Mixing to a ‘usb-c/usb-c’ centric ecosystem?

I have a mess of chargers and cables and can’t seem to sort out and consolidate them, and it’s especially annoying when back and forth with work and traveling and doesn’t seem to be settling out.


i have a big picture idea and specific questions and appreciate anyone sharing their knowledge and likely even more wisdom/perspective!


I’m thinking of trying to consolidate my charging equipment by leaning into a ‘only usb-c cables’ with adapters (for lightning and micro usb) direction.


From what I can read (much) it SEEMS that it would be useful to determine if I should get additional/different usbc cables, ask more about the effect of adapters, and float the idea of investing in a more powerful wall charger and power bank. Many more details but maybe I’m digging a deeper rabbit hole and am very open to any thoughts (and why) which may be ‘no no stop … more the opposite …’


1) Does it matter what usb-c to Usb-c cable I use In terms of how fast my devices will be charged off my chargers (mostly wall plug ins)? This is a painful area of research.


2) will using adapters slow that down (charging) much? Not the laptop (usbc/thunderbolt 3) but others devices where I’ll be using more adapters? Can’t find anything on adapters and power and haven’t looked into doing a series of time consuming experiments!


2a) So if I only use usbc-usbc cables and have adapters they’ll be usb c->lightning/micro-usb where they connect to the device…


…how good/bad or and does the brand style of adapter matter … Vs usbc-> lightning dedicated cord (I don’t have usbc-> micro usb cords nor have looked I hope micro usb goes away soon).


2b) Also I have so many usbA-> microusb and lightning cables, are those (don’t think so?) better than using a usbc to usba adapter at wall charger, instead of just going usbc/usbc cord with only a tip adapter for the device at distal end?


3) At home I have a few of Anker’s (mostly) big power strips/surge protectors. I’m assuming (could be wrong) that while plugging directly into a wall is best (?) that AC outlets supply enough amperage to not make the powerstrip a limiting factor?


4) I think that (ironically?) buying a few more things to replace many others may help: one of the powerful say a 150w max 4 port charger (anker), which apparently ALSO would be required to charge a 7 series desktop power bank/hub. I think I could then leave other things more in place, spend less time reshuffling chargers and cords even just around the house, and a less complicated travel setup.


Currently I have:

Two (anker) usbc wall chargers other than the one apple laptop OEM (all chargers and many cords are anker) I primarily use:

-65w max 735 with 2x usb c + 1x usba

-65 watt max with 2xusbc ports


Also a mess of others less powerful (and less useful) others:

-40w wall charger with 2xusbc ports


-THREE tabletop chargers:

—two are all many slots of usbA

—one is 1x usbc and 3x usbA but the usbc is clearly less powerful than using one slot of the above three others

--one **power bank that is also a wall plug but only with 2x usb-A** this has actually been super useful (and leads me to think a upgraded addition of that will be super helpful).


Some things are useful just to distribute around the house but I’m trying to make a core device charger set that I don’t have to think about (as much).


I do see the usb standards and data transfer speeds and that’s mostly clear BUT they also indicate they can wattage … not a problem right now …

more so I don’t know again how adapters may affect charging if much at all (usbc -> lightning cord or usbc cord with adapter or the usbc hub I have for the laptop).


- I also see from apple that a under powered charger won’t hurt my laptop just may not work) - for example, my laptop wants more than 40 watts but if I use two ports on a power adapter say that may be all it gets.


My laptop is a my 2020 intel Mbp with 4x thunderbolt 3 ports currently an iPhone 11 miner adding another iPhone (work), iPad Pro 10.5 inch few years old, many rechargeable things (mostly bike lights which annoyingly are slow to move from micro usb to usbc).


I have many (!!!) cords but for usbc/usbc maybe 3: one from apple, and two anker ones: one nondescript one I’ve had a while but another that’s in their ‘5 series’ and ‘100 watt’ rated which I’m reading about (the loose connection between data transfer and power handling capacity).

MacBook Pro

Posted on Dec 26, 2022 9:35 PM

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Dec 27, 2022 9:18 AM in response to Bikelink

The fastest USB cables have extra-heavy charge conductors and can support 100W charging.


If yours is a top of the line 16-in model with MagSafe, The magSafe can FAST-charge at a 140 watts rate.


The Apple USB-C to USB-C CHARGE cable has no high-speed data pathways in it at all. If I were King, I would paint them all Day-Glow orange, so as not to mistake it for a 'real" USB-C cable.


Only the FIRST power source to be seen will be used for charging, so what any other cables/adpters do is completely beside the point.


Many users who find they are drowning in cables and adapters standardize on a Muti-function ThunderBolt Dock to reduce the number of cables -- but don't buy a really cheap one -- you will end up replacing it later.

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Mixing to a ‘usb-c/usb-c’ centric ecosystem?

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