iPad Pro USB C charging cable

[Steven Jackson]

Hi,

I have the latest iPad Pro with USB C charging and I also own a Chromebook with USB C charging. I want to know whether the two chargers can be used interchangably, without causing damage to either device.

(Basically, I want to leave one charger at home and take the other to work and still be able to charge both devices).

I have included pictures of the Chromebook charger.

 

[ahostmadsen]

USB-C is USB-C, so that should be fine, in principle.

However, there are cheap USB-C chargers and cables out there that can damage devices. There is a Google engineer who keeps track of these, but I don't have his website address now.

 

[dwig]

The output specs imply that this follows the USB-IF Power Delivery standards for charging over USB-C, though in the plethora of certification logos I don't see the PD logo. If it follows the PD spec then it is fine for use on devices that use PD, at least up to the 45w this can provide.

 

[alecgold]

USB-C is USB-C, so that should be fine, in principle.

However, there are cheap USB-C chargers and cables out there that can damage devices. There is a Google engineer who keeps track of these, but I don't have his website address now.

https://medium.com/@leung.benson/usb-type-c-s-configuration-channel-31e08047677d

Fried pixel: https://www.amazon.com/review/R2XDBFUD9CTN2R/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm

 

[VMMan]

That charger looks like it wants to be an Eagle Scout.

 

[Steven Jackson]

Okay, warnings heeded — that thing is never going to be plugged into my iPad. Would it be safer, though, to charge the Chromebook with the iPad Pro charger/cable? I trust Apple did the right thing and no damage will occur in that direction...?

 

[alecgold]

USB-c is usb-c, but not all cables are created equally.
Nor are power adapters equally safe.
Apple power blocks have been extremely stable. They are pricy and no doubt there is an apple tax, but the difference between non-branded cheap chargers and Apple’s have been really large.
You can’t see it from the outside, but the power spikes that come from cheap chargers are really frightening IMHO.
I’ve collected enough 5/12/29/67W power blocks over the years, so I use Apple power adapters for everything.
Charging my MacBook Pro, iPad and iPhone naturally, but also my B&O E8’s or my bike lights are charged with Apple’s power adapters.
Cable’s I’m more easy going with: Anker/Belkin/Apple and other well know brands sold in stores.
But certainly not online non-branded or shady online stores.

 

[CTHarrryH]

My local dollar store has USB-C cables (for $1) I don't think there is anyway I'd use one of those on an Apple or even a Samsung device.

 

[jaduff46]

As others have said, believe it’s power supply that’s problematic. I’ve gone solely to Apple power supplies, but have had good success with the Anker 6’ cable.

 

[masotime]

This looks fine. The "Output" lists a signature that suggests compatibility with USB-C Power Delivery (USB-C PD) standards - 5V, 9V, 15V at 3A, with only 20V at 2.25A to meet the 45W power limit. Manufactured in China, but looks like it is designed against Italian / European QA specifications.

I don't know your Chromebook model, but if it is designed to work with a USB-C Power Delivery charger, then you are good to go.

As noted above though, "USB-C is USB-C" is a dangerous sentiment - while the connector may match, the power negotiation protocols may not - this is particularly true of Qualcomm's "Quick Charge" standard which is mostly incompatible with USB-C PD.

Cables matter to some extent as well, but generally if it can officially carry the listed current, the power dissipation of the cable is bound by the electrical resistance of the cable (P = I^2 x R) so the voltage should not influence the electrical limits of the cable.

Comments regarding the quality of the power supply seem misguided to me. I assume this charger you are using is the original came with the Chromebook you purchased? If it isn't good enough for the iPad Pro, it isn't good enough for your Chromebook, which doesn't really make sense to me for an OEM to provide an inferior power supply.
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The output specs imply that this follows the USB-IF Power Delivery standards for charging over USB-C, though in the plethora of certification logos I don't see the PD logo. If it follows the PD spec then it is fine for use on devices that use PD, at least up to the 45w this can provide.

Okay, warnings heeded — that thing is never going to be plugged into my iPad. Would it be safer, though, to charge the Chromebook with the iPad Pro charger/cable? I trust Apple did the right thing and no damage will occur in that direction...?

I would agree with @dwig above - ultimately you need to determine if your Chromebook is charged via the USB-C Power Delivery protocols / standard. If it is, then the chargers from both Apple and (I realize now Acer) will work on each other's devices. That's the beauty of USB-C PD - one unified power charging standard - notwithstanding charger manufacturing QA of course.