[kitsunesoba]

I wonder if we'll start seeing devices other than laptops that currently use barrel jacks for power shift to USB-C. 240W covers the vast majority of things even an enthusiast might have on their desk.

It'd be nice if they did, if only because there's a single agreed upon way to deliver power with USB-PD, and USB-PD bricks hash out the details with the connected device to deliver appropriate power. It's a considerably nicer experience than with barrel jacks, with the various different sizes and pole configurations they can come in and their "dumb" nature all of which makes it easy to plug in a brick that physically fits but fries your device.

It'd also enable better modularity, making it easier to replace the bargain bin bricks that come with some devices with something higher quality.

[phil21]

It's already starting, I've noticed. I've gotten a few very random devices lately they would traditionally have been powered by a custom barrel jack, that are now USB-C instead. One was a cheap light up dog collar, and I've recently picked up a soldering iron with it.

I expect the trend to continue as it's likely cheaper to toss in a single USB-C port and controller chip than it is to supply a power brick. I can see most stuff shipping without an actual PSU very soon - I'd estimate 50% of devices already do so these days.

[crote]

Part of it could be due to the EU legislating USB-C for charging on quite a few consumer products. Shipping a charger, let alone a proprietary charger, is rapidly starting to become a con rather than a pro.

And USB-C is starting to become dirt-cheap to implement on the device side. 500mA @ 5V can be done without any controller chip whatsoever, and you can do up to 3A @ 5V without active communication. It's just easier to use USB-C than it is to mess around with a custom power brick!

[gorbypark]

The big problem I’ve found is a lot of “cheap” things that have usb c don’t support PD. I have some hair clippers, a flashlight, some wireless ear buds and a semi expensive electric screw driver (from Lidl!) that have usb c but only charge with a usb a to c cables. It is infuriating.

[RunningDroid]

That sounds like they skipped a resistor: https://hackaday.com/2023/01/04/all-about-usb-c-resistors-an...

Someone made a fix, but it requires soldering: https://github.com/ide/usb-c-to-c-power-mod

[franciscop]

I've found connecting a usb-c to usb-a adaptor and then a usb-a to usb-c adaptor (effectively, c-to-c, but with two props) some times will trigger the traditional power deliver. Try on either end of the device.

The only two devices I have that still need it, a mouse and beard shaver, I use them irregularly enough (charge around once every few months) that this solution is good enough for me instead of having an extra plug+cable. Yes, it won't charge as fast as an actual usb-a to c cable, but for my case that's good enough.

[eternityforest]

Yeah, it's pretty infuriating, but it's still so much better than proprietary barrel jack crap

[LukeShu]

Already happening. My soldering iron, pimple-popper camera, and toy lightsaber all take USB-C. Though the lightsaber isn't compliant and just wired up the power and ground pins from the USB connector with no more complexity than barrel jack, rather than doing the proper USB-C/PD things to indicate how much power it can take, so some cables/chargers won't even give it anything.

[ChuckNorris89]

>pimple-popper camera

Excuse me but, what?!

[LukeShu]

Specifically, this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09HTWH46C/ It's much easier than trying to hold a mirror with one hand so I can see what I'm doing with the other hand.

[ChuckNorris89]

Holy cow, that's a more important invention for humanity than that Apple VR headset.

[jjoonathan]

I'm afraid to google it because then my ads will be nothing but skin conditions for weeks.

[_cenw]

Has been happening for the sub-60W market for a long time.

Lenovo has also gradually been adding USB-PD to their gaming laptops, first at 100W and by now I believe at 140W. Though the one I use can use up to 300W and the only viable aftermarket charger is the SlimQ 240W, which can do either 2x100W PD or a range of barrel plugs (and lenovos high-wattage rectangle) on one relatively small brick.

[ianburrell]

I had idea of making adapters that have barrel jack on one side and USB-C port on the other. The 5V ones would be easier but would need ones for different voltages, which would either need USB-PD PPS or transformer in the adapter. They would currently be expensive and only for people who really hate wall warts. The other problem is that multi-port USB-C chargers are rare and expensive.

My impression is that most devices with barrel ports don't use that much power and would be fine without USB-PD. They use barrel ports because they were designed before USB-C or because USB-C port is too expensive. I supsect many would be fine with USB-C to USB-A cable and charger.

[nunuvit]

You know what they say. There's no such thing as original thought.

https://www.adafruit.com/product/5450?gclid=CjwKCAjwm4ukBhAu...

[ycombinete]

I have a 180w gaming laptop, and would love even just having a GAN charger for it with a barrel Jack. But they’re hard to find at that wattage, never mind a usb-c one.

[speed_spread]

VoltMe make a 140W GAN charger, which I didn't try. Instead I replaced my Asus G14 (w/RTX3050) 180W brick with their 65W GAN USB-C PD charger and it provides ample power for regular non-gaming use. When momentarily going over 65W the battery is called to the rescue but it gets recharged quickly enough afterwards to maintain a comfortable margin. I very much appreciate the weight difference when travelling.

[ycombinete]

This is great to hear! I think I’ll do the same.

[jaywalk]

USB-PD requires extra circuitry that barrel jacks don't. I doubt we'll see the end of barrel jacks.

[crote]

Technically yes, but not really. The only requirement is two $0.001 resistors on the CC lines, giving you 500mA @ 5V. You can get up to 3A @ 5V simply by measuring the voltage the charger puts on the CC lines, so that can be done in $0.05 in parts.

Getting the full 5A @ 20V experience is possible with a chip costing less than $0.50, so even that isn't too expensive.

[bsder]

Reference, please? Everything I see that does standalone UFP (upstream facing port) PD winds up costing a LOT more than that.

The Cypress/Infineon chip that does this is around $2 and requires quite a bit of external circuitry: https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/infineon-technolo...

[xxpor]

OTOH, a lot of things have stopped including transformers, so the tradeoff might be worth it for the manufacturers.

[elcritch]

Exactly, the dc-dc bricks should more than offset the USB C costs.

[notatoad]

there's enough cheap parts floating around now that offer standalone conversion from USB-PD to raw DC voltage. if customers are preferring USB connections, OEMs will find a way to implement it.

something like this is no more difficult to implement than a barrel plug https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005315614647.html

[sowbug]

I took a few of those USB-PD decoy boards and soldered them to some universal power jacks. Now I have a home kit that can power any legacy barrel-jack devices. I did have to label each cable with the hard-wired voltage so I don't mix them up.

Basically a DIY version of this: https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256804001423573.html

[mtoner23]

maybe for the truly cheapest products, but USB-c PD chipset can be pretty cheap these days.

[Kirby64]

Barrel jacks already have extra circuitry in quite a few of them. Dell is notorious for this; if you use a non-Dell charger it won't even let you charge your laptop.