Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by Sami_Lehtinen 3783 days ago
Sounds strange. AFAIK USB shouldn't get fried without external power source. So the Chromebook was bad, not the cable? Down votes? Did I misunderstand something? Just comment with reference that I'm wrong and I'm very happy. Why bother building 'USB Killer' if simple paper clip would fry the motherboard?
3 comments

More details here:

https://www.amazon.com/review/R2XDBFUD9CTN2R/ref=cm_cr_rdp_p...

The source was a "1st party Apple 12W iPad charger"

The external power source was presumably a wall outlet, since he was testing its ability to charge.
Well that is an entirely different story. I thought that the cable was plugged into a phone and his chromebook (Just like parent).

I was concerned that this might be a flaw in the chrome book, not the cable. The USB bus should be fine to use such a cable, charging is another thing.

When you add the external power source, that completely changes the game.

Best i understand, the guy involved works for Google on USB support in their software and hardware.

What got fried was a Chromebook Pixel. A Chromebook designed and sold by Google directly.

He has been using it and various test instruments to check up on A-to-C adapter cables, as they need to have a specific resistor in them to indicate their nature.

He tried to charge a Chromebook Pixel with the cable. At least that is how I read the article...