Type C USB connector

[earthman]

Stupid question to many no doubt but can such a lead work with a USB 2 outlet or do they only work with USB 3 outlets?

I'm looking at new mobile phones, many state type C connector, I know that I don't have any USB 3 outlets period. No chance of transferring data to my PC or charging from my current outlets then??

 

[Cobbler]

My wife has just bought a new phone, that has a ‘C’ connection. It was supplied with a lead with a standard size USB connector on one end & a C at the other. It just charges in the normal way.

 

[skotl]

Yes. USB A, B and C all work with each other - it's only a matter of the maximum transfer speed, but that's all hidden from you.

So you just need the appropriate cable.

 

[Munkul]

It should be backwards compatible, just like most things I've never had to worry about which USB port i connect to.

 

[Dr.Al]

Stupid question to many no doubt but can such a lead work with a USB 2 outlet or do they only work with USB 3 outlets?

I'm looking at new mobile phones, many state type C connector, I know that I don't have any USB 3 outlets period. No chance of transferring data to my PC or charging from my current outlets then??

It'll work fine with your current PC. USB C refers to the connector shape. Your old phone probably had a USB micro connector on it, but the other end of the cable was USB A. USB 2 / USB 3 refers to the speed at which the data can go, but USB 3 accessories can (assuming they don't require lots and lots of power) plug into USB 2 ports on computers and work fine (just at a slower speed than they would connected to a USB 3 port).

USB C connectors are much, much better than USB micro connectors (last longer and can be plugged in either way up). Your new phone should come with a lead that has USB A on one end (to plug into the computer) and USB C on the other end (to plug into the phone).

 

[pedrobedro]

My phone is USB C (fits either way up) and connects to my old desktop which is USB 2 to charge and download pictures.

 

[sako243]

Incidentally USB C does also support up to 100W of power delivery (jumps up to 20V from 5V) so plugging in your phone to any old USB socket will still charge it but not as quickly as a proper USB 3 / USB C capable port.

 

[Maker]

Incidentally USB C does also support up to 100W of power delivery (jumps up to 20V from 5V) so plugging in your phone to any old USB socket will still charge it but not as quickly as a proper USB 3 / USB C capable port.

I don't know how many phones actually use the full 20v "Power Delivery" spec, there's also 9v and 15v (And 12v I think?) standards which can deliver up to 36 watts from a type A socket, I'm pretty sure most phones still ship with a type A to type C cable which rules out 20v charging. The USB spec doesn't support it but Dell laptops will actually charge at 130 watts over type C!

 

[earthman]

Thanks chaps. I know that the type C connector contains two positive pins, so that you can push it into the phone either way, how is it wired at the USB end then? I'm guessing there's a spur somewhere?

That's what confused me, although I don't know how USB 3 is wired, I suppose that's only got one + terminal after all??

 

[skotl]

Thanks chaps. I know that the type C connector contains two positive pins, so that you can push it into the phone either way, how is it wired at the USB end then? I'm guessing there's a spur somewhere?

That's what confused me, although I don't know how USB 3 is wired, I suppose that's only got one + terminal after all??

USB-A and B:

USB-C:

But I'm not sure that this is useful info unless you're making your own USB cables, or building a USB hardware interface.
I've never needed to worry about it - just have the cable with appropriate connectors and It Just Works(tm)

 

[earthman]

Always good to know how things are wired, maybe useful if you need to do a repair or make a good cable from two damaged ones.

 

[MoreWellie]

I know that the type C connector contains two positive pins

that explains why the type C connector I ran over with my wheelie chair only charges my phone when it is a particular way up

 

[veesix]

USB-A and B:

USB-C:

But I'm not sure that this is useful info unless you're making your own USB cables, or building a USB hardware interface.
I've never needed to worry about it - just have the cable with appropriate connectors and It Just Works(tm)

USB Type C only refers to the connector, it can operate as USB 1, 2 or 3 (Technically it doesn't even need to be USB ). USB 3 has some extra pins which explains the extra signal pins on USB-C:

 

[Domdom]

Any USB-C cable to USB-A will work fine for data transfer and charging.

However, USB-C ports are fragile and wear out easily. Wireless charging pads are the way forward as this eliminates a large amount of connect/disconnect cycles which are what wears out the socket.

 

[skotl]

Any USB-C cable to USB-A will work fine for data transfer and charging.

This is the key point - my feeling is that this is all being a bit over-thought. They genuinely just work and USB cables are so ubiquitous, and so cheap, that I couldn't conceive of wasting time to repair one.
( feel free to lob the save-the-earth brickbats my way )

However, USB-C ports are fragile and wear out easily. Wireless charging pads are the way forward as this eliminates a large amount of connect/disconnect cycles which are what wears out the socket.

That surprises me a little - I've got USB-C on lots of devices from speakers, tablets, laptops and desktop computers and never had any of them fail on me.
I've also got the opposite experience to you ( ) on wireless charging pads - I find it takes so long to get the device centred correctly that I'd have been quicker to plug the cable in!

Not doubting your experience, of course, just offering an alternative view

 

[earthman]

Any USB-C cable to USB-A will work fine for data transfer and charging.

However, USB-C ports are fragile and wear out easily. Wireless charging pads are the way forward as this eliminates a large amount of connect/disconnect cycles which are what wears out the socket.

Would you say that it wears out quicker than the micro type then??

 

[Maker]

This is the key point - my feeling is that this is all being a bit over-thought. They genuinely just work and USB cables are so ubiquitous, and so cheap, that I couldn't conceive of wasting time to repair one.
( feel free to lob the save-the-earth brickbats my way )



That surprises me a little - I've got USB-C on lots of devices from speakers, tablets, laptops and desktop computers and never had any of them fail on me.
I've also got the opposite experience to you ( ) on wireless charging pads - I find it takes so long to get the device centred correctly that I'd have been quicker to plug the cable in!

Not doubting your experience, of course, just offering an alternative view

The other problem with wireless chargers is you stop charging everytime you pick it up to skip a song, reply to a message or whatever, that really ruins them for me.

My phone has been charged at least once a day (Two or three times a day lately ) for nearly four years and the type C socket is a little looser than it was but it's by no means worn out, micro USB definitely doesn't hold up to such use.

 

[Domdom]

Would you say that it wears out quicker than the micro type then??

Yes, 100% they do. I have a Lenovo X1 Carbon laptop which uses USB-C for the dock thingy. 8 months old and on its 3rd replacement board for this port. My old Samsung phone had to have a new port at a year old. Fragile is one word, rubbish is another equally applicable word.

The other problem with wireless chargers is you stop charging everytime you pick it up to skip a song, reply to a message or whatever, that really ruins them for me.

Use the phone all day, bung it on the charging pad overnight. Simples.

 

[Kram]

My phone micro usb doesnt charge properly any more, port is mechanically worn out and it has to be carefully positioned to charge, no good trying to use it while charging. One day I may strip the phone and replace the connector.
Recently bought a bike tpms thingy and that came with 2 pin magnetic charge plug. Much better idea in my opinion. Slight change of design could get plenty of sprung data pins in there with the phone side just being flat, nothing to wear out.

 

[earthman]

Yes, 100% they do. I have a Lenovo X1 Carbon laptop which uses USB-C for the dock thingy. 8 months old and on its 3rd replacement board for this port. My old Samsung phone had to have a new port at a year old. Fragile is one word, rubbish is another equally applicable word.

Oh wow, that's not good, most phones seem to have this C type connector now.