Nowadays, our life is surrounded by many gadgets, some of them become essential and sometimes the most important partner in our life, so they have a high impact on most of our lives! The most important element for these gadgets is feeding them with power in order to keep them running! the way we feed them is a key factor in the gadget itself’s health and it may extend to us, surroundings, and all the related components which may threaten our safety. As per our commitment here in ThunLite, we would like to cover this subject in order to keep our clients safer along with their gadgets & devices, especially some people may be surrounded by several gadgets that we may need to use everywhere, most of them are fitted with batteries which are considered as a hazardous component, so it’s very important to spot a light on this subject. Besides we may help you to keep gadgets and all related components sustained as much as possible.
Going back some years, it was a time when every device seemed to come with its own unique charger and different port, and remembering to pack the right charging cable or adapter was a must if you wanted to continue using your device whilst away from home or even a way of nearest power supply.
Recently, mobile phones and some toys are the major which fitted with a micro USB port which combatted the industry’s use of custom ports, and now, charging it on the go is no longer a problem with many ways and choices that are available nowadays, even for the standard connector. but some of these ways or elements may harm the process; so, we would like to mention the most important elements and give some advice in order to make charging more durable and safer not only for the device but also for the user and all the surroundings (as it may cause an explosion in some cases). So, there are many different important elements you should be aware of when it comes to USBs connecting, we covered the important ones and mentioned some of the most frequent questions. Besides, In this article we will cover the below:
How USB charging works When it comes to USB cords, there is always one host and one device. The majority of the time when we talk about data synchronization purposes, the computer is the host and your appliance is the device, or when we talk about charging-only purposes, the power supply like adapters or power banks is the device and your appliance is the device. Power flows from the host to the device however data can flow freely between. A USB cable has four wires and a USB socket has four pins. The outside pins provide a 5-volt power supply in combination with the inside pins which carry the data. It’s important to be aware that their USB cords come with 3 wires which makes it dedicated for charging purposes only.
Types of USB Plugs (Connectors) The type of USB refers to the physical shape of the plug.
USB Type-A It is the classic USB plug that we are all familiar with, the Type-A USB is the larger standard rectangular plug the majority of cords are ended at least one of this. Whilst it’s gone through a number of changes to accommodate different versions of USB, the design of the plug remains the same, which means that all Type-A plugs, ports, and sockets are compatible no matter what version they are.
USB Type-B Usually, the other end of a USB cable uses a Type-B connector. The Type-B plug is a tall plug with slanted top corners. Variations on Type-B have been widely adopted due to the sheer necessity of having smaller ports at the client device end.
USB Micro-A The mini USB-A is a variation of Type-B only.
USB Micro-B The micro USB is also a variation of Type-B only.
USB Type-C The headline feature of the USB-C is that it’s reversible. It’s designed to be small enough to not need any mini or micro variants. The intention is that it will completely replace all types of USB on both host and client devices.
USB Ports Versions The various upgrades focus on improvements in terms of speed and features. Since its official release in 1996, there have been five versions of the USB:
USB 1.0 USB 2.0 USB 3.0 USB 3.1 USC-C 1.0 Whilst USB 3.0 is currently the most common, it is predicted that the new USB-C connector could eventually replace this. The USB-C (or the USB Type C) was made widely available in 2015 and is now common on many models of smartphones as well as in some laptops and many other gadgets. The intention is that it will completely replace all types of USB as the USB-C is a replacement for both ends of the cable. USB-C 1.0 brings in new power standards and speed advantages similar to that of USB 3.1. The replacement is expanded to the other pole of the gadgets industry, the European Union lawmakers have reached an agreement on legislation that will force all future smartphones sold in the EU — including the Lightning port owned by Apple Inc— to be fitted with the universal USB-C port for the cord charging by fall 2024. The rule will also apply to other electronic devices including tablets, digital cameras, headphones, handheld video game consoles, and e-readers. Laptops…etc will have to comply with the rule at a later date. So, the USB-C will be mandatory for phones sold in the EU ‘by autumn 2024’ So, there will be a huge change in the coming years in favor of the USB-C
How USB-C charging works The USB-C is entirely different from its predecessors. The connector is universal and therefore it will work when used either way. It also outputs more power, as well as the theoretical output. There are also plenty of USB chargers that don’t fit into this specification, such as AC adapters.
Types of USB ports There are three types of USB ports dictated by the actual current specs (milliamps or mA).1- Dedicated charging port A dedicated charging port applies to power sources like wall chargers that do not enumerate, so charging occurs with no digital communication at all.2-Downstream port A charging downstream port can be found on a computer or laptop and can supply up to 1.5A, whilst allowing a USB to be detected and begin charging before enumeration (which is when the digital communication takes place).3-Standard downstream port A standard downstream port can be found on a computer or laptop and needs to enumerate (start digital communication) to be USB compliant, however, most present-day hardware does draw power without enumerating.
Voltage and Amperage Not all USB connectors, cables, and chargers are equal. For example, some wall chargers can supply more power than others and one particular USB socket on a laptop may vary in power from the others, or PCs with some able to charge whilst in sleep mode. You will also need to consider Amperage. Chargers increase the current to provide a higher amount of power quickly – this is measured in amps and more amps means more power. Therefore, a charger that comes with a smartphone will provide fewer amps than a charger that comes with a tablet. You will need to consider the voltage and the equipment you’ll need to use to enable the use of USB chargers when traveling internationally.
Safety Concerns Uncertified chargers come with serious safety concerns. Similar to unofficial batteries, uncertified chargers can be bought everywhere at a reduced price online or in high street shops and these kinds of electrical products may present a higher risk of exploding or catching fire. Not only do they present a risk to you, but the use of uncertified chargers may also damage your device (which in turn could void your guarantee). Cheap devices often fail to meet the requirements of the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016. The money that you save comes with extremely high risks and therefore buying a branded/certified charger is essential to avoid often fatal repercussions.
Frequently asked questions about USB chargers Finally, to help you understand how to use your USB chargers safely and to avoid the threats that will heart your device(s) and cable we’ve answered some key questions on the safety of USB charging.
Could my USB device be dangerous? Certified USB devices are in general very safe to use, as long as they are used correctly in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.What is the difference between a smartphone USB charger and a tablet USB charger? Anyways, It’s important to check the rating of the chargers to ensure that the output is correct for your device. It’s very important to not simply assume that if they have the same physical connection the output will be the same. A supply of an incorrect charge may result in damage to your device or cord and there will be a potential risk of overheating and fire.What happens if I mix and match a USB charger cable with a USB plug? There is the potential for an incorrect charge to be supplied to your device. This could result in a number of issues, including battery and device damage and the risk of overheating, fire and explosion. You should always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.Is it safe to plug any USB device into a laptop, tablet, or wall socket? In most cases, this should be acceptable. Plugging USB devices into “smart” products such as laptops and tablets which monitor and control the output should (in theory) be safer than the use of wall sockets. However, as always, follow the manufacturer’s instructions.Is it safer to charge my e-cigarette with a laptop or a USB wall plug? The number of people using electronic cigarettes has increased dramatically in recent years. With many different types available it’s important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions. If you want to avoid the dangers of e-cigarettes, then just give up smoking 😉 then you also will promote your health and the people around you.What are the dangers of charging my USB device in a car? Check that device is suitable for car charging. But in general, the dangers are similar to normal USB hazards but add to that the risk element of using the device while driving on the road.When should I charge my device with my USB charger? Electrical Safety First advises that you don’t leave things charging when you leave the house or are asleep. If you absolutely have to, then make sure you have a working smoke alarm.Recommended Products In this topic, we would like to offer some products that you may like which can help and contribute to your favor