USB-C connector can support 2000W - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: avandalen
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 17, 2022, 08:38:21 am
content: I tested an USB-C connector with a 2000W heater at 230VAC. There was no smoke or anything like that coming out of the USB-C connector, it supported the 2000W well.See my full article here:https://www.avdweb.nl/tech-tips/tips-2/usb-c-240w-power-delivery-how-does-it-work

author: inse
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 17, 2022, 10:40:36 am
content: Electroboom, please review!

author: Berni
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 17, 2022, 11:43:51 am
content: There is more to it that the connector just being able to handle the current. It is about doing the whole thing safely and reliably.Most I/O connectors out there will handle 5A just fine. Heck you could probably power a whole house from a DB9 connector if you use 3 pins for each of the 3 phases and shield for neutral. So we could have had 30kW fast charging for our Compaq luggable PC clones in the 80s.The way USB makes the whole thing a lot more safe is that communication first negotiates the high power mode once connected, that way the high voltage high power is not constantly available on the end of the wire. The problem of contact arcing is also greatly reduced since current is not flowing during mating/unmating. A short between power pins and data pins could also possible be detected while still in 5V mode as the digital lines can usually survive 5V but sending 48V in there is sure to fry the crap out of everything. In the early days there have been cases of USB-C PD blowing up devices, hopefully this is sorted by nowHowever in my opinion this USB-C PD going into these high powers is a stupid idea that should never have gotten traction.These days the 60W flavor of PD seams to be the most wide spread one for high power. This is probably as far as this should have gone. The standard 5V USB is underpowered for some applications. Now with these 60W you can charge a phone battery pretty much as fast as the poor thing could handle. It is also enough to run most of these modern slim laptops that would cook themselves to death if they tried to consume 60W continuously anyway. So you could still charge a laptop from your docking station at work via a single USB-C cable. The 20V often used for doing those 60W is a nice convenient voltage for laptop power electronics.However going to these ridiculous power levels that could power one of these big boatanchor powerhouse laptops does not many any sense. They are sticking this tiny connector on a laptop that is literally 4 times as thick and heavy as the typical thin modern laptop. Some of this laptops are so big they could fit a IEC C14 mains power connector on them. Where is the harm adding a extra USB-A sized power connector(they tend to avoid barrel jacks for high power) that is designed for the one job of carrying 300W of power. There is also no need to use 48V that the laptop will have to excessively step down anyway to charge a battery, all just so you could use a fancy tiny connector that didn't need to be so tiny in the first place.To make things even worse is that most USB-C hubs/docking stations/monitors will NOT supply this massive amount of power. They have to add in a huge PSU to support this, and that costs money, while most users will not use it. So you will still have to lug along your laptops power adapter and plug in two cables, One USB-C cable for power, one USB-C cable for communication to the hub.

author: Hydron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 18, 2022, 08:46:37 am
content: OP may enjoy this classic:http://www.fiftythree.org/etherkiller/In seriousness though, I do like the fact that my 2019ish dell latitude still includes their old big-sized barrel jack charging port in addition to the USB-C input. Means I can use the big rugged connector for charging around the house (and my big collection of dell chargers can be scattered around as needed), yet I can take a small USB-C charger on the road which works for the laptop and can also quick-charge my phone.The USB-IF people deserve to spend eternity trying to sort USB-C cables by supported features though, as penance for the total mess they created with USB-C and 3.x.