USB-C Charging Explained: Background, Safety, and FAQs

A USB standard history crash course.

Developed nearly 30 years ago, the USB standard was the starting point for the USB-C we know today.

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Most technology users will have heard the term &#;USB&#; &#; also known as a universal serial bus, a plug-and-play technology standard that was designed to standardize and simplify the way we connect attachments from peripheral devices to a computer. Not only easy to use but multifunctional too &#; USB technology handles communication from a computer to a peripheral as well as a power supply. When it entered the market in , the USB standard levelled the playing field and helped alleviate the need to develop individual interfaces for each new peripheral that entered the market. It created one universal port that could accommodate a multitude of technologies.

The USB standard was a major moment in technology history. Prior, attaching peripherals to a computer required a variety of cables and ports, as each manufacturer used their own. More ports to work with meant more fragmentation in the market, requiring a wider variety of cables. As technology developed and became more advanced over time, new USB types rose to meet the market&#;s ever-changing needs.

What is the USB-IF?

You may have heard of the USB-IF &#; otherwise known as the USB Implementers Forum. This nonprofit organization&#;was created to promote and maintain&#;USB standards. Belkin was an early adopter of this technology and had its first involvement with the USB-IF nearly 30 years ago. In fact, Belkin was the first to introduce technologies like USB PCI cards, USB serial adapters, and USB PS2 adapters.

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Belkin journey with USB-C.

Belkin engineers collaborated with the USB-IF to develop the USB-C protocol from through . The first Belkin USB-C product was launched in and was a USB-A to USB-C cable.&#;USB-C offered a new type of connector shape, a 24-pin system that is compact and easier to use than the traditional USB-A, a long-standing industry standard. Its reversible design means there&#;s no wrong way to plug in, and it&#;s more powerful too. USB-C can support new USB advancements like USB 3.1 and USB power delivery (USB PD) -- a fast charging technology supported by certain iOS/Apple and Android/Google/Samsung devices that delivers much higher levels of power than standard charging.

With USB-C now firmly in the market, this new era in peripheral technology began to gain traction. Unfortunately, a flood of non-compliant cables showed up at the party too. Benson Leung, an ex-Google engineer and USB-C pioneer, is famously known for reviewing&#;USB-C&#;cables for safety and&#;specification compliance. Benson performed tests across a spectrum of branded (and non-branded) USB-C cables to learn which producers are dependable when it comes to USB-C.

Benson learned that by not using cables up to spec, you run the risk of damaging your hardware in both the short and long term. Many producers were putting products out that looked like USB-C but didn&#;t follow the necessary standards and protocols. With his work, Benson raised awareness of the possible risks and prevalence of non-compliant cables in the market, for both consumers and the wider industry at large. Unfortunately for Benson, during his testing, he permanently damaged his laptop with a cable that did not adequately meet the specification standards. Benson is quoted in this research paper, published in .

What to look for in USB-C charging testing and specs.

• Due to the high-power delivery, Belkin 100w USB-C uses a single E-marker, i.e., a chipset built into the cable head to ensure charging safety. It describes each cable&#;s characteristics, including the maximum power load it can carry. The chip is electrically shielded in metal housing and then sealed within a thermoplastic grip. Our latest 240W C-C cable is made with a dual E-marker.
• Meticulously designed metallic shielding in the cable head enhances durability. The function of the metallic shielding is to mount the connector, cable boot and raw cable together, to avoid the situation where the connector gets stuck in the device when pulling the cable out.
• With raw cable design, Belkin USB-C cables feature added Nylon wire to the cable to enhance the tensile strength.
• We ensure radiation and EMI isolation with multilayer&#;metallic/graphene shielding.
• The industrial design team at Belkin makes sure our Type-C receptacle is the best form factor, matching the internal tongue color to the product and designing the slimmest enclosure size.
• All Belkin USB-C cables are tested & certified to USB-IF standards&#; and compatibility tested for&#;best-selling&#;mobile phones. For example, the wireless de-sense test.
• Belkin USB-C cables support PD at 60W or up to 240W&#;(*C-C cable)&#;.
• Plus, they offer up to 25,000 to 30,000 bends (CAB-series) and follow&#;iSO standard.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of SMT Type c gen2 Connectors. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

Why choose Belkin USB-C?

1. Belkin&#;s first certified Type-C product was released in November , and we&#;ve regularly released cables and other types of products since.
2. An expert in this area of the market, Belkin has been working with this technology for the past several years. You can even say we had a hand in building it. Belkin collaborated with USB-IF (USB Implementers Forum) to create the USB standard and worked to educate consumers, which we will continue to do. USB-IF has chosen Belkin products as the official selection for its &#;Gold-tree&#;, a trusted list of USB devices used to ensure compatibility and functionality.
3. Because Belkin has often been part of the founding class of tech transitions helping to set new protocols (USB-IF, WPC, etc.), we embrace these evolutions and are able to prepare for them well before the rest of the market.
4. Belkin has regularly attended USB-IF PlugFest events in past years, where USB-C products are tested for quality and functionality.
5. We believe in delivering our customers the best experience, and given our commitment to quality, we will continue to bring products to market that pass the highest safety and usage certifications.