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USB-C Wall Chargers

I've been looking and looking for a good and not-too-expensive USB-C wall charger and I'm having trouble finding one. On Amazon there appears to be a $25 option that looks good but expensive (imho) and then there's a cheap ~$10 option that seems to have bad reviews.
I know there are a ton of USB-A -> USB-C cables & adapters but I also want some native USB-C options since it can power things 50% faster than what USB-A -> USB-C will do. I also know there are several decent-looking USB-C car chargers
Has anybody found any good USB-C wall chargers that aren't too expensive? Or are we stuck waiting for the likes of Anker, Choetech, and others to come out with some good options?

Jaxidian said:
Has anybody found any good USB-C wall chargers that aren't too expensive?
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You could just get another google one for 25

I am looking for cheap alternatives as well. I travel a lot and rather have a couple chargers for travelling. Re the suggestion of buying another one from google, I would prefer one with a longer cable. I see many 6.6 ft cables on amazon that would work great with a usb c power brick.

Links to the ones that you found?
Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk

toyanucci said:
I am looking for cheap alternatives as well. I travel a lot and rather have a couple chargers for travelling. Re the suggestion of buying another one from google, I would prefer one with a longer cable. I see many 6.6 ft cables on amazon that would work great with a usb c power brick.
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most of those longer cables severely reduce the charge current. to the point some of these cables can not even charge the phone while it's in use.
i have no idea how the quick charge on 6p will work but based on what i'v read it is heavily dependent on the usb-c ability to carry higher current, so i would be very weary about longer cables.
if anyone out there lands a decent 6ft cable that can qc 6p at a good price. please be sure to report back. and no, i don't mean those cables listed at $20 a pop like the official google ones. i feel it's a rip off even at half of that price. LOL.

Don't get confused among the connector type, cable type and charging standards. There are still USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 cables. The 3.0 cables will carry higher speed data and higher power than USB 2.0 cables. They are also more expensive. The 6P is only USB 2.0 compliant. Type A, Type C and Micro B (USB3.0 ugly wide connector not used by any phone) connectors will all carry high power and higher speed data streams. The current micro B that is used in most phones will not.
That said, the 6P is Snapdragon 810 SOC that supports QuickCharge 2.0. The 820 will support 3.0. Quick Charge 2.0 supports voltages of 5V, 9V and 12V and typically will be 2A at 5 and 9V and 1.5A at 12V.
Bottom line a USB 2.0 cable with any end if fed the correct voltage/amps will be Quick Charge 2.0 compatible. Most Quick Charge 2.0 phones use USB2.0 Micro B.

dwswager said:
Don't get confused among the connector type, cable type and charging standards. There are still USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 cables. The 3.0 cables will carry higher speed data and higher power than USB 2.0 cables. They are also more expensive. The 6P is only USB 2.0 compliant. Type A, Type C and Micro B (USB3.0 ugly wide connector not used by any phone) connectors will all carry high power and higher speed data streams. The current micro B that is used in most phones will not.
That said, the 6P is Snapdragon 810 SOC that supports QuickCharge 2.0. The 820 will support 3.0. Quick Charge 2.0 supports voltages of 5V, 9V and 12V and typically will be 2A at 5 and 9V and 1.5A at 12V.
Bottom line a USB 2.0 cable with any end if fed the correct voltage/amps will be Quick Charge 2.0 compatible. Most Quick Charge 2.0 phones use USB2.0 Micro B.
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Why do you keep spreading false information? It's not the chipset that dictates the charging jts the lower control chip that's desperate. This needs to stop because this is the 3rd time you said its supported. Google clearly stated there will be no QC 2.0 support even if they have the right PCU (power control chip) it would be disabled by default like in the OP2 and require a dev to enable it. The 6P doesn't natively support QC 2.0 and might not even have the hardware to if you could bypass the software side.

I just checked out the Indian unboxings which are making their rounds. I'm happy to see a plain old usb brick separate from the cable. I know that's not how the USA will be but it means that those usb bricks should be readily available soon enough from other manufacturers as I really want a compatible 15w brick that I can use with a 6.6 ft usb c cable for more length.
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Pilz said:
Why do you keep spreading false information? It's not the chipset that dictates the charging jts the lower control chip that's desperate. This needs to stop because this is the 3rd time you said its supported. Google clearly stated there will be no QC 2.0 support even if they have the right PCU (power control chip) it would be disabled by default like in the OP2 and require a dev to enable it. The 6P doesn't natively support QC 2.0 and might not even have the hardware to if you could bypass the software side.
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Exactly. I think that's the issue here.
To get true "quick charging" it has to be a 5V/3A usb-c charger.

Pilz said:
Why do you keep spreading false information? It's not the chipset that dictates the charging jts the lower control chip that's desperate. This needs to stop because this is the 3rd time you said its supported. Google clearly stated there will be no QC 2.0 support even if they have the right PCU (power control chip) it would be disabled by default like in the OP2 and require a dev to enable it. The 6P doesn't natively support QC 2.0 and might not even have the hardware to if you could bypass the software side.
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Pilz is correct. Regardless of chipset compatibility, they've skipped QC altogether as USB Type-C natively provides the power profiles needed to accomplish the same.
-ONLY- USB Type-C ports or chargers will power the correct pins/wires on a Type-C cable to fast charge the Nexus. Therefore, the best advice is to always buy a USB Type-C device for charging. Of course, check to ensure it outputs at least 5V @ 3A (15W).
As the Google sold Nexus power brick is out of stock, the one for the Pixel will work. It's overkill, actually, but will still work.
https://store.google.com/product/universal_type_c_60w_charger

Elnrik said:
Pilz is correct. Regardless of chipset compatibility, they've skipped QC altogether as USB Type-C natively provides the power profiles needed to accomplish the same.
-ONLY- USB Type-C ports or chargers will power the correct pins/wires on a Type-C cable to fast charge the Nexus. Therefore, the best advice is to always buy a USB Type-C device for charging. Of course, check to ensure it outputs at least 5V @ 3A (15W).
As the Google sold Nexus power brick is out of stock, the one for the Pixel will work. It's overkill, actually, but will still work.
https://store.google.com/product/universal_type_c_60w_charger
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I assume the dual-port will be available soon when the 6p launches.
The Apple usb-c is 2.4A peak so it doesn't work either.

Do you think Qualcom invented the idea of boosting voltage to supply more power more quickly? Did you know that almost every cell phone has an FM radio built in. It's on the chip. If it has a GPS radio you can bet it can do Frequency Modulation.
And the Snapdragon 810 is a System on a Chip! Look at the specs for it. It's all in there. Unlike the A9 from Apple. It's why a phone with the 810 will never be capable of doing QC 3.0! It's not in there.
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Pilz said:
Why do you keep spreading false information? It's not the chipset that dictates the charging jts the lower control chip that's desperate. This needs to stop because this is the 3rd time you said its supported. Google clearly stated there will be no QC 2.0 support even if they have the right PCU (power control chip) it would be disabled by default like in the OP2 and require a dev to enable it. The 6P doesn't natively support QC 2.0 and might not even have the hardware to if you could bypass the software side.
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Click to collapse

dwswager said:
Do you think Qualcom invented the idea of boosting voltage to supply more power more quickly? Did you know that almost every cell phone has an FM radio built in. It's on the chip. If it has a GPS radio you can bet it can do Frequency Modulation.
And the Snapdragon 810 is a System on a Chip! Look at the specs for it. It's all in there. Unlike the A9 from Apple. It's why a phone with the 810 will never be capable of doing QC 3.0! It's not in there.
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smh....

dwswager said:
Do you think Qualcom invented the idea of boosting voltage to supply more power more quickly? Did you know that almost every cell phone has an FM radio built in. It's on the chip. If it has a GPS radio you can bet it can do Frequency Modulation.
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Click to collapse
I'm sorry, but how does that in any way relate to the topic?
I believe what you're failing to understand is that there is more than just the chipset or SOC that goes into charging the phone. The USB port itself has a controller which negotiates power profiles and communications across the port. This would/does completely bypasses the QC capabilities of the soc.

dwswager said:
Do you think Qualcom invented the idea of boosting voltage to supply more power more quickly? Did you know that almost every cell phone has an FM radio built in. It's on the chip. If it has a GPS radio you can bet it can do Frequency Modulation.
And the Snapdragon 810 is a System on a Chip! Look at the specs for it. It's all in there. Unlike the A9 from Apple. It's why a phone with the 810 will never be capable of doing QC 3.0! It's not in there.
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Click to collapse
I stated this before and I'll state it again. We don't know what PCU the 6P or the 5X have so we won't know if the hardware support is even there. According to Google its not supported so I doubt I had the right PCU. Type-C fast charging doesn't ramp up voltage like QC does it ramps up the amperes at a constant voltage.
Read this article here and enjoy the satire in it as well (the purposely crossed through the quick charge at the time of publishing the article from what I recall) http://www.androidpolice.com/2015/0...ck-charging-or-wireless-charging-of-any-kind/
Also this is Qualcomms approved list of PCU chips that support it (see picture)
It states that QC is supported in the SD810 but ylh need to have the necessary power control chip as well to enable it.
I doubt Google would have the power chip and refuse to enable it like OP did with the OP2 due to licensing costs. Obviously Qualcomm didn't invent raising the voltage and since you are new here this isn't reddit we don't spread false nonsense for fun.

Elnrik said:
I'm sorry, but how does that in any way relate to the topic?
I believe what you're failing to understand is that there is more than just the chipset or SOC that goes into charging the phone. The USB port itself has a controller which negotiates power profiles and communications across the port. This would/does completely bypasses the QC capabilities of the soc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I cited and article to support what you said and attached a screenshot too

Elnrik said:
I'm sorry, but how does that in any way relate to the topic?
I believe what you're failing to understand is that there is more than just the chipset or SOC that goes into charging the phone. The USB port itself has a controller which negotiates power profiles and communications across the port. This would/does completely bypasses the QC capabilities of the soc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We seem to be confusing the implementation of a technique with the technique itself. Yes, I know there are lots of controller chips within any device. And yes, a manufacturer can deactivate or more correctly not activate in the 1st place a features built in. To which the FM radio that is built in is not activated.
Bottomline is to try the native charger, a QC 2.0 charger and a basic 5V charger and compare the results. I will bet there will not be a significant statistical difference between the native charger and the QC 2.0 charger an both will outperform the straight 5V number. Time will tell.

FYI.. chat with support just now
Christie B 12:12 PM
Hi htowngator! Thanks for getting in touch with Google! My name is Christie. How are you today?
me 12:13 PM
Christie, I'm good thank you
I'm just wondering when I will be able to order chargers for my Nexus 6p... This shows "not available" but I was curious when I could order it? https://store.google.com/product/usb_c_dual_port_charger
Christie B 12:16 PM
No worries! Let me take a look into your question.
It looks like it will be available next Monday for purchase.
me 12:16 PM
thank you

dwswager said:
We seem to be confusing the implementation of a technique with the technique itself. Yes, I know there are lots of controller chips within any device. And yes, a manufacturer can deactivate or more correctly not activate in the 1st place a features built in. To which the FM radio that is built in is not activated.
Bottomline is to try the native charger, a QC 2.0 charger and a basic 5V charger and compare the results. I will bet there will not be a significant statistical difference between the native charger and the QC 2.0 charger an both will outperform the straight 5V number. Time will tell.
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Click to collapse
So, when the phone can't negotiate a 5 volt 3 amp power connection with a QC charger, and defaults to 5 volt 550 mA USB 2.0 defaults, you are saying that there will be no noticeable charging differences between 15 watts and 2.75 watts?
I'm not trying to be a jerk, I just don't understand what you think you understand.

htowngator said:
I assume the dual-port will be available soon when the 6p launches.
The Apple usb-c is 2.4A peak so it doesn't work either.
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This one here will work! http://smile.amazon.com/Charger-Universal-Exchangeable-Included-Motorola/dp/B0122P71FC/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1444758012&sr=8-6&keywords=5V+3A+charger
I find it hilarious that anyone would think that a the connector on the end of the wire would have anything to do with the output of the power supply. You guys do know you can buy USB Type C to Micro USB adapters that go both ways. The only thing Type C brings to the table is it is reversible. The best part of Type C is that Apple is adopting it so we will have one standard all wired the same way. Only an idiot would wire a standard connector in a non standard way making their product incompatible with everything else. Micro USB-3 will carry just as much power and data just as fast, but it is really big and ugly!
Whether you use a 5V/3A charger or a QC 2.0 that will also output 5V/3A among it's 3 voltage settings is a mute point.

USB Type-C -vs- USB 3.0/3.1 -vs- USB 2.0 || Concerning Nexus 5X & 6P

Hi all.
There has been a lot of confusion on the Type-C port on the Nexus devices, all of the different USB specs, how it all relates to charging using USB Type-C devices, and what kind of data speeds you can get from Type-C devices. I did a fair bit of fact finding, and thought I'd consolidate everything I learned into one topic. For now, this is kind of a "living document" in that I am constantly updating the OP to consolidate knowledge. I'm not going to post everything you could ever know about USB specs here, but have provided the links! I am going to try to keep it focused on items as they relate to the new Nexus phones. As always, if you find this helpful, I'd appreciate the thanks.
I feel the state of USB-C cables and charging devices has been fleshed out well enough, and as such, I'm no longer updating this thread.
News:
Good news for consumers! Amazon bans non-compliant USB Type-C cables.
Resources:
https://plus.google.com/+BensonLeung
Reviewed cables: https://plus.google.com/collection/s0Inv
USB Type C Explained: https://plus.google.com/collection/0Vdov
USB Type C News: https://plus.google.com/collection/EKnov
http://www.usb.org/developers/docs/ (Official specifications.)
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2015...clear-up-confusion-about-all-these-usb-specs/
http://www.cnet.com/news/usb-type-c-one-cable-to-connect-them-all/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB_Type-C
ACTUAL TESTING: http://www.droid-life.com/2015/10/19/nexus-6p-nexus-5x-quick-charge/
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gombosdev.ampere&hl=en
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=63614861&postcount=91
What rate will my Nexus charge at with other devices?
___________________________________
When you connect your Nexus to a host, the devices must negotiate which charging rates can be used.
Type C hosts can negotiate with Type C devices using a specific wire in the cable known as the Configuration Channel - aka, the CC wire.
If you are using a Type-A adaptor or cable, the cable must identify itself as a Legacy USB connection (Type-C being converted to Type-A) using a pull-up resistor on the CC wire, grounded to the vBus wire. This is because the CC pin does not exist on Type-A ports. The Nexus will see the resistor, know it is on a legacy port, and it will then perform power negotiation using the USB BC2.1 protocol on the USB 2.0 wires in the cable. If the host is not BC2.1 capable, it will draw default USB current. (See page 149, table 4-12 for order of precedence.)
USB Type-C ports and chargers will provide 5V at 3A (15W) - true fast charging.
USB Type-A ports and chargers using USB BC2.1 should provide a max of 5V at 1.5A (7.5W).
Standard USB 3.0 can provide 5V @ 0.9A (4.5W)
USB 2.0 defaults to 5V @ 0.5A (2.5W).
What this means is that when your phone negotiates power with the host (your charger or computer), whatever current level they mutually agree upon is what your phone will attempt to draw. If you connect to a USB 2.0 port on your computer, a very old port which does not support the BC 2.1 protocol, then the most you'll be drawing is 0.5A. If you connect to a dedicated charging device which supports BC 2.1, it should draw up to 1.5A. Charging rates depend on this negotiation. Out of specification cables do not allow this negotiation to occur correctly. This may lead to faster charging, but you also risk exceeding the capabilities of your charger which may be dangerous.
As you can see, there is a big difference between 15 watts for Type-C fast charging and 2.5 watts for USB 2. Furthermore, please be aware that the phone will pull less current as the battery charges. A Nexus at 80% battery will pull less current than a Nexus at 20% battery.
In any regard, consider USB Type A to be the weak link in charging your Nexus.
Table 4-12:
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What charger and cable will work with my new Nexus, and will it support fast charging?
___________________________________
My suggestion would be to make the move to Type-C car and wall chargers. You will eliminate the chance of using out of specification Type-A cables, and ensure you are always fast charging. Type-C will soon be the de facto interface for USB, so why not future proof yourself now.
If you have to use Type-A adaptors and cables, understand that there will be limitations and concerns to be aware of. Out of specification cables being the primary issue, which is explained below. Further, your charging rates will be half (or less) than what Type-C is capable of.
Table 2-1 shows all supported power specs for Type-C charging. Please understand that Type-A ports/cables will only support up to the BC 2.1 charging level of 1.5A. If it goes beyond this, your cable may not be compliant with USB specifications.
Hi. I'm an engineer at Google who has worked on USB Type-C on the Pixel and Nexus projects.
The reason that the Google chargers and cables are capable of 5V 3A support is because not only the cables but the port on the other end is certified for the higher 3A ceiling. You will notice that the cable that came with your Nexus 5X or 6P has USB Type C on both ends.
This ensures that not only the cable, but the connectors and the charging circuitry on the other side of the cable can support 3A before the phone starts to charge.
When you have a legacy cable like this one, the connector on the other side is a USB Type-A connector, which can be plugged into any USB port built since 1997, for example your ancient Pentium II PC may have a USB port that this cable could be plugged into.
NONE of those USB Type-A ports are rated to support 3A, so many of the USB Type-A to Type-C cables available on Amazon that claim they are rated at 3A and configure the identifier resistor to tell the phone to charge at 3A are not in compliance and could do damage to your charger, hub, or PC if you try to charge at 3A.
When you have a legacy cable like this, 2.4A, which is negotiated over a BC1.2 protocol like CDP or DCP, is appropriate over the Type-A connector. Any cable that you buy that claims 3A support I would be extremely wary of plugging into any of your hubs, PCs, or dedicated chargers.
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Click to collapse
By the way, the maximum current of 1.5A is defined by the BC1.2 specification for CDP and DCP, but in practice, a range of other current values are possible using Apple's proprietary protocol or other protocols that bump up the defacto maximum current with a Type A connector on one end up to 2.4A, as long as the charger and the device both support that current limit.
However, keep in mind that there are 3 different termination possibilities. If you have the USB Type-C Specification 1.1, take a look at section 4.11.1, and at Table 4-13.
You'll notice that DFP Advertisement lists "Default USB Power" "1.5A @ 5V" and "3.0A @ 5V". It's important to read note 1. If you are making a legacy USB cable that has Type-C plug on one end, and a Type A plug on the other or a Type-B receptacle, you must use the "Default USB Power" termination, and NOT the "1.5A" one. Default USB power defers to BC 1.2 spec for current negotiation, so that such a cable that is attached to a basic 500mA SDP port should only draw 500mA, for example. Make sure to use a 56 kΩ pullup!
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As referenced in the quote, Table 4-13:
What about QuickCharge 2.0/3.0 chargers!? My Nexus has a Qualcomm chip, isn't it compatible?
___________________________________
No. Google has stated that it is not implemented in the new Nexus devices.
QuickCharge works by increasing voltage and amperage to charge quickly. The USB Type-C standard only works this way in USB PD modes, otherwise voltage never varies from 5V. This means that QuickCharge 2.0/3.0 is completely different from USB Type-C charging methods.
But my 2.4A rated Type-A charger works, and my phone says it is Fast Charging. What's the deal?
___________________________________
Your Nexus may report as fast charging if the Type-A cable you use is not compliant with USB specs.
Threads on this forum have confirmed that the phone will pull 3A (or about 2990mA) from the stock charger. These results were verified using apps such as Ampere. When using 3rd party equipment (non-OEM cables and chargers), I would suggest using an application such as Ampere to ensure that you are not exceeding the maximum rating of the charger or cable. Doing so can be dangerous! It will also verify exactly how much current your phone is pulling to charge - information I've found helpful if for no other reason than to satisfy my own curiosity.
If you are unsure if your cable is compliant, you can test it using the methods found here: http://www.androidheadlines.com/201...usb-type-c-for-nexus-5x-6p-compatibility.html
So, how should you approach charging and connecting your Nexus to other devices?
___________________________________
The same way you would any other device - plug it into the best thing you have available.
For connecting to computers, use the best port you have available. Type-C to Type-C > USB 3.x to Type-C > USB 2 to Type-C.
For chargers, try to match OEM specs: 5 volts at 3 amps output using a Type C connector.
If you have to use an adapter (Type-A to Type-C), Make sure you use compliant cables!
What data connection speeds will I get on my Nexus using Type-C?
___________________________________
If you want to dig deep into this, look at the "USB Type-C Specification Release 1.1.pdf" doc from USB.org, it defines on page 19 the types of plugs and cables for Type-C, including the USB 2.0 Type-C port. Starting at page 57 it defines all of the wires/pins for the different cables. Comparing table 3-10 to 3-11, you can see that all of the SDP (shielded differential pair) signal pins/wires are missing in the USB 2.0 Type-C connections. These are your high speed data connection wires. The Vbus, Vconn, cc, GND wires are all still present to support Type-C power delivery.
So, in other words, there are USB 2.0 Type-C ports, and USB 3.0 ports. For devices which don't require up to 100 watts of power, or won't use up to 10GB/s transfer speeds, the USB-C 2.0 port may commonly be used. The Nexus 5X & 6P fall into this category. What connection speeds are you going to get with the Nexus? USB 2.0 speeds.
Full Featured USB Type-C Cable:
USB 2.0 Type-C to Type-A cable:
If I left any glaring omissions from this, please follow up. I'd love to have all the info we can get.
========================================
I wanted to put in this addition to the op. Thanks to @aaron_huber for putting this information up.
Aaron said:
A wire is a wire, but in this case the magic is in the charger, the device, AND THE CABLE. From the USB-C Wikipedia page:
Full-featured USB Type-C cables are active, electronically marked cables that contain a chip with an ID function based on the configuration data channel and vendor-defined messages (VDMs) from the USB Power Delivery 2.0 specification. USB Type-C devices also support power currents of 1.5 A and 3.0 A over the 5 V power bus in addition to baseline 900 mA; devices can either negotiate increased USB current through the configuration line, or they can support the full Power Delivery specification using both BMC-coded configuration line and legacy BFSK-coded VBUS line.
The 6P does not support the full PD spec per Google, but it does use the "configuration line" which is an extra wire in the USB-C cable hooked up to an extra pin in the phone/charger to talk to the charger and negotiate extra current. If you don't have a USB-C cable with the extra pins/wires plugged into a USB-C charger on the other end that also has the extra pins to do the negotiation, then the phone will fall back to a lower current because the spec requires it. If you plug it into a USB-A charger or use a USB-A to USB-C cable then all you get are four wires - the "configuration line" to do the negotiation doesn't exist.​
========================================
* Type-C capabilities exceeds previous USB Type-A 3.1 / 2.0 specifications:
** 2 way power transfer
** Universal plug type (reversible plug)
** Much high transfer speeds (10GB/s)
** Much higher charging capabilities (Up to [email protected] = 100W via USB PD)
** Alternate data modes for devices (Display port / Audio)
Known Type-C capabilities for Nexus 5x & 6P:
+ USB 2.0 Data transfer speeds
+ Full fast charging through USB Type-C ports or specifically designed 5v/3a capable Type-C chargers only
- Not Qualcomm QuickCharge compatible (may draw more current for charging than a standard USB port though, see below)
- No HDMI out (It is not type-c alternate mode capable.)
- Not USB-PD capable
Thanks all!

Nice post!
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ylexot said:
Nice post!
Sent from my LG-V410 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
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Thank you!

Are 3.1 Type C cables backward compatible with 2.0 type C devices? I ask because if they are wouldn't it make sense for people to buy USB 3.1 Type C cables for future proofing vs 2.0?
I am in the market for a long cable and am confused as to which of the cables below to chose.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...able&qid=1444414379&ref_=sr_1_59&s=pc&sr=1-59
http://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matters...ME5bDiL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160,160_

toyanucci said:
Are 3.1 Type C cables backward compatible with 2.0 type C devices? I ask because if they are wouldn't it make sense for people to buy USB 3.1 Type C cables for future proofing vs 2.0?
I am in the market for a long cable and am confused as to which of the cables below to chose.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...able&qid=1444414379&ref_=sr_1_59&s=pc&sr=1-59
http://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matters...ME5bDiL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160,160_
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
USB type c is just the physical connector it has nothing to do with the usb 2.0 or 3.0 so you might as well by the fastest ones
What we do need to worry about is whether or not the cable itself supports charging at 3A 5v

Looking at the two, it appears that the Cable Matters product is a cable designed to connect a computer with Type-C port to a peripherals with USB 2.0 Type-C ports. (Like the Nexus 6p.) The maximum data speeds for this would be USB 2.0 speeds. Looks like a very nicely constructed cable - look at the connection ends, and polished metal. If all you were doing is connecting smart phones to your laptop, this is the type of product I would buy.
The J&D cable appears to be a full-feature type-c cable, and should support every supported type-c data rate. I'm not in love with the picture of the product though. Doesn't look quite as nice as the Cable Matters product. If you wanted to connect two devices with full 10GB/s connectivity, this would be the type of cable I would get.
It is my opinion that the two products are good examples of a well made USB 2.0 Type-C cable and a cheaply made full-feature Type-C cable. The full feature cables have to include more pins/wires, and are thus more expensive to produce.

Chilidog said:
USB type c is just the physical connector it has nothing to do with the usb 2.0 or 3.0 so you might as well by the fastest ones
What we do need to worry about is whether or not the cable itself supports charging at 3A 5v
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Technically incorrect, but essentially right.
Assuming both cables adhere to standards, the Cable Matters USB 2.0 Type-C cable is (most likely) missing the data pins & wires needed to transfer at the rated Type-C 10GB/s speeds; however, it should still have all of the power pins and wires to charge at 5V 3A. The J&D cable, presumably being a full-feature cable, should support full Type-C power (100W) and data (10GB/s) speeds, and will also charge a Nexus at 5V 3A.

Elnrik said:
Technically incorrect, but essentially right.
Assuming both cables adhere to standards, the Cable Matters USB 2.0 Type-C cable is (most likely) missing the data pins & wires needed to transfer at the rated Type-C 10GB/s speeds; however, it should still have all of the power pins and wires to charge at 5A 3A. The J&D cable, presumably being a full-feature cable, should support full Type-C power (100W) and data (10GB/s) speeds, and will also charge a Nexus at 5V 3A.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So for just charging it would make sense to get the better constructed cable based on your observations?

At this point, it's more about the cable you use than the charger. Using a backwards 3.0/3.1 compatible C to A cable will get you the same speeds as a standard C to C cable in USB use. The chargers coming standard with the phone are C to charger, so Google seems to be indicating separate charging and USB use here. However, compatible untethered chargers are available in both the Google stores and elsewhere. Just make sure if you're not buying the Google charger, you get one with the right specs.

kibmikey1 said:
At this point, it's more about the cable you use than the charger. Using a backwards 3.0/3.1 compatible C to A cable will get you the same speeds as a standard C to C cable in USB use. The chargers coming standard with the phone are C to charger, so Google seems to be indicating separate charging and USB use here. However, compatible untethered chargers are available in both the Google stores and elsewhere. Just make sure if you're not buying the Google charger, you get one with the right specs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yh, I;m still waiting for charging bricks with the correct specs but would just get the 6.6 ft cable from now.

Elnrik said:
Worst case would be it sends 12V at 3A (36W) to your phone and your Nexus dies in a exploding lithium maelstrom of fiery chaos.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Leave it to Android to steal more features from the iPhone....

Elnrik said:
snip
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, if I read your post correctly, (very good post btw), if I were to buy a charger for work, I should try to find a USB-c to USB-c cable (5V/3A), and a USB-c wall plug, because the USB-c standard is what gets you the 15W? Using a USB-c to USB-a cable, even if it was rated for 3A, would max out at 10W?
Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

kibmikey1 said:
At this point, it's more about the cable you use than the charger.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is a bit misleading, and while I see what your point is, I urge caution using such general statements. A one amp charger with a Type-A port, a computer's USB 2 port, a USB 3.1 port, and a Type-C port connected to Type-C adaptors will all produce different charging rates for attached USB Type-C devices.

toyanucci said:
So for just charging it would make sense to get the better constructed cable based on your observations?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm the type who thinks it's better to get the better constructed everything. So I'd look for a "USB 3.1" compatible C to C cable that was built well.

Elnrik said:
This is a bit misleading, and while I see what your point is, I urge caution using such general statements. A one amp charger with a Type-A port, a computer's USB 2 port, a USB 3.1 port, and a Type-C port connected to Type-C adaptors will all produce different charging rates for attached USB Type-C devices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
True, but I was talking about USB transfer speeds, not USB charging speeds, since Google seems to be indicating separate charging and USB connectivity use with these phones, as evidenced by them including separate chargers and cables with them. Actually, only the 6P has both, the 5X only has the tethered charger.

heleos said:
So, if I read your post correctly, (very good post btw), if I were to buy a charger for work, I should try to find a USB-c to USB-c cable (5V/3A), and a USB-c wall plug, because the USB-c standard is what gets you the 15W? Using a USB-c to USB-a cable, even if it was rated for 3A, would max out at 10W?
Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, exactly.
Edit: According to what I've read, anyway. There might be something about 3.1 Type A ports that I'm not aware of which will allow 15W power. I know the 3.1 Type A port has extra pins. Just haven't been able to find in the 3.1 spec sheet a 100% absolutely for sure explanation either way. The Type-C specs pretty clearly spell out power states though, so I'm going to continue going by that. See attachment.
Second Edit: No, it would max out at 15 watts. The current I in amps (A) is equal to the power P in watts (W) divided by the voltage V in volts (V):
I = P / V.
3.0 Amps = 15 Watts / 5 Volts.

Or just buy a hard wired type-c charger like the one on the play store.
https://store.google.com/product/usb_c_charger
It won't power 100w, but I'm sure someone makes one that will.

Elnrik said:
Or just buy a hard wired type-c charger like the one on the play store.
https://store.google.com/product/usb_c_charger
It won't power 100w, but I'm sure someone makes one that will.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's currently sold out. They also have a 60W version with a 12' cable but it's $59.

Ouch that's a bit pricey!

heleos said:
So, if I read your post correctly, (very good post btw), if I were to buy a charger for work, I should try to find a USB-c to USB-c cable (5V/3A), and a USB-c wall plug, because the USB-c standard is what gets you the 15W? Using a USB-c to USB-a cable, even if it was rated for 3A, would max out at 10W?
Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why not just get the 15W charger Google sells?
---------- Post added at 09:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:47 PM ----------
seezar said:
It's currently sold out. They also have a 60W version with a 12' cable but it's $59.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ooh man.. Good thing I loaded two of them into my pre-order. Almost everything I pre-ordered is sold out.

Which of these USB Type C to A cables support fast charging? (Shopping on Amazon)

Which one of these cables support fast charging for the 6P?
I do not want to get new adapters so hopefully one of these cables are good enough
Thanks
1 - http://www.amazon.com/Yoozon®-Hi-sp...45399787&sr=8-3&keywords=usb+type+c+to+type+a
2 - http://www.amazon.com/Multi-Colour-...45399787&sr=8-4&keywords=usb+type+c+to+type+a
3 - http://www.amazon.com/iOrange-E-Bra...45399787&sr=8-7&keywords=usb+type+c+to+type+a
This one mentions this, Support the Maximum 2.4A fast charging and the speed of data sync up to 480 Mbps however I thought it needs to be 3A to support fast charging, if someone could please clarify, thanks
4 - http://www.amazon.com/NewLobo-1-met...45399787&sr=8-6&keywords=usb+type+c+to+type+a
5 - http://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matters...45399787&sr=8-8&keywords=usb+type+c+to+type+a
6 - http://www.amazon.com/JOTO-Standard...5399787&sr=8-11&keywords=usb+type+c+to+type+a

None of them will. You might get close to 2 amps if you are lucky, but no Type-A port will support Type-C fast charging. While cable quality matters, its more dependant on the load the phone can draw from the charger.
See: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=63220997&postcount=1

Continuing off what Elnrik said, you can still go ahead and buy yourself some generic quality USB A to USB C cables (see one plus cables for quality and value). You'll get pretty standard old charge rates through them but they are better than nothing in a pinch, for the time being, unless you want to replace all your old adapters.

I know you said Amazon, but Google sells an a to c cable capable of 5v/3a
https://store.google.com/product/usb_type_c_to_usb_standard_a_plug_cable
Currently out of stock though
Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

I am trying to find one as well that will do 3A/5W. So far I have found this one that according to the description will do it.
http://www.amazon.com/Rankie®-Hi-sp...29503&sr=1-1-spons&keywords=usb-c+cable&psc=1

heleos said:
I know you said Amazon, but Google sells an a to c cable capable of 5v/3a
https://store.google.com/product/usb_type_c_to_usb_standard_a_plug_cable
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I really don't know what Google are playing at with the spec for that cable. There's no way in the world a USB Type-A 2.0 cable can deliver 3A. You absolutely need Type-C end to end to achieve that.
If I'm wrong, I'm gonna look like a right chump. But I haven't been ravenously soaking up info on this topic for nothing!

krazyq said:
Which one of these cables support fast charging for the 6P?
I do not want to get new adapters so hopefully one of these cables are good enough
Thanks
1 - http://www.amazon.com/Yoozon®-Hi-sp...45399787&sr=8-3&keywords=usb+type+c+to+type+a
2 - http://www.amazon.com/Multi-Colour-...45399787&sr=8-4&keywords=usb+type+c+to+type+a
3 - http://www.amazon.com/iOrange-E-Bra...45399787&sr=8-7&keywords=usb+type+c+to+type+a
This one mentions this, Support the Maximum 2.4A fast charging and the speed of data sync up to 480 Mbps however I thought it needs to be 3A to support fast charging, if someone could please clarify, thanks
4 - http://www.amazon.com/NewLobo-1-met...45399787&sr=8-6&keywords=usb+type+c+to+type+a
5 - http://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matters...45399787&sr=8-8&keywords=usb+type+c+to+type+a
6 - http://www.amazon.com/JOTO-Standard...5399787&sr=8-11&keywords=usb+type+c+to+type+a
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With the Nexus 6P, none of them. It is not the cable, but the 6P that is the culprit. All those cables will actually support 5V/3A. For some bizarre reason, Google designed the charging system in the 6P around the Type C spec (the spec for a connector) and not around the USB Power Delivery Spec, but then used the configuration channel in USB Type C which eliminates the possibility of using Type A to Type C for putting 5V/3A into the 6P. Even Apple respects USB Power Delivery in the MacBook Pro.
I think Google's mistake (or at least foolish decision) will become apparent next year when the next Nexus phones (and a lot of other laptops, tablets and phones) have Type C, but not 5V/3A and instead support more standard power like 5V/2A and 12V/1.5A. There is a reason Qualcom chose those 2 combinations for Quick Charge 2.0. They didn't pull them out of their butt like Google.
To me, not having the device in my hands, is the biggest single disappointment with the phone. Don't get me wrong, even 5V/1.5A is decent power for charging a phone. Guess the other disappointment also centers around the implementation of Type C and not allowing HDMI via the Type C connector which it was expressly designed to do.

dwswager said:
With the Nexus 6P, none of them. It is not the cable, but the 6P that is the culprit. All those cables will actually support 5V/3A. For some bizarre reason, Google designed the charging system in the 6P around the Type C spec (the spec for a connector) and not around the USB Power Delivery Spec, but then used the configuration channel in USB Type C which eliminates the possibility of using Type A to Type C for putting 5V/3A into the 6P. Even Apple respects USB Power Delivery in the MacBook Pro.
I think Google's mistake (or at least foolish decision) will become apparent next year when the next Nexus phones (and a lot of other laptops, tablets and phones) have Type C, but not 5V/3A and instead support more standard power like 5V/2A and 12V/1.5A. There is a reason Qualcom chose those 2 combinations for Quick Charge 2.0. They didn't pull them out of their butt like Google.
To me, not having the device in my hands, is the biggest single disappointment with the phone. Don't get me wrong, even 5V/1.5A is decent power for charging a phone. Guess the other disappointment also centers around the implementation of Type C and not allowing HDMI via the Type C connector which it was expressly designed to do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow super lame...
So I'm going to have to buy new type adapters
(wall and car charger) and new type c to c cables?
I have the Moto X Pure right and the only reason I'm getting the 6P is cos of the battery and camera which I'm hoping to be better.

Snarklife said:
I really don't know what Google are playing at with the spec for that cable. There's no way in the world a USB Type-A 2.0 cable can deliver 3A. You absolutely need Type-C end to end to achieve that.
If I'm wrong, I'm gonna look like a right chump. But I haven't been ravenously soaking up info on this topic for nothing!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would tend to agree with you, and the other people that have researched the actual USB spec, but I feel like it's this was an error, they would realize it quickly and change it. The hire some smaht people at Google
Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

Snarklife said:
I really don't know what Google are playing at with the spec for that cable. There's no way in the world a USB Type-A 2.0 cable can deliver 3A. You absolutely need Type-C end to end to achieve that.
If I'm wrong, I'm gonna look like a right chump. But I haven't been ravenously soaking up info on this topic for nothing!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't confuse the cable's capability to handle 3A with what the SPEC allows. A Type A to Type C cable can actually handle 3A. Both connectors can do it. Even a Micro B can do 3A. The Spec does not support it. And here is the big issue. The spec, both original and the newer ones including USB-PD are set up for simultaneous power and data. For a charger, we are only worried with power and data speed/corruption is not an issue.
USB PD allows 60W (20V/3A) through micro B and100W (20V/5A) through standard A and B. It requires specially 'marked' cables which will be a little beefier than standard 2.0 cables. But the connectors can handle it.

So what is the solution?
Get new car and wall chargers only usb type c cables?

Okay, this is interesting. So, if the cable and both the A and C connectors can both handle 5/3, could you plug this cable into a block that pushes out 5/3 via a female A port and achieve maximum charge velocity?
That goes against what so many have said - that you need C to C - but I'd be delighted to hear it.

EDIT: Just saw @dwswager's post. What he said.
-------
TLDR:
USB TYPE-A has standards not specs, limitations are grounded in physics not words and it is possible for a USB type A to deliver 3A with lower Ohms at 5v with the right power adapter/hub.
USB 2.0 refers to Data rates not charge rates.
Bonus: 3A 5V is one of the Quick Charge Class A power standards for C to C even if 6P isnt yet certified for it. Could be Google pushing for an A to C 3A to 5V Quick Charge USB Class?
Snarklife said:
I really don't know what Google are playing at with the spec for that cable. There's no way in the world a USB Type-A 2.0 cable can deliver 3A. You absolutely need Type-C end to end to achieve that.
If I'm wrong, I'm gonna look like a right chump. But I haven't been ravenously soaking up info on this topic for nothing!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
heleos said:
I would tend to agree with you, and the other people that have researched the actual USB spec, but I feel like it's this was an error, they would realize it quickly and change it. The hire some smaht people at Google
Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think the conversation over USB "specs" has been misconstrued. What people are looking at are USB standards. Standards are not limits. They are heavily optimized guidelines for creating compatibility and uniformity with as many devices as possible and to protect as many devices as possible from accidental burnout.
USB 2.0 Data rate does not prevent a USB A port from having a 3.1 or similar charging configuration.
As is already clear, Google is not following USB charging standards of any kind with the 6P and noted by @dwswager.
It is entirely possibly to throw 3a INTO a USB A standard cable; ampere limitation isnt the problem USB 3.1 standards for USB A do it perfectly fine but at 3a 12v(4ohm), which is a higher ohm set up than with 3a 5v(1.67ohm). We also know that USB 3.1 standards allow for 2a 5v (2.5ohm), which is even closer to the 3a 5v set up. .The standards are set at those points because the lower the ohms the great the heat created, think of it like a welder, or a sub-ohm vaporizer.
Note that the size of the USB 3.1 pin size don't change due to the change in ohms. What is likely changing is the conducting material and size of the transmission wire.
Most 2a 5v cables run cool because the cable is a 2.5ohm resistance cable and its getting fed precisely 2a, as very carefully designed, which then makes that cable a "5v" (2.5ohm x 2a) cable. A 3a 5v cable would hence need to have a lower resistance of 1.67ohm, which is higher conduction, likely from a more optimized conduit throughout.
The cable can exist under Huawei/ Google's unique of standard setup.
Thing is, nobody as part of the USB standards have ever said you CANNOT put 3a through a USB Type A, but also nobody outside of chinese ebay sales sell anything with USB A that puts out 3a at 5v right now (Google for it, they exist. Wouldn't recommend buying one).
Bonus from Google CS (Source: http://www.droid-life.com/2015/10/19/nexus-6p-nexus-5x-quick-charge/#comment-2315607310):
"Currently, the Nexus 6P isn't listed on Qualcomm's list of devices
that have been tested and certified to be compatible with Qualcomm Quick Charge
2.0 chargers, so I can't say with 100% certainty yet. This is something that can
change the longer the Nexus 6P is out on the market and is tested for
compatibility and interoperability."
---------- Post added at 03:03 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:42 PM ----------
Snarklife said:
Okay, this is interesting. So, if the cable and both the A and C connectors can both handle 5/3, could you plug this cable into a block that pushes out 5/3 via a female A port and achieve maximum charge velocity?
That goes against what so many have said - that you need C to C - but I'd be delighted to hear it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Turns out electrical engineering and understanding takes more than misconstruing USB standards as specs.

theTqM said:
Turns out electrical engineering and understanding takes more than misconstruing USB standards as specs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have been fighting this corner since the day of the announcement, I am glad to hear someone else say it. There is absolutely nothing about USB Type-C that has any effect on wall chargers and the amount of current it can draw, and equally nothing stopping Type-A from providing aforementioned current / voltage. What it needs its a cable that can handle it (like the offical Google one), and a wall charger that will provide it, simple as that.

vido.ardes said:
I have been fighting this corner since the day of the announcement, I am glad to hear someone else say it. There is absolutely nothing about USB Type-C that has any effect on wall chargers and the amount of current it can draw, and equally nothing stopping Type-A from providing aforementioned current / voltage. What it needs its a cable that can handle it (like the offical Google one), and a wall charger that will provide it, simple as that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank God! Realism
If under USB-PD Profile 5, Type A can handle 20V/5A, why people think it can't handle 5V/3A is a mystery. The question has been will the phone accept it with an undetectable (to the Type C device) Type A to Type C cable by the 6P. The answer appears to be yes it can.

dwswager said:
Thank God! Realism
If under USB-PD Profile 5, Type A can handle 20V/5A, why people think it can't handle 5V/3A is a mystery. The question has been will the phone accept it with an undetectable (to the Type C device) Type A to Type C cable by the 6P. The answer appears to be yes it can.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've bought the cable I linked to from Google (it has already turned up) and I have bought a car charger that claims to output 3A/5V so I will be testing as soon as my device turns up. The car charger wasn't cheap, but it has been rebranded a lot so it's 50/50 as to whether or not it will hold up to it's claim. It has a type-C port as well so I can at least check they output the same.

@vido.ardes @dwswager. If what I quoted earlier from G CS is correct and the Nexus 6P hopefully-perhaps-maybe gets certified by Qualcomm for Quick Charge, and google updates the kernel to enable it then we'll have the entire world of Qualcomm certified 3A Quick Chargers at our disposal. Its a hope.

theTqM said:
@vido.ardes @dwswager. If what I quoted earlier from G CS is correct and the Nexus 6P hopefully-perhaps-maybe gets certified by Qualcomm for Quick Charge, and google updates the kernel to enable it then we'll have the entire world of Qualcomm certified 3A Quick Chargers at our disposal. Its a hope.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure how it would get certified. QC 2.0 takes an extra chip in the device and the 810 SOC is not QC3.0 certified.

dwswager said:
Not sure how it would get certified. QC 2.0 takes an extra chip in the device and the 810 SOC is not QC3.0 certified.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're right regarding QC 3.0.. however:
Check out the 5x teardown.. it has a QC 2.0 quick charge chip: http://9to5google.com/2015/10/22/nexus-5x-teardown-repairability/
Chances that the 6P has the same.. high...

theTqM said:
You're right regarding QC 3.0.. however:
Check out the 5x teardown.. it has a QC 2.0 quick charge chip: http://9to5google.com/2015/10/22/nexus-5x-teardown-repairability/
Chances that the 6P has the same.. high...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's interesting!
All this charging crap could have been avoided if Google would have just spent 30 seconds explaining it. I suspect that they used Type C and designed the circuit to take 3A and wanted to call that fast charging without having to actually implement a fast charging solution.
If I had the 6P in my hands I would get a few chargers:
Google Captive (5V/3A)
A Type C 5V/3A
A Type A 5V/3A (or the ASUS Transformer charger with micro B and a micro B to C adapter.
A 5V/1A charger.
Then with phone less than 10% charged plug them in and check the current draw. All of them should be somewhere close to the Nominal rated current output.
Then with the phone above 90% charged, plug them up again and they all should be drawing about the same current because the current draw should be well below the rated current of all the chargers.

Has anyone gotten 3A output from a Type-A charger/cable?

Yes I've read the google engineer's reviews. However, he basically says that it's unsafe to plug in those Type-C to Type-A cables if they're uncompliant, as they'll try to pull 3A, which might not be available.
However, what if you have a Type-A charger that DOES support 3A (e.g. the 5 port chargers from Tronsmart, Aukey, Anker - these support 8-10A or so over all ports, and can do 3A on one port), and you pair it with one of those incompatible cables?
I'm thinking it might be able to do 3A output safely? Ofcourse you would have be careful not to plug that cable into other incompatible usb adapters.
Has anyone tried something similar? If so, what cables are working for you?

lellouchftw said:
Yes I've read the google engineer's reviews. However, he basically says that it's unsafe to plug in those Type-C to Type-A cables if they're uncompliant, as they'll try to pull 3A, which might not be available.
However, what if you have a Type-A charger that DOES support 3A (e.g. the 5 port chargers from Tronsmart, Aukey, Anker - these support 8-10A or so over all ports, and can do 3A on one port), and you pair it with one of those incompatible cables?
I'm thinking it might be able to do 3A output safely? Ofcourse you would have be careful not to plug that cable into other incompatible usb adapters.
Has anyone tried something similar? If so, what cables are working for you?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are pulling 3A from a Type-A port, something has gone wrong. Please see http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=63732463&postcount=228. Type-A will only supply, at most, 2.4A. If you have a charger that has a *RATED* output of 3A or more, chances are the charger has more than one Type-A port and supplies 1.5A per port, or more, depending on the charger. For example, some dual port chargers are *rated* to output 4.8A - or 2.4A per port.

In the USB battery charging spec 1.2, the port is rated for up to 5A : http://composter.com.ua/documents/BC1.2_FINAL.pdf (p44).
If a cable identifies itself as 3A, and a charger can safely supply 5V/3A, then shouldn't the 6P be able to charge at full speed without any issues?

lellouchftw said:
In the USB battery charging spec 1.2, the port is rated for up to 5A : http://composter.com.ua/documents/BC1.2_FINAL.pdf (p44).
If a cable identifies itself as 3A, and a charger can safely supply 5V/3A, then shouldn't the 6P be able to charge at full speed without any issues?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Examine section 4.6.1. Also, table 5.2 for the "Allowed PD current draw".

I think many charger brands such as anker, tronsmart, aukey will release their 3A chargers in near future. I have checked the reviews of Benson. Seems there is not any charger can offer 3A.

I have not personally got 3A to the 6P from a Type A connection because I do not as yet have a Type A charger capable of outputting 3A. When I do, I will check it with both the Google supplied cable and a "faulty" cable to check. Most I've seen is a little over 1900mA from a 2A charger.
While there are various USB specifications for power, the correct answer to the question "How much current can be sent over a Type A to Type C connection?" is that amount at which the physical hardware experiences failure. People get totally confused between a paper specification and what is actually possible in the real world!
This in no way considers what the 6P on the C end or the Charger on the A end will actually do. If the 6P knows it is plugged into a legacy port (non-Type C), it might artificially limit the current draw. I suspect (but do not know) that this is what the "faulty" cables are trying to avoid. But, remember, most of the A to Micro B charging scenarios that we see in general practice today were at their origin out of specification when they were introduced. Products have been overcharging USB ports forever.

I have been using a type A to mini B cable with one of those little type C adapters for almost a week now hooked up to my hootoo usb 3.0 hub. It will not give you rapid charging obviously but it's perfectly safe and gives you the standard middle speed charging.
I use it at the office where I am not in a hurry to get the fastest charge possible so it's totally adequate for that and was way cheaper than buying a whole new A to C cable and I can still charge my nexus 4 and bluetooth headphones by removing the little type c adapter. Data transfer speeds seem to be right in line with typical 2.0 usb speeds.

Disclaimer: I'm not an electrical engineer, and don't claim to have read all of the USB specification documentation. I can't guarantee the accuracy of what I say.
USB type A will not and never will support 3 amps. This would require increasing the diameter (gauge) of the wires and possibly the pin design. USB type C was designed from the ground up with wire gauge and pin design capable of higher amperage (up to 5 amps I think). When you have a cable with a type A end and a type C end, it has to go with the lowest common denominator for the amperage, the type A end. The cable must identify itself to the USB C device by using the proper resistor, so the USB C device doesn't attempt to draw more amps than USB A can handle.
The way Qualcomm QuickCharge gets around this using USB type A is by increasing the voltage, not the amps. Remember, Electrical Potential (Volts) * Current (Amps) = Power (Watts). Increasing amperage requires a larger gauge wire, but generally speaking, this is not so with a voltage increase. QuickCharge increases the voltage to 9 or 12 volts, therefore increasing the power to the device without increasing the amperage. This is a proprietary Qualcomm specification.
The only way you will get 3 amp charging with a USB C device like the new Nexus phones is by using a USB C charger and USB C to USB C cable. With a USB A charger and a USB A to USB C cable, the max you should see is 2.0 amps. If you are getting more, something is wrong and you have a cable and/or charger that isn't following specification and you could risk damage and/or fire.

I recently got 2-2 packs of these USB-C to Micro USB Adapter, TechMatte®. I have one in each car and in my electronics survival pack so I can charge wherever I might go. I think I might order a USB C to Micro B cable to test a C to B to B to C line from the original Google charger just to see what it does.

dwswager said:
I recently got 2-2 packs of these USB-C to Micro USB Adapter, TechMatte®. I have one in each car and in my electronics survival pack so I can charge wherever I might go. I think I might order a USB C to Micro B cable to test a C to B to B to C line from the original Google charger just to see what it does.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are taking a big risk if you use those. See here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2BM6N...&channel=detail-glance&nodeID=541966&store=pc

Just gonna slide in here and say that one of the USB 3.1 power configurations is at 3A (for type A) but the circumstances for that power profile are 1. rarely used and 2. not conducive to charging the N6P.
Just get a decent USB A charger and USB A to C cable per what is to spec (see other threads) and live with that charge rate. If you want faster charging then just buy more usb c chargers and C to C cables.

dwswager said:
I recently got 2-2 packs of these USB-C to Micro USB Adapter, TechMatte®. I have one in each car and in my electronics survival pack so I can charge wherever I might go. I think I might order a USB C to Micro B cable to test a C to B to B to C line from the original Google charger just to see what it does.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I bought these too, before I got the phone, after reading the Google dev reviews, I threw them away, a little cheap convenience isn't worth possibly nuking my phone.

rmkilc said:
Disclaimer: I'm not an electrical engineer, and don't claim to have read all of the USB specification documentation. I can't guarantee the accuracy of what I say.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not an engineer, but I have read both the USB Battery Charging Spec and the USB 3.1 Spec which includes the specification around Type-C plugs at great length and have a decent working knowlege of how consumer electronics work.
The battery charging spec (which is different from Power Delivery) discusses several scenarios, one of which is called DCP or dedicated charging port. This is the part of the spec that people seem to ignore and keep misquoting the power delivery figures that are only relevant when connected to a data source. DCP is applicable when talking about wall and car chargers, because it specifically designed for the scenario where no data transfer will ever take place. It allows for up to 5A to be delivered, regardless of the port type on either end of the cable. This can be seen on page 54 of the first link. This is the part of the spec that people have been using to build chargers for phones and tablets for the last 3 years.
The issue that has been discussed by the Google engineer doesn't mean that a type-A port can't handle 3A, to the contrary it actually proves it can. The issue described by the engineer is what the USB spec tries to cover and prevent. If you read the 3.1 spec, specifically the section on Type-C to legacy connector, it describes a scenario that means the cable should incorporate a resistor that limits the current draw to 1.5A. This is to prevent damage to legacy chargers and doesn't reflect on the capability of the cable/port.
Consider the scenario before the 6P and 5x; no phone or tablet drew more than 2.4A maximum. The way a wall charger works is it simply provides power from the socket, the device on the other end of the cable decides how much current / voltage it can draw. Considering no device could draw more than 2.4A, the chargers didn't have to cope with that scenario. The issue that USB 3.1 provides a scenario that means it can draw more than 2.4A and if your charger is incorrectly built and your cable doesn't identify itself as legacy, it could potentially draw more current that the charger is rated for. There are 3 outcomes to using an out of spec cable on a legacy charger:
The charger is well built, resists the extra current and supplies a lower current, probably 2.0A or 2.4A depending on the charger
The charger isn't smart, but has high quality parts that can safely provide the extra 0.6A and operates at full capacity
The charger fails to limit the current and has cheap components
The third result is bad, very bad indeed, but it is the minority scenario. Best case in this scenario, the charger dies and stops working. The worst case in this scenario is that the charger could actually burst into flames. This is why the USB IF have decided that for legacy implementations, the old ports (Type A and B) should be limited, even if the phone and the cable is capable of providing the current.
What we have been seeing is that people have been ignoring the spec and building cables that pull the full 3A. In the majority of cases, most chargers react by fulfilling item 1 on my list; they correctly provide the max current they are rated for, and you get slightly slower charging at 2.4A. The reason they have done this is so that when they build chargers with Type-A ports that can provide 3A/5V, their cables will work fine at the full speed, and the vast majority of chargers will behave correctly when one of these out of spec cables is plugged in and lower the current draw. Several manufactures have stated they are working on 3A/5V chargers with Type-A ports.
The USB IF have aired on the side of caution, and said that to comply with the spec type-A to type-C shouldn't provide high current despite being able to handle it, because of legacy issues. This is also done to drive the adoption of type-C forward, which is correct behavior for a standards body. This doesn't mean everyone has to build to the spec, they are guidelines, and people have been ignoring them for years.
Are these cables / chargers out of spec? Yes, they are, but 90% of the chargers that come with your phone in the last 3 years are. The specs have never really kept up with the battery charging needs of our devices and the USB IF are very slow to react. With the new PD spec allowing for up to 100W, everyone should be able to have spec compliant chargers and needs met for the foreseeable future. In the next 3 - 5 years however while Type-C gains traction, we will still be using out of spec chargers while everyone plays catch-up.
Hope this helps clear up any confusion.

Big Cam said:
I bought these too, before I got the phone, after reading the Google dev reviews, I threw them away, a little cheap convenience isn't worth possibly nuking my phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They are being used successfully, without damage, by numerous people with the 6P and 5X, including me. Look in the reviews and you will find 5-star reviews with pictures of people using them with the 6P.
The "out of spec" part is intended to signal to the device not to draw more than 1.5A. Both the device and the charging port will successfully manage current draws, however. The spec is there to protect what you might call "legacy-legacy" stuff before resettable overcurrent protection was required and the devices had no intelligence.
---------- Post added at 06:03 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:49 PM ----------
vido.ardes said:
Are these cables / chargers out of spec? Yes, they are, but 90% of the chargers that come with your phone in the last 3 years are. The specs have never really kept up with the battery charging needs of our devices and the USB IF are very slow to react. With the new PD spec allowing for up to 100W, everyone should be able to have spec compliant chargers and needs met for the foreseeable future. In the next 3 - 5 years however while Type-C gains traction, we will still be using out of spec chargers while everyone plays catch-up.
Hope this helps clear up any confusion.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am an Engineer (work on a DoD cyber campus) reviewing critical components. And you hit the nail on the head. If 5V/3A catches on as a device design parameter, then it won't take long for companies to figure out how to supply 5V/3A via a Type A charger. Just like chargers for QC 2.0 distinguish between regular and QC compliant devices, these chargers will manage current flow with the portable device. These 'hacks' have been very positive for USB adoption because they force the collection of companies that make up the forum to react, since they are not proactive.
I just don't see 5V/3A catching on for Portable Devices. It is too much current for anything, but battery charging. And just dumping more current (faster charging in general) is not usually healthy for the battery because the chemistries don't react well to the higher induced temperatures. Peripheral items, thinking spinning platter hard drives and disc writers, maybe.

Yes. Using the Ampere app on my 6P, I have seen 3A using the following charger and cable. I got 3060ma on one port and about 2800ma on the others.
(Amazon links):
Anker 36W 4-Port USB Wall Charger Travel Adapter with PowerIQ
USB 3.1 Type C,NewLobo(TM) 1Pack 3.3ft/1m Reversible Design Hi-speed Micro USB 3.1 Type C Male to Standard Type A USB 3.0 Male Data Cable
I get about 2600ma on this charger:
Anker 5-Port Desktop Usb Charger with PowerIQ
These chargers are rated for 2.4 amps per port and the cable is not spec-compliant so use at your own risk. I have not had any problems or apparent overheating.

vido.ardes said:
I'm not an engineer, but I have read both the USB Battery Charging Spec and the USB 3.1 Spec which includes the specification around Type-C plugs at great length and have a decent working knowlege of how consumer electronics work.
The battery charging spec (which is different from Power Delivery) discusses several scenarios, one of which is called DCP or dedicated charging port. This is the part of the spec that people seem to ignore and keep misquoting the power delivery figures that are only relevant when connected to a data source. DCP is applicable when talking about wall and car chargers, because it specifically designed for the scenario where no data transfer will ever take place. It allows for up to 5A to be delivered, regardless of the port type on either end of the cable. This can be seen on page 54 of the first link. This is the part of the spec that people have been using to build chargers for phones and tablets for the last 3 years.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is incorrect. The document you are referring to is a Compliance document used for testing and submitting devices to the USB IF devices for certification. The actual specifications are located here: http://www.usb.org/developers/docs/devclass_docs/BCv1.2_070312.zip
In the BC1.2_Final.pdf document contained in that zip, it clearly defines the parameter values for charging. See Table 5-2 for allowable currents. (Also, keep in mind, in this document PD = Portable Device, not power delivery.) It defines that a portable device shall not draw beyond 1.5A.
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In one of his posts, the Google engineer stated that BC2.1 only allows for 1.5A of current draw, but it was other proprietary protocols which allow for more current to be negotiated for and drawn. That's the big question for me - if BC2.1 is being used per Type-C specifications on Type-A ports, what protocols are actually being used when drawing more than 1.5A? That's the big missing link here. Because the phone clearly draws more than 1.5A when connected to QC and other dedicated charging ports. Without that information, we can examine USB specifications all day long and never get the correct answer.
vido.ardes said:
The issue that has been discussed by the Google engineer doesn't mean that a type-A port can't handle 3A, to the contrary it actually proves it can. The issue described by the engineer is what the USB spec tries to cover and prevent.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't follow your reasoning here. You state that type-A port specifications limiting current to amounts less than 3A proves they can handle currents up to 3A? You then state that the specs try to prevent exactly that from happening. It's a confusing statement.
vido.ardes said:
If you read the 3.1 spec, specifically the section on Type-C to legacy connector, it describes a scenario that means the cable should incorporate a resistor that limits the current draw to 1.5A. This is to prevent damage to legacy chargers and doesn't reflect on the capability of the cable/port.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For clarification, no where in the 3.1 specs does it cover Type-C specifications. The Type-C specs cover Type-C and 3.1 specs. Further, the pullup resistor on the CC line is there to signal to Type-C devices what type of cable termination is on the other end. Nowhere have I found that this is designed to prevent damage to legacy chargers, as charging current isn't flowing over the CC line in on a legacy connection. Charging current is transferred over the VBUS wire(s).
vido.ardes said:
Consider the scenario before the 6P and 5x; no phone or tablet drew more than 2.4A maximum. The way a wall charger works is it simply provides power from the socket, the device on the other end of the cable decides how much current / voltage it can draw. Considering no device could draw more than 2.4A, the chargers didn't have to cope with that scenario. The issue that USB 3.1 Type-C provides a scenario that means it can draw more than 2.4A and if your charger cable is incorrectly built and your cable doesn't identify itself as legacy, it your phone could potentially draw more current that the charger is rated for. There are 3 outcomes to using an out of spec cable on a legacy charger:
The charger is well built, resists the extra current and supplies a lower current, probably 2.0A or 2.4A depending on the charger
The charger isn't smart, but has high quality parts that can safely provide the extra 0.6A and operates at full capacity
The charger fails to limit the current and has cheap components
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fixed a few things. You're confusing 3.1 for Type-C - or perhaps typing 3.1 when you meant type-c. I agree though that the charger's job is to sit there as a power supply, the device pulls current from it. BC2.1 is there to allow negotiation of current beyond the 500mA/900mA provided by base USB specs. The BC2.1 spec does show that currents drawn above max are supposed to initiate a shutdown, but I've yet to see this happen on certified USB type-a chargers, Type-C cables, and devices. Again, this leads me to believe that while BC2.1 spec is being used for negotiation of current, the negotiations are leading to current draws outside of the BC2.1 specifications - probably using proprietary protocols or specs.
vido.ardes said:
The third result is bad, very bad indeed, but it is the minority scenario. Best case in this scenario, the charger dies and stops working. The worst case in this scenario is that the charger could actually burst into flames. This is why the USB IF have decided that for legacy implementations, the old ports (Type A and B) should be limited, even if the phone and the cable is capable of providing the current.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is also that Type-C is much more intelligent when negotiating current between Type-C devices. These new methods (CC/VConn in Type-C), from a physical wiring perspective alone, are completely incompatible with legacy ports. When it can't use a CC wire negotiation, it has to fall back to methods that are compatible with these ports such as BC2.1 or legacy 500mA/900mA charging methods.
vido.ardes said:
What we have been seeing is that people have been ignoring the spec and building cables that pull the full 3A. In the majority of cases, most chargers react by fulfilling item 1 on my list; they correctly provide the max current they are rated for, and you get slightly slower charging at 2.4A.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct, but I have a slight issue with chargers fulfilling item 1 on your list. Protection mechanisms to prevent over-current or over-voltage situations aren't typically meant to be used 100% of the time the device is in use. It's like a "break glass in case of emergency" situation. I don't want to have to break that glass every time I'm plugging in. You can't un-break the glass. Or, if you rather, I'd prefer not to turn on my kitchen lights, then go outside and flip the tripped breaker, just to keep the light every time I want to cook dinner. Not only would that be annoying, but it indicates something is *wrong*. I don't want wrong, I want right.
If this amount of risk is acceptable to you, then by all means... continue. I don't, and won't.
It seems we both want to ensure people know what the risk is here so that they can at least make an informed decision - Which is cool, I dig it. We just disagree on the little details.

Also, I wanted to clarify: I'm not trying to state that it is unsafe to draw 3A of current from a port designed to provide 3+A, just that it is unsafe to draw 3A from a 2.4A rated port. As you said, typical legacy charging devices were not built to deliver more than 2.4A per port, so the risk is very prevalent with chargers users already own.
Further, I can't at all imagine why a manufacturer would actually design a Type-A / 3A capable port for these devices when using the existing Type-C port would be simpler and future proof.

I think these concerns about cables pulling 3A may be overblown in particular with cheap cables that cheat with the resistor. In order to carry that current you need some good thick wires inside. I've seen high quality OEM cables before that could barely carry 600mA when the phone could pull 1.2A and the charger at the other end was rated up to 2.4A.
I think in order to be concerned you need a cable that uses thick wires, well built and that cheats with the resistor. It doesn't seem to be easy to make cables that can actually carry 3A.
I have a non-compliant Pleson cable. I'm waiting for my 6P's battery to get down to 35% and I will test it with various wall chargers, a car charger and computer ports. I have a USB dongle to measure the current and I will also use the Ampere app. I'll report back.

Sorry But I have to disagree on pretty much all of your points here.
Elnrik said:
This is incorrect. The document you are referring to is a Compliance document used for testing and submitting devices to the USB IF devices for certification. The actual specifications are located here: http://www.usb.org/developers/docs/devclass_docs/BCv1.2_070312.zip
In the BC1.2_Final.pdf document contained in that zip, it clearly defines the parameter values for charging. See Table 5-2 for allowable currents. (Also, keep in mind, in this document PD = Portable Device, not power delivery.) It defines that a portable device shall not draw beyond 1.5A.
View attachment 3537633
View attachment 3537640
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The link I supplied is the current Battery Charging specification, and has the same information as the doc you linked. If you read the table in the picture you posted the third row clearly shows Dedicated Charging Port can have a max of 5A. This is how people can use that spec to draw more than 1.5A.
Elnrik said:
I don't follow your reasoning here. You state that type-A port specifications limiting current to amounts less than 3A proves they can handle currents up to 3A? You then state that the specs try to prevent exactly that from happening. It's a confusing statement.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The point is that the specification are designed to artificially limit type-A ports to a lower current when used with a type-C cable. The port itself has no such limitation without deliberately downgrading what it can draw by adding an extra resistor, and the cables that flaunt the spec prove that they can handle 3A fine.
Elnrik said:
For clarification, no where in the 3.1 specs does it cover Type-C specifications. The Type-C specs cover Type-C and 3.1 specs. Further, the pullup resistor on the CC line is there to signal to Type-C devices what type of cable termination is on the other end. Nowhere have I found that this is designed to prevent damage to legacy chargers, as charging current isn't flowing over the CC line in on a legacy connection. Charging current is transferred over the VBUS wire(s).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is not true, The current USB specification (found by going to USB.org, clicking developers in the top row, then clicking documents) is the "Universal Serial Bus Revision 3.1 Specification". Amongst other things, this contains the "USB Type-C Cable and Connector Specification Revision 1.1" and the "USB Type-C Port Controller Interface Spec". The pull up resistor is designed to limit legacy cables to default USB power (see table 4-13, page 157)
Elnrik said:
Fixed a few things. You're confusing 3.1 for Type-C - or perhaps typing 3.1 when you meant type-c. I agree though that the charger's job is to sit there as a power supply, the device pulls current from it. BC2.1 is there to allow negotiation of current beyond the 500mA/900mA provided by base USB specs. The BC2.1 spec does show that currents drawn above max are supposed to initiate a shutdown, but I've yet to see this happen on certified USB type-a chargers, Type-C cables, and devices. Again, this leads me to believe that while BC2.1 spec is being used for negotiation of current, the negotiations are leading to current draws outside of the BC2.1 specifications - probably using proprietary protocols or specs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I did mean type-C, but your edit from charger to cable is misleading. My point there was that regardless of what cable you plug into it, a properly built charger should regulate it's own current and power draw, most transformers will limit what they can provide despite what is being asked of them, which is why a 1A charger will only provide 1A despite me plugging in a dumb cable and a device that can pull 2.4A. A crap charger however will not, and this will be a problem with ALL cables and not just Type-C 3A ones.
Elnrik said:
Correct, but I have a slight issue with chargers fulfilling item 1 on your list. Protection mechanisms to prevent over-current or over-voltage situations aren't typically meant to be used 100% of the time the device is in use. It's like a "break glass in case of emergency" situation. I don't want to have to break that glass every time I'm plugging in. You can't un-break the glass. Or, if you rather, I'd prefer not to turn on my kitchen lights, then go outside and flip the tripped breaker, just to keep the light every time I want to cook dinner. Not only would that be annoying, but it indicates something is *wrong*. I don't want wrong, I want right.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As with above, I'm not talking about overvoltage or overcurrent protection, the chargers that are built properly won't need to apply these mechanisms because they won't provide over-current in the first place. Think of it like when you plug your phone into a car charger, and run the GPS. A lot of the time, your battery will still drain because the charger can't provide enough power, despite the fact that if you plugged it into a higher rated charger it would. The charger itself should be smart enough to limit the current without tripping any protection mechanism, and I would expect the majority of chargers on the market to behave in this manner, otherwise we would of had reports of people burning their house down by plugging iPads into 1A chargers.
The clearest point I can make on this is from the USB Type-C spec, page 25/24 Table3-1 & Table 3-2. It states cable types and expected current ratings. There is also the below quote when talking about building a legacy cable, lifted directly from the spec:
The following describes the behavior when a legacy host adapter that has an Rp to VBUS so as to mimic the behavior of a DFP is connected to a DRP. The value of Rp shall indicate an advertisement of Default USB Power (See Table 4-13), even though the cable itself can carry 3 A. This is because the cable has no knowledge of the capabilities of the power source, and any higher current is negotiated via USB BC 1.2 or by proprietary means.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Emphasis is mine, DFP is Downstream Facing Port (the charger), UFP is Upstream Facing port (the phone). The spec clearly states the current is to be limited to default USB power (which for the uninitiated is 5V up to 1.5A) despite being capable of 3A. It also gives you and out and says you can negotiate higher power using USB BC1.2 or a proprietary method of signalling higher currents, which is what phone and table manufactures have been doing for years.
EDIT: I just want to clarify my point. There seems to be this idea that Type-A connectors are somehow incapable of supplying 3A/5V, and that is what I am trying to correct. I have seen it here, Reddit, Android Central, and it is simply false. At the end of the day the plug, socket and wire are all able to carry 3A of current. I believe the issue the Google engineer has described, whilst real, has been blown out of all proportion, and in the real world the vast majority of these Type-A to Type-C cables are fine, and will provide fast charging when someone comes out with a compatible charger. The thing a lot of people are forgetting or not realising is that pretty much every phone made in the last 3 years isn't "in spec" either. The manufacturers have all come up with proprietary standards for drawing more current, and these latest cables are just a continuation of that process.
I think this is a perfect example where a little bit of knowledge is dangerous.

vido.ardes said:
Sorry But I have to disagree on pretty much all of your points here.
The link I supplied is the current Battery Charging specification, and has the same information as the doc you linked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I really hate to pick nits here, but... No, it isn't. Document you linked:
Document I referenced:
While the two may have similar information, one is going to define the specifications, the other is not. That is an important distinction readers of this thread should be aware of.
vido.ardes said:
If you read the table in the picture you posted the third row clearly shows Dedicated Charging Port can have a max of 5A. This is how people can use that spec to draw more than 1.5A.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. The 3rd row shows what the port should be rated for, not what the specification allows to be drawn. To use the analogy again, it's like the wiring in your house. The wires and plugs are rated for 20A for safety, but specifications define 15A breakers and max draw. (I suppose this is different in the UK, where I have no idea what voodoo or dark magicks make those odd outlets to work. All I know is it's funny to watch US tourists set their hair dryers on fire with them. :silly: ) While I do see your point - that the port is capable of 5A draws - the specification itself doesn't allow for 5A useage.
vido.ardes said:
This is not true, The current USB specification (found by going to USB.org, clicking developers in the top row, then clicking documents) is the "Universal Serial Bus Revision 3.1 Specification". Amongst other things, this contains the "USB Type-C Cable and Connector Specification Revision 1.1" and the "USB Type-C Port Controller Interface Spec". The pull up resistor is designed to limit legacy cables to default USB power (see table 4-13, page 157)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I think we're saying the same thing in different ways. The usb.org site provides all of the specficiations in a single zip under a download link titled "Universal Serial Bus Revision 3.1 Specification". My point was - if you examine the contained documents, the 3.1 specifications PDF has no specifications relating to type c. You have to specifically view the type c document to get that information.
Also, the "The pull up resistor is designed to limit legacy cables to default USB power (see table 4-13, page 157)" is stated, but reading deeper into this you'll see that this is accomplished by the UFP reading this as an *ADVERTISEMENT* to use Default USB Power for current negotiation. See page 146.
vido.ardes said:
EDIT: I just want to clarify my point. There seems to be this idea that Type-A connectors are somehow incapable of supplying 3A/5V, and that is what I am trying to correct. I have seen it here, Reddit, Android Central, and it is simply false. At the end of the day the plug, socket and wire are all able to carry 3A of current. I believe the issue the Google engineer has described, whilst real, has been blown out of all proportion, and in the real world the vast majority of these Type-A to Type-C cables are fine, and will provide fast charging when someone comes out with a compatible charger. The thing a lot of people are forgetting or not realising is that pretty much every phone made in the last 3 years isn't "in spec" either. The manufacturers have all come up with proprietary standards for drawing more current, and these latest cables are just a continuation of that process.
I think this is a perfect example where a little bit of knowledge is dangerous.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree, it has been blown out of proportion. That said, I believe real world situations exist where manufacturers use ultra-cheap components or don't comply with 3A ratings - because 3A was never needed before - and that some danger exists. I will disagree with the "every phone made in the last 3 years isn't "in spec" either" comment. The phones are "in spec". Yes, they have been supplemented with proprietary methods to augment their capabilities (Qualcomm Quick Charge, as an example). QuickCharge does not negate, override, or invalidate the USB specs - it complies with specs - it just adds an extra feature set. Saying they are not in spec is misleading, something I think we can both agree should be avoided.

Confirmed Rapid Charging Combo (MBP + Techmatte USB-C Cable)

So i can confirm that the following combo works for rapid charging on this phone.
Please delete this if a thread like this exists already
my combo is my Macbook Pro Retina 13" from 2013 (i think). it has USB 3.0
Techmatte USB-C to USB-A, 5FT
http://smile.amazon.com/TechMatte®-...8&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=techmatte+usb+c&psc=1
the phone registers as rapid charging.
Check out the Ampere screenshot as well
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I haven't seen a laptop let alone a MB that supports 2-3A on a dedicated/non dedicated charging USB port. I could very well be wrong but we need a picture of the phone plugged into the laptop to prove that rather than a screenshot. I'm not saying you're not correct but we need better evidence to confirm it

I concur with his findings. I plugged an A to C cable I bought off amazon into my 2012 MBP and it registered as rapidly charging as well but I didn't test the speed in ampere as I figured it was wrong lol.
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

toyanucci said:
I concur with his findings. I plugged an A to C cable I bought off amazon into my 2012 MBP and it registered as rapidly charging as well but I didn't test the speed in ampere as I figured it was wrong lol.
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
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I used to have a MB Pro as well (2011?) and it never fast charged my phone at the time. I have long since moved on to a PC (that was my only mac ever) and since I don't use it to charge my phone I couldn't tell you whether its just a MB thing.

Anything over 2000mA shows as rapidly charging. 2000mA is 2/3rd the charging rate of the oem type-c charger. Make of that what you will.

Pilz said:
I used to have a MB Pro as well (2011?) and it never fast charged my phone at the time. I have long since moved on to a PC (that was my only mac ever) and since I don't use it to charge my phone I couldn't tell you whether its just a MB thing.
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You're right. My MBP doesn't charge even my regular samsung devices fast so idk how the 6P shows rapid charge.
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

toyanucci said:
You're right. My MBP doesn't charge even my regular samsung devices fast so idk how the 6P shows rapid charge.
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
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I thought I was crazy for a minute because I had a s3/Note 3 when I had my MB Pro and they never charged faster. I'm glad you can substantiate that since I no longer have a Samsung phone or MB.

Read all of the information written by Benson Leung and co. An improperly made A->C cable will register as rapid charging because the wrong resistors are in the cable and allows the device to try to pull more amperage from the USB port than USB Type A is meant to handle. You shouldn't try to do this, it's going to damage your USB ports on your devices, or make your chargers burn up.
USB Type A cannot rapid charge a Nexus 6P without it defying the specifications for USB Type A and potentially damaging your charging source. If you have a cable that does this, you should not do it.
Only rapid charging from C -> C cables is safe.

smeggysmeg said:
Read all of the information written by Benson Leung and co. An improperly made A->C cable will register as rapid charging because the wrong resistors are in the cable and allows the device to try to pull more amperage from the USB port than USB Type A is meant to handle. You shouldn't try to do this, it's going to damage your USB ports on your devices, or make your chargers burn up.
USB Type A cannot rapid charge a Nexus 6P without it defying the specifications for USB Type A and potentially damaging your charging source. If you have a cable that does this, you should not do it.
Only rapid charging from C -> C cables is safe.
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Read Leung's reviews again!
He is correct that the cables he is reviewing have the wrong pull-up resistor according to the specs.
However, any potential negative consequences (never confirmed in his tests, just a possibility) are confined to the Chromebook Pixel and what it might do in a situation faced with this cable. It tells us nothing about any other product.
He has recently dropped the scare tactics and now limits his remarks to the failure of the cable to charge the Pixel.
"Specifically, these adapters do not charge the Chromebook Pixel 2015 because the adapters leave the C-C lines floating, where the specification requires a Rp pullup to Vbus to identify the cable as a legacy adapter or cable."
You can safely get more than 2A to the 6P via a Type A to Type C connection. Therefore, you will be (in Google's estimation) "Charging Rapidly". It generally takes an out of spec cable and specific chargers. The easiest way is the Google Chargers that are Type C however. But there are no Type C 5V/3A car chargers available yet. The closest we have seen is the Tronsmart Car charger that has been shown to deliver 2.7A to the Nexus 6P, but will not charge a Chromebook Pixel 2015 because it does not have the correct pullup resistor.

dwswager said:
Read Leung's reviews again!
He is correct that the cables he is reviewing have the wrong pull-up resistor according to the specs.
However, any potential negative consequences (never confirmed in his tests, just a possibility) are confined to the Chromebook Pixel and what it might do in a situation faced with this cable. It tells us nothing about any other product.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It absolutely is NOT confined to the Pixel. The video posted here proves it. Any device capable of pulling more current than the charger is rated to supply will pose this problem.
dwswager said:
He has recently dropped the scare tactics and now limits his remarks to the failure of the cable to charge the Pixel.
"Specifically, these adapters do not charge the Chromebook Pixel 2015 because the adapters leave the C-C lines floating, where the specification requires a Rp pullup to Vbus to identify the cable as a legacy adapter or cable."
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Scare tactics? He's informing consumers of an out of specification product which could be harmful. Including more information on the specifics of how he tested this isn't "dropping" a scare tactic.
dwswager said:
It generally takes an out of spec cable and specific chargers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Slightly misleading: Any charging current over (approx) 2.0A will show as rapidly charging, which can be accomplished with in-specification and out-of-specification cables.
dwswager said:
The closest we have seen is the Tronsmart Car charger that has been shown to deliver 2.7A to the Nexus 6P, but will not charge a Chromebook Pixel 2015 because it does not have the correct pullup resistor.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which demonstrates that the device is unsafe. It's rated for 2.4A, the Nexus 6p pulls 2.7A. The device is not not greatly exceeding it's own rated output, but it is still exceeding the rated output. The Pixel, being able to draw far more current, browned out the charger altogether.

Elnrik said:
It absolutely is NOT confined to the Pixel. The video posted here proves it. Any device capable of pulling more current than the charger is rated to supply will pose this problem.
Scare tactics? He's informing consumers of an out of specification product which could be harmful. Including more information on the specifics of how he tested this isn't "dropping" a scare tactic.
Slightly misleading: Any charging current over (approx) 2.0A will show as rapidly charging, which can be accomplished with in-specification and out-of-specification cables.
Which demonstrates that the device is unsafe. It's rated for 2.4A, the Nexus 6p pulls 2.7A. The device is not not greatly exceeding it's own rated output, but it is still exceeding the rated output. The Pixel, being able to draw far more current, browned out the charger altogether.
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1. Considering that Leung's points are that the "out of spec" cable can lead to fires and won't charge a Pixel, if the video doesn't show a charger fire and it shows charging of other devices, then it is confined to the Pixel!
2. His real point is that a Pixel 2015 will not charge from a cable with the wrong pull-up resistor. He threw in the charger fire issue to get attention and it worked. That is all anyone discussed.
3. Yes, it can be achieved with in spec cables, but what we are really hoping for is greater than 2.4A from Type A to Type C chargers and cables and that should not happen with in spec cables.
4. It's called margin. Tronsmart has said that it is designed to output 2.7A so that within quality limits, no unit will output less than 2.4A. And that means some lucky guys will get the ones at the other end that will output more significantly more than 2.7A. It would only be unsafe if the overcurrent or over temperature protection circuits allow the device to run over capacity. The rating is the least it should do.

Rapid charging displayed on the phone does NOT indicate more than 2000ma charging. My video proves this, the phone shows "rapid charging" using the cable with the incorrect pull-up resistor even when it is hooked up to a charger that is putting out significantly less than 1 amp. The rapid charging message seems to indicate only that the phone *believes* it is hooked up to a 3-amp, type-C charger.
For the original poster, a 2013 Macbook Pro supposedly will output a regulated 900mah to non-apple devices and 1100mah to apple devices (ipad etc). If you are succesfully getting 2000+ma out of it I suspect that either you are somehow pushing the ports well beyond safe limits (which shouldn't be possible), or there is a measurement error using the "Ampere" software.

dwswager said:
But there are no Type C 5V/3A car chargers available yet.
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that's not true, the vinsic is rated 5w/3a and I can pull that either via the type a or c port. tested with ampere on both the 5x and 6p

ackattacker said:
Rapid charging displayed on the phone does NOT indicate more than 2000ma charging. My video proves this, the phone shows "rapid charging" using the cable with the incorrect pull-up resistor even when it is hooked up to a charger that is putting out significantly less than 1 amp. The rapid charging message seems to indicate only that the phone *believes* it is hooked up to a 3-amp, type-C charger.
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That is extremely good information to have. It supports using some method of monitoring charging beyond the stock charging notifications.

kellybrf said:
that's not true, the vinsic is rated 5w/3a and I can pull that either via the type a or c port. tested with ampere on both the 5x and 6p
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Cool. That's the first I seen of a car charger that can output 3A. Seems this is badged under a number of different brands and other had reported those other brand can't get to 3A. I'm assuming you are talking about this Vinsic.
It is a shame it is not 5.4A so you could use both ports simultaneously and still get 3A out to the 6P. They will come...I hope!
---------- Post added at 08:37 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:21 PM ----------
ackattacker said:
Rapid charging displayed on the phone does NOT indicate more than 2000ma charging. My video proves this, the phone shows "rapid charging" using the cable with the incorrect pull-up resistor even when it is hooked up to a charger that is putting out significantly less than 1 amp. The rapid charging message seems to indicate only that the phone *believes* it is hooked up to a 3-amp, type-C charger
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That matches my experience too. And considering there is no fast charging technology employed in the Nexus phones, it makes sense that it is based on what the phone thinks the charger supply.