Which are safe USB-C cables for the M10?

[murphcid]

I am getting mine soon (I hope), but I need extra A to C USB cables. I have read that many current cables are unsafe, and will zorch your phone. So are Belkin Type A to Type C cables sold by AT&T and Best Buy safe for use on the M10? I don't mind paying more for a safe cable if it will protect my phone and no kill it. HTC seems to be out, and Belkin has a decent reputation for cables. Thanks in advance.

 

[B0WIE]

Any high quality/reputable brand should be ok (according to HTC).

 

[hallux]

It's not the phone that will get smoked, it's the charger when the phone tries to pull too much power. Well, there was ONE cable that Benson Leung tested that did smoke a device.

2 places you can find a list of tested and verified correct USB-A to USB-C cables:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/w...ag=hawk-future-20&ascsubtag=UUacUvbUpU5155675
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1wJwqv3rTNmORXz-XJsQaXK1dl8I91V4-eP_sfNVNzbA/edit#gid=0

 

[radgatt]

Benson Leung made a wish list of recommended USB Type C on Amazon. It also includes any approved A to C USB cables.

Amazon.com

 

[Bearcats98]

Does he have a wish list for Type A to Type C which quite a few of us will need....? The above list is only Type C to Type C

 

[hallux]

Does he have a wish list for Type A to Type C which quite a few of us will need....? The above list is only Type C to Type C

Did you look at the Amazon list I linked? Also, on the list linked by radgatt, look to the left and click the link to view the USB-C legacy cables list.

 

[Bearcats98]

Did you look at the Amazon list I linked? Also, on the list linked by radgatt, look to the left and click the link to view the USB-C legacy cables list.

Ah...didn't see your urls. radgatt only had Type C to Type C.

 

[hallux]

Ah...didn't see your urls. radgatt only had Type C to Type C.

However, on the same link that radgatt posted was a link on the left that went to the same list I posted.

 

[murphcid]

Thanks. The Belkin is $24 at Best Buy, I think I will get two, and use them here and in the car. I was very concerned with the possibility of blowing something up or burning it down. But that links to another question: If I use my old charging blocks will using an A to C cable kill them? I usually charge my phone at night, and I have two of the older HTC blocks. Is that going to be a problem? Same goes with the car charger? So many new things to worry about because I do not want to kill the phone, or burn my house down.

 

[Bearcats98]

Thanks. The Belkin is $24 at Best Buy, I think I will get two, and use them here and in the car. I was very concerned with the possibility of blowing something up or burning it down. But that links to another question: If I use my old charging blocks will using an A to C cable kill them? I usually charge my phone at night, and I have two of the older HTC blocks. Is that going to be a problem? Same goes with the car charger? So many new things to worry about because I do not want to kill the phone, or burn my house down.

My non-engineering background reading over the internet indicates a proper cable will be ok and allow retro chargers to safely charge. Supposedly the cable has some basic smarts (I think via a resistor but could easily be wrong) that will keep over draw from happening. Improper cables do not correctly apply this resistor and causes problems. Best to do your own research but I did, however, stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night....

 

[hallux]

Thanks. The Belkin is $24 at Best Buy, I think I will get two, and use them here and in the car. I was very concerned with the possibility of blowing something up or burning it down. But that links to another question: If I use my old charging blocks will using an A to C cable kill them? I usually charge my phone at night, and I have two of the older HTC blocks. Is that going to be a problem? Same goes with the car charger? So many new things to worry about because I do not want to kill the phone, or burn my house down.

I suggest you review the links I posted in my first reply. Both links include reviews of charging accessories for USB-C devices. The Google Docs link has a column of approved or not, pick from the ones that say approved, car chargers are also on this list. The Amazon wish list link includes ONLY those cables which passed the test.

I don't have an HTC 10, it's not on my radar, but I've had a Nexus 6P since November and have followed the USB-C cable concerns since then. Trust me when I say FOLLOW BENSON'S SUGGESTIONS.

FWIW, I got the 2 meter (6.6 ft) iOrange-E cable for less than half the price of that Belkin, it's from Amazon so it'll take a couple days but it's a nice, high quality, cable and passes the USB-C compliance checks.

 

[murphcid]

I did, and thank you.

I suggest you review the links I posted in my first reply. Both links include reviews of charging accessories for USB-C devices. The Google Docs link has a column of approved or not, pick from the ones that say approved, car chargers are also on this list. The Amazon wish list link includes ONLY those cables which passed the test.

I don't have an HTC 10, it's not on my radar, but I've had a Nexus 6P since November and have followed the USB-C cable concerns since then. Trust me when I say FOLLOW BENSON'S SUGGESTIONS.

FWIW, I got the 2 meter (6.6 ft) iOrange-E cable for less than half the price of that Belkin, it's from Amazon so it'll take a couple days but it's a nice, high quality, cable and passes the USB-C compliance checks.

 

[Jerry Hildenbrand]

Here's what nobody wants to hear, but I'll say it anyway.

Only use a cable that HTC supplies, or a specific model that they recommend.

Every cable on those lists of "approved" cables are only approved if both the phone and the charger follow the USB-C specification for voltage, amperage and data transfer. The HTC 10, and its charger (as well as the LG G5 and its charger) do not follow these specifications.

Is it super dangerous and something that will kill us all? Probably not. But compatibility is never certain when you're using parts that have not been tested and approved for the way you're using them.

Qualcomm has stated that using the charger supplied with the HTC 10 as intended is electrically safe. Qualcomm addresses USB Type-C and Quick Charge 3.0 [updated] | Android Central but nobody has tested any third-party cables with the HTC 10 and its charger.

 

[mfreeland]

Q6: Does it matter what type of charging cable is used with a Quick Charge adapter?
A: Quick Charge is designed to be connector-independent. Quick Charge can be implemented with a variety of formats, including USB Type-A, USB micro, USB Type-C, and other proprietary connectors.

Quick Charge high-voltage operation is designed to minimize charging issues associated with long or thin cables, allowing for a superior charging experience, independent of cable type.
This is from the Qualcomm web site. I work in a world full of audio, video cable and adaptors. It's really pretty simple. This spec allows for more amperage. Higher quality and thicker cables always work best. Cheaper, thinner cables may not allow as much juice through, probably not hurting anything, just not charging as fast.....Possibly warming up the cable, but not enough to melt it.

 

[Jerry Hildenbrand]

Q6: Does it matter what type of charging cable is used with a Quick Charge adapter?
A: Quick Charge is designed to be connector-independent. Quick Charge can be implemented with a variety of formats, including USB Type-A, USB micro, USB Type-C, and other proprietary connectors.

Quick Charge high-voltage operation is designed to minimize charging issues associated with long or thin cables, allowing for a superior charging experience, independent of cable type.
This is from the Qualcomm web site. I work in a world full of audio, video cable and adaptors. It's really pretty simple. This spec allows for more amperage. Higher quality and thicker cables always work best. Cheaper, thinner cables may not allow as much juice through, probably not hurting anything, just not charging as fast.....Possibly warming up the cable, but not enough to melt it.

The spec also expressly forbids variable voltage on the power bus and source/sync data swapping — two things Quick Charge 3.0 over USB-C does.

I don't doubt that QC3 over USB C is safe with the supplied equipment. I just hesitate to recommend anything, or direct people to recommendations for equipment that has not been tested.

I'm more concerned when we see devices like docks or audio equipment that uses a USB-C connector that the compatibility issues (especially with data pin swapping) will fry very expensive parts.

 

[hallux]

My apologies for the misinformation I posted above. I guess I shouldn't have assumed HTC implemented the proper USB-C charging spec rather than Qualcomm's QC spec.

I guess Benson has a bunch of testing to do for HTC USB-C devices. I guess this is what we get when product engineers are left to their own devices (pun not intended). If they were that insistent on using QC, why not stick with micro USB? What does QC offer them over the USB-C PD spec?

 

[mfreeland]

The problem is not the USB-C connector. QC 1, 2 and 3.0 will work with any connector.

 

[sitlet]

So just one question after reading this thread: If I use the cable that comes with the phone, will it hurt to use any old USB charger or computer USB port? I've got dozens of chargers around my house and work that are 1amp to 2amp. I don't really care about quick charge, I just want to ability to charge my phone in various locations without having to buy dozens of new chargers.

 

[labyrinth9]

I thought I was a pretty tech savvy person, but this stuff is confusing as hell!

So, I got a "Tronsmart" Car charger which supports Quick Charge 3.0 and USB-C. Buying their USB-C to USB C cables, I found out that they are USB 2.0. Should they be USB 2.0? 3.0?, 3.1?, 3.1 Gen 1? What is the difference in charging speed? What is the difference in data transfer speeds? Which are safe and which are not safe for the HTC 10?

 

[hallux]

sitlet - you should be able to use any charger, the HTC - supplied cable meets whatever spec HTC wants it to meet.

labyrinth9 - for a straight charger, I don't believe the USB version (2.0/3.0) makes absolutely zero difference. USB 3.0 is for improved data transfer speeds.