this post was submitted on 24 Aug 2024

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Are these type of 3-way USB-C cables safe? (dubvee.org)

submitted 2 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

32 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Basically I'm trying to de-clutter the cables to my charging station, and was hoping to use a 3-way cable for my phone, watch, and headphones.

My main concern is if one device is able to successfully negotiate QuickCharge or PD, would that send 9-20 volts to the other devices?

e.g. if I grabbed the wrong cord and hooked it into my laptop, the laptop requests 20v, would that PD negotiation succeed and also send 20v to my 5v devices on the other two leads?

I've only used these kinds of cables with USB-A and chargers that can only output 5V. Most of my chargers now are QC/PD so I'm curious if I should avoid those or take any particular precautions.

all 33 comments

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[–] [email protected] 42 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Have you thought about 3 cables but running them through a cable sleeve? This way you can get a three port charger and three cables But have them feel like one big cable.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 2 months ago (2 children)

I'm kind of doing that with wire ties every few inches. Haven't thought of a cable sleeve, though. That would probably work and look better. Thanks!

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago

Yooooooo wire sleeves are about to change your life lol they are the best shit since sliced bread. I get a roll of like 3 different diameters to have on hand at home for living room and office wire management.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago

Another option may be something like this and then some 6inch cables. This is not a recommendation. This is just a random one from Amazon.

Usb strip

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Might be worth looking at a charging dock, ie:

https://a.co/d/2BKrw3T

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago

Especially as more devices start utilizing Qi2 wireless charging with magnets. Otherwise for non-iPhone devices you need something like a magnet ring or the wonderful Snap 4 Luxe to utilize a magnetized wireless charging stand.

I have this awesome Anker one on my nightstand and it charges my iPhone, Apple Watch, and Jabra earbuds. There are cheaper options, but this one let me charge the watch at it’s highest speed.

[–] [email protected] 31 points 2 months ago (2 children)

My main concern is if one device is able to successfully negotiate QuickCharge or PD, would that send 9-20 volts to the other devices?

Yes, but these cables won't do that anyway. You'll get 5V and maybe 1.6A if you're lucky. They're good for charging a flashlight.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

That's what I was thinking (basically assuming they lack the CC wires/pins to negotiate power delivery), but the listing does say one of the leads does support data transfer which made me wonder. I'm assuming they share the VCC and ground so if the data-capable one triggered a higher voltage from the charger, then they all would get the same output voltage.

I'm not sure how QC is negotiated, but it doesn't seem to need any extra pins like Power Delivery, so I still wonder about that.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago (3 children)

Does someone make a plug that you can stick on a cable that will identify its capabilities? If they don’t, they should.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 months ago

I bet Fluke will sell you one for $900

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

Like this?

I don't have one of those, but I do have one of these to test USB C power supplies. It will also test the cable you have connected to see if it's emarker says it's rated for various things. But it doesn't actually test that those things work.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

I think those do exist, but I don't have one.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

Would it world on a fleshlight too?

[–] [email protected] 25 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

My main concern is if one device is able to successfully negotiate QuickCharge or PD, would that send 9-20 volts to the other devices?

Yes.

QC negotiation works by changing the voltage. This communication would be broken if you plug several devices to 1 charging port.

So you better get a charger with several ports where each port is capable of delivering QC / PD. They have independent communication then, and each device gets it's proper voltage.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 2 months ago (2 children)

That's assuming this cable forwards PD signals at all.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

That would actually be the safer scenario, as a failure in the PD handshake simply defaults to 5v which every USB device can accept. It would be more dangerous to only have the PD negotiation be on one of the three ports, because then you could potentially burn out devices on the other two by sending them too much voltage.

I guess the best case scenario would be to have the PD signal run on all three, then default to low voltage if any of them fail. But that's likely not what they're doing, because then things would only fast charge if all three ports are plugged into fast charge devices. Because an unplugged tail would likely register as a failed PD handshake.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

No. In QC it is the main voltage that is changed. No extra signal lines.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 months ago

USB-PD changes thr main voltage in response to a handshake protocol on the C1 and C2 data lines, which this cable likely doesn't connect for precisely this reason. Qualcomm QC still uses D+ and D- to negotiate the higher voltage, which this cable likely wouldn't connect either.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (2 children)

I would think only the power connection ports are connected ( sort of a "dumb" cable ) Only way i can imagine is either its in their specs or cut one of them open to see what is connected ( dont connect anything after cutting it open )

Rule 3 applies here, expect here no professionals.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 months ago

Power-only is my guess too, and when you only have power pins connected, USB 3 defaults to 5V 1A.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Two of them are just power (according to the listing) but one does support data transfer. I'm assuming the VCC and ground are shared among all 3. It may not have the CC pins needed to support PD, but QC might be something to worry about.

Probably just going to stick with my hub + individual cables and deal with the spaghetti. lol

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago

Yeah probably, i could think it could become a fire hazard real quick if all of them are used simultaneous, especially if it comes from amazon. Louis Rossman has some good videos about dangers of amazon products ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y83BS_mK9GE )

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Do you use all the cables all the time? If not, you could get a couple retractable ones to keep things tidy. Then just plug in the 2-3 things you regularly use.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Usually, yes. It's where my daily-carry devices (phone, headphones, and watch) get plugged in each evening.

Someone recommended using cable sleeves to tidy things up, and I think that's the route I'm going to go.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Your watch... does the charger plug into the USB, or does USB plug into the watch?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

Charger into USB.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I feel your pain for the declutter... I as well have about 3 cables plugged into a super charger and I love the charge times it provides, I hate the cables. I really wish they made a cable that rolled back up like those ID badge lanyards you attach to your belt. Only take the cable you need and once done it rolls back up into a small space.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I actually looked for something like this and while they do exist, they all seem really shoddy and I would not trust them with my devices sadly

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago

I don't think they would destroy your devices but I do have a non-PD power-only triple-ended retractable cable and it is shoddy.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Yeah I wouldn't trust it, you can get USB hubs for fairly cheap. I just googled and saw one for 10$-12$ from Anker.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Yeah, that's my current setup. Was just trying to reduce the amount of cables overall. But cheap cables of questionable craftsmanship combined with two complex charging standards sounds like it's going to be a recipe for blue smoke.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago

*Magic smoke 😆