Wake up people! It’s a global conspiracy to blow out all our old devices so we have to buy new ones.

Geez oh grief.

 

Geez oh grief.

Surely, you don’t think I meant that to be taken seriously?

 

Let me see if I'm understanding this correctly. You, Ya'akov, owner of both the light and the power supply/charger, a light you knew needs 5V and the charger with a large orange warning label saying 12V killed your light? Do I have it right so far?

So then it is the chargers fault? Or should the owner of the items involved not do any charning when in an impaired state? That to me seems the likely problem not the chargers. It goes back to the old sayings, "guns don't kill people, people kill people" or another one "spoons don't make people fat people make people fat". We need to include a new one, "chargers don't kill lights, people kill lights".

 

I think the orange label wad applied by Ya’akov after the incident.

 

That is the result of years prostituting an universal serial bus cable for the 5 volt comfort and cheap convenience of the masses instead of creating a proper power plug and jack for DC, sturdier, non reversable, current capable... Cables with notches that allow connection for the voltage intended would be proper. But lazyness always wins, now to the extreme that "USB" cables are no more; they are just meant for chargers, without data wiring. Next is for AC use...

 

Let me see if I'm understanding this correctly. You, Ya'akov, owner of both the light and the power supply/charger, a light you knew needs 5V and the charger with a large orange warning label saying 12V killed your light? Do I have it right so far?

So then it is the chargers fault? Or should the owner of the items involved not do any charning when in an impaired state? That to me seems the likely problem not the chargers. It goes back to the old sayings, "guns don't kill people, people kill people" or another one "spoons don't make people fat people make people fat". We need to include a new one, "chargers don't kill lights, people kill lights".

No, you have it quite wrong. I think re-reading might clear it up.

 

That is the result of years prostituting an universal serial bus cable for the 5 volt comfort and cheap convenience of the masses instead of creating a proper power plug and jack for DC, sturdier, non reversable, current capable... Cables with notches that allow connection for the voltage intended would be proper. But lazyness always wins, now to the extreme that "USB" cables are no more; they are just meant for chargers, without data wiring. Next is for AC use...

The USB Type-C connector that offers both PD and high speed data is quite a good thing. But if manufacturers are willing to make things that ignore the standards it’s just as bad as using XLR connectors for DMX or 1/8” phone for power.

In the former case there are rules about how power should work when there is a Type-C connector involved, In the latter, the connectors are not intended to have power on them (just ignore the special case of phantom power for microphones, which is bad but “necessary”).

If it is normal to expect a connector to have low level signals on it, and there is power instead, something bad will happen eventually. If it is normal to expect a USB Type-C connector to have, on it’s other end no more than 5V unless I ask for something else, and manufacturers are willing to ignore the standard, something bad is going to happen.

As I mentioned, I have never had a problem with a PD adapter from a reputable source. My mistake was trusting this adapter because it was included with another product I thought of as reputable. I now know that vigilance concerning unknown adapters is required.

I have, on the way, a very nice FNIRSI (yes, that‘s their name) USB tester with a truly surprising range of functions. One of them is to characterize USB Type-C adapters, including PD. You can be certain that all new USB Type-C adapters I get will be checked before use.

 

That is the result of years prostituting an universal serial bus cable for the 5 volt comfort and cheap convenience

Yup, and people just keep buying USB cables for applications that have nothing to do with Serial Communications - like recharging LED lamps. I saw similar "quality" 5, 12 and 20v power supplies with the Type-C connector on AliExpress. I cannot imagine what device was purchased that the OP ended up with this power supply - no brand name/manufacturer name. Unless this was specifically purchased as a power supply by the OP. I'm pretty sure any CE or UL or even the claimed FCC certifications require a manufacturer's name - unless I'm misunderstanding the post and the manufacturer's name is "Replacement" or "Replacement Power Supply". I'd never buy or use a power supply without a brand name on it - a brand name that I can look up to see that they actually are a company. I could just imagine the conversation with the insurance company after it is discovered that a no-name power supply was the source of a house fire. But, I saved $3 on this power supply - AliExpress said it was FCC and UL certified - even though it has no brand name.

 

Thanks for sharing your experience. It will make us careful.

There are many connectors suitable for 12volts that are not at all similar to a USB connector. Use one of them and avoid doing damage.

 

No, you have it quite wrong. I think re-reading might clear it up.

OK, while your idea of "quite wrong" and mine might differ, most of what I said is true. They were your devices and you had to have known or read at one time the charger was 12V. Why when you got the charger didn't you put the warning label on it?

 

OK, while your idea of "quite wrong" and mine might differ, most of what I said is true. They were your devices and you had to have known or read at one time the charger was 12V. Why when you got the charger didn't you put the warning label on it?

Or wondered what kind of two-bit company supplies a charger with no brand name molded into the part or on the same label as the FCC/UL/CE logos.

 

These days, the "USB C" connector is *abused* as a barrel connector for *everything*. I'd guess it is simply because it is metal stamped and manufactured in large volumes, like in the millions of pieces per month - hence low cost. They probably cost less than some dedicated barrel connector for now.

There are so many "development boards" that offer a "USB C" connector when that 4 wire is only USB full speed 12 Mbps, i.e. the oldest bulkiest USB connector is adequate for it. Even "micro usb" is becoming *extinct*, even if none of the newer devices need a USB C connector.
Then now even led lights, power banks, any sort of gadgets (e.g. bluetooth speakers, try shavers?) simply offers the USB C connector, and many times they don't even have anything to do with USB at all and is abused as just a barrel connector.

 

OK, while your idea of "quite wrong" and mine might differ, most of what I said is true. They were your devices and you had to have known or read at one time the charger was 12V. Why when you got the charger didn't you put the warning label on it?

I didn't "have to know", nor did I know, that the 12V supply was not actually a USB Type-C PD charger. I put the label on after my unfortunate discovery, not before. Nothing you said, except that I owned both things, was correct.

 

These days, the "USB C" connector is *abused* as a barrel connector for *everything*. I'd guess it is simply because it is metal stamped and manufactured in large volumes, like in the millions of pieces per month - hence low cost. They probably cost less than some dedicated barrel connector for now.

There are so many "development boards" that offer a "USB C" connector when that 4 wire is only USB full speed 12 Mbps, i.e. the oldest bulkiest USB connector is adequate for it. Even "micro usb" is becoming *extinct*, even if none of the newer devices need a USB C connector.
Then now even led lights, power banks, any sort of gadgets (e.g. bluetooth speakers, try shavers?) simply offers the USB C connector, and many times they don't even have anything to do with USB at all and is abused as just a barrel connector.

The USB Type-C connector is mechanically superior to previous connectors. It is easy to plug and unplug where the micro USB version can be a struggle where it puts a lot of strain on the connectors attachment to the board. It is also reversible and so a lot easier to plug and unplug. It is still more compact than coaxial connectors while having the capacity for data even if only slower standards are supported.

 

oh and I'd think for those usb-C power supplies that can be 'up volted', it is best to check the specifics and it would require manufacturer confirmation that their 'up volting' features is designed according to (USB) specs and intended for that purpose.
Those would require at least a microcontroller and perhaps to control the switching converter that powers accordingly.

There is otherwise no assurance that they could simply feed *any voltage* across USB C and *abuse* it as a barrel connector.
I think we'd see more of such *abuses* going forward. "USB" these days is used as like a "generic dc power brick", it is getting as "bad" as that.

 

So that others may benefit from my misfortune, I have a sad tale to tell.

I have small portable photographic lamp, well actually a pair of them... on the other hand I was right in the first place, I had a pair of them. Now I one and a paperweight. This tragic turn of events came about after I used the ex-lamp and decided it needed recharging.

While it has a USB C connector I had already noticed that it couldn't negotiate with a PD capable power supply, it just didn't work at all. I am used to that, many devices that charge via a USB port are really 5V only devices. The USB C port is better than MicroUSB so even with the charade I prefer it.

So the supply I normally use was engaged, so I dug up another USB C adapter and plugged it in, whereupon me ex-lamp turned into a slow rate strobe, and nothing else. To say I was disturbed is an understatement. My not-cheap former photographic accessory was instantly rendered useless by the 12V coming out of the adapter.

In the days of pervasive barrel connectors there was always that vigilance to check the voltage and polarity because there was no standard. But USB C is a standard and putting a USB C connector on the end of a cord that only and always produces anything more than 5V is pure stupid. It is almost universally safe for an adapter to provide 5V but 12V is a destroyer.

So, my friends, be warned—we are back in the days of the barrel connectors. Check the voltage on the adapter before using it. I didn't' think this was necessary but I was lulled into a false complacency by USB-less-than-C where this just isn't going to happen. The supply in question now has fluorescent Omaha Orange labels on all sides, and as a flag on the end with the connector declaiming:

View attachment 275685

I know this is yellow, but despite the
printer's preview the labels are orange.​

Sorry to hear about that i know photographic equipment can be expensive i just hope it wasnt too too expensive. Maybe a replacement can be found on Amazon or something.

This is good information though something to be careful about. I've seen this happen two other times in the past.
One was with a 12v wall wart that came with a USB powered hub. The hub was a 5v only hub, but the guy shipped a 12v wall wart with it thinking it was a USB power hub that takes a 12v DC input. It wasnt. It blew out some of the purchasers thumb drives and well as two USB ports on the motherboard of his PC computer. The only way to fix that was to get a new motherboard and new thumb drives.

The other time i saw this happen was with a power supply pc board that had adjustable output voltage from 0v to 20v. The output connector was a USB A female connector. That's ridiculous too because you expect a USB A female connector to have only 5v not anything higher nor lower really.

So in this new age of USB "standards" we have to be careful to check for non standards. It's stupid just like everything else is these days.

There are so many other things that have changed too it's hard to even list them all. Things that were standard 20 years ago are way different now.

As a side note, one of the strangest i think it with Television sets but other things too. Everything now is allowed to "boot" and thus have some "boot up" time which can be anything from a few seconds to a few minutes. Do you realize what manufacturers had to go through to design TV sets that would start up instantly as soon as the power button was pressed. It took some extra current though the tube filaments to keep them warm so the TV would start turn on fast, and also the CRT had to be kept warm. The ONLY reason for that is because people didnt want to have to wait for the TV to heat up and start showing a picture.
Today's TV's have to boot up even if not 'smart'. It takes longer than an old old tube TV set to start up. That's how strange things have gotten. It is probably because of the advent of PC computers that always have to 'boot up'. We got screwed because of that. Nice huh?

 

My lapse in vigilance had at at least three sources:

1. My experience with this particular lamp and several known good PD adapters was either working, or not. No reprogramming into uselessness—as an aside, nothing lost its magic smoke. Instead the unobtantium ASIC was convinced to try a new program: LEDs 2 and 4 of the fuel gauge on while the LED array flashes full brightness at ≆1Hz while ignoring all input form the touch switches.

2. My experience, up to that point, with USB Type-C PD chargers in general. This has been that although some only provide 5V, the ones that provided more didn‘t do it without negotiation. And this observation came from a significant number of samples.

3. This charger came from another piece of photographic equipment from a nominally reputable manufacturer. It seems that it must have been an afterthought, possibly because they needed 12V and they were getting complaints that it would not charge from people using USB A to USB Tyoe-C cables, or USB Type-C chargers that don’t have PD.

It was a wake up call. Thankfully the cost of the lamp will not hurt me, and I have alernatives (though I did like this one quite a bit for particular applications). I suppose that somewhere in the dark past, perhaps in a corner I don’t want to explore, a similar experience triggered my vigilance with barrel connectors.

Just as it took a serious collision, from which I fortunately escaped unharmed, to make seat belt wearing a reflex for me, this should be the origin of suspicion and vigilance about unknown chargers sporting USB Type-C connectors.

 

My lapse in vigilance had at at least three sources:

1. My experience with this particular lamp and several known good PD adapters was either working, or not. No reprogramming into uselessness—as an aside, nothing lost its magic smoke. Instead the unobtantium ASIC was convinced to try a new program: LEDs 2 and 4 of the fuel gauge on while the LED array flashes full brightness at ≆1Hz while ignoring all input form the touch switches.

2. My experience, up to that point, with USB Type-C PD chargers in general. This has been that although some only provide 5V, the ones that provided more didn‘t do it without negotiation. And this observation came from a significant number of samples.

3. This charger came from another piece of photographic equipment from a nominally reputable manufacturer. It seems that it must have been an afterthought, possibly because they needed 12V and they were getting complaints that it would not charge from people using USB A to USB Tyoe-C cables, or USB Type-C chargers that don’t have PD.

It was a wake up call. Thankfully the cost of the lamp will not hurt me, and I have alernatives (though I did like this one quite a bit for particular applications). I suppose that somewhere in the dark past, perhaps in a corner I don’t want to explore, a similar experience triggered my vigilance with barrel connectors.

Just as it took a serious collision, from which I fortunately escaped unharmed, to make seat belt wearing a reflex for me, this should be the origin of suspicion and vigilance about unknown chargers sporting USB Type-C connectors.

Oh yes i forgot to mention the barrel connector conundrum ha ha.
There are so many different types that i bet there is no one on earth that knows all of them, and not only the size, the voltages and polarities are so varied we are lucky anything works at all.
And then even THAT changed no that long ago with the advent of 'regulated' wall warts. Now we have two more main types to think about, the unregulated and the regulated. If you use an unregulated type on a device that requires a regulated type you can blow that out too, even if the voltage and current ratings are the same. If you use a regulated type on an unregulated type device then the device probably wont work at all.
The polarity of course is a big one, cant get that wrong.
The sizes are so varied too that you have to specify the outside diameter and the inside diameter, and also sometimes the length of the barrel matters too.
It's nuts.
I can see why the European standards are changing in order to reduce this kind of nuttiness down to just a few types, and because once a device is no longer needed that special wall wart that came with it goes in the junk yard too. I just wonder how many of these are in junk yards today. I bet it rivals the plastics waste problem accumulating in oceans today.

Land, sea, air, and even outer space, let's fill all those areas up with discarded electro-junk

 

And these days things makers and sellers are changing their "strategy", it has a "USB C" connector, get your own wall wart !
e.g. this shaver, I think that is the case for even mobile phones costing hundreds of $.

 

What was the brand name of the "trusted" device that supplied this no-name power supply?