Option – Due to the results of the survey & serious safety considerations, the team has decided to postpone the launch of the USB-C version of Omnicharge until there is a more unified industry charging standard.”
Omnicharge project on Indiegogo
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