Standardised charging plugs

[cliffcoggin]

I welcome the news that the EU plans to demand a standard charging plug for all mobile devices. I doubt it will significantly reduce the amount of waste, but as a user I am sick of hunting for the correct plug amongst a plethora of similar minute plugs. At present I need cables for USB-A2(or3) to USB-C/mini USB/micro USB/satnav (don't know what it is called), and few of them are large enough to attach a label for identification. I hope the commission will choose something sturdy, rather than the flimsy micro types, but I'll not hold my breath.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-58665809

[RollyShed]

You think that is all?

This morning our Shed's router's power supply was found dead. OK, 12 volt power supplies are common or are around here. However !!!!.... the router concerned had a bigger diameter centre pin than 12 volt items should have. There are standards, bigger diameter pin on 9 volt items to stop a 12 volt supply being plugged in.

BUT, not all manufacturers follow simple procedures..... Then the internet supplier went down.....

[Pierre]

those standards are nice, but only if Manufacturers will use them.


it would seem that Apple is moving to usb -c style anyway,
and this would only hasten that move.

- - except that Apple doesn't being told what it has to do,
and that only Apple can tell others what they should be doing . .


those DC plug's are an nuisance with their various sizes,
and their reverse polarity issue.
- - which does make several different power bricks, that you do need to have,
as an spare or three, on hand . .

[cliffcoggin]

- - except that Apple doesn't being told what it has to do,
and that only Apple can tell others what they should be doing . .

I shan't shed any tears for Apple or any other manufacturer that dislikes being forced to change their proprietary equipment. If they want to continue selling phones they will submit to orders.

[Moem]

those standards are nice, but only if Manufacturers will use them.

That is what EU laws and regulations are for.

[Lady Fitzgerald]

those standards are nice, but only if Manufacturers will use them.

That is what EU laws and regulations are for.

Now, if only the SSA would do likewise.

[Lady Fitzgerald]

...those DC plug's are an nuisance with their various sizes,
and their reverse polarity issue.
- - which does make several different power bricks, that you do need to have,
as an spare or three, on hand . .

...the router concerned had a bigger diameter centre pin than 12 volt items should have. There are standards, bigger diameter pin on 9 volt items to stop a 12 volt supply being plugged in...

Manufacturers haven't been able to standardize their PSU connectors within their own lines. I have three different Lenovo notebooks and each one has a different PSU connector.

[Portreve]

I welcome the news that the EU plans to demand a standard charging plug for all mobile devices. I doubt it will significantly reduce the amount of waste, but as a user I am sick of hunting for the correct plug amongst a plethora of similar minute plugs.

Yep, the standard is going to be USB C, which honestly only makes sense because of why it was developed and what it was developed for.

- - except that Apple doesn't being told what it has to do,
and that only Apple can tell others what they should be doing . .

I shan't shed any tears for Apple or any other manufacturer that dislikes being forced to change their proprietary equipment. If they want to continue selling phones they will submit to orders.

Oh, Apple's already throwing a hissy fit with the European Commission. They're gonna have two choices, I believe, and only one of them will make them money, so...

those standards are nice, but only if Manufacturers will use them.

That is what EU laws and regulations are for.

Agreed. And thank goodness the EU is actually *doing something* for a change.

Now, if only the SSA would do likewise.

I don't think it's going to matter, because they're already going to have to produce USB C-ported devices for the European market. It really wouldn't make any sense for them to continue to produce those units with non USB C power ports for the U.S.

[RollyShed]

I write an electronics newsletter for those NZ Sheds who might be interested. An issue or so back this was one article. Note the last link to 10 connectors -
Laptop Power Supply Plugs
If you thought things were interchangeable you haven't tried laptop power supplies and their output plugs.
Two types at small and medium diameter and fit a thin centre pin in the laptop.
Two at a bigger diameter, with or without a centre pin on the cord plug. The centre pin one has one of the output voltages through the pin and the same voltage through a resistor to one of the cylindrical contacts.
One oblong cross section for Lenovo laptops.
One small oblong cross section on Asus TP200.
eMachines 350 – small diameter, 18.5 volts
HP Compaq Presario V6500 – small diameter, at least 19.5 volts with plenty of amps
HP - next size up (thin one does fit the larger socket – at least on one computer)
Toshiba Tecra – large diameter, 15 volts
Dell - large diameter with centre pin in the plug, 20 volts, 2.25 amp
All supplies run at 18 – 19.5 volts output – except when they don't, see below.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC_adapter
https://blog.voltaicsystems.com/laptop-adapter-guide/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coaxial_power_connector
https://www.akshatblog.com/how-to-find- ... r-charger/
This site has a picture of 10 sizes.
https://www.tpstech.in/blogs/tech/choos ... rtant-easy

[farkas]

This has been one of biggest my gripes. See my post
viewtopic.php?f=58&t=345668

[RollyShed]

This has been one of biggest my gripes. See my post
viewtopic.php?f=58&t=345668

You say in that, "The only thing in common is the plug that connects to the wall socket." OK, that applies to you at home but leave home and even your voltage is wrong (!!!!). Have you counted how many wall socket types there are in the world? Fortunately, with modern electronics applied, most power supplies can survive with a range of input voltages from 100vAC to 250vAC. Even the frequency doesn't upset them, 50 or 60 Hz.