Amazon Is Banning Cheap, Unsafe USB-C Cables

Amazon Is Banning Cheap, Unsafe USB-C Cables

A cheap USB-C cable can fry your phone or computer. So it’s nice to see that Amazon is taking action, clamping down on the sale of poor-quality USB-C cables that don’t make the grade.

Amazon has added “non-compliant” USB-C cables to its list of items that are prohibited for sale on its site, as TechCrunch reports. They join products like DVD duplicators, dangerous extension cords and devices where serial numbers have been removed. Amazon explains that it will no longer permit the sale of:

Any USB-C™ (or USB Type-C™) cable or adaptor product that is not compliant with standard specifications issued by “USB Implementers Forum Inc.”

Google’s Benson Leung demonstrated earlier this year just how badly made some USB-C cables are. Eventually he found one cable — which featured some dubious soldering and even missed out some wires — that destroyed all his testing equipment.

The problem stems from cables that feature a USB Type-C connection at one end and a USB Type-A connection — the big rectangular one on your pen drive or whatever — at the other. Most Type-A connectors don’t handle the 3 amps that USB-C can deliver unless they’re specifically built to — but it’s hard to discern if they have been properly engineered without tearing one apart.

Mercifully, Amazon’s new rule means it’s now a bit less of an issue.

[Amazon via TechCrunch]

Top: USB-seeing you, dodgy cables


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