If you deal with electronics, you are aware that this is kinda BS:
It's all starting to standardize to USB-C and that is a very good thing. However, there is an even worse issue out there: power adapters.
This makes me want to throat-punch the evil scientist who created these.
Boss: We already have a great plug design on the shelf, just use this one.
AHole: Forget that plug on the shelf, I want to design my own very slight variation of it!
Boss: But you will make it obviously different right? Like triangular or something?
AHole: No, the same cylinder, but with minute differences in the ID and OD that can only be seen with a precision micrometer!
Boss: That's a dumb idea Bob, At least list the pertinent information on the adapter in case people need to replace it.
AHole: No, I'll only list the polarity and the voltage, the details about my plug will remain a mystery! People will only have 2 of the three critical pieces of information they need, ha ha ha ha ha!
Boss: You should talk to someone Bob.
In the good old days anybody that made a device that used electrons put a power supply in it and gave it a plug that would plug into any (standard) 120-volt outlet. Progress? I think not.
pinchvalve (Forum Supporter) said:If you deal with electronics, you are aware that this is kinda BS:
And the odds are near 100% that you'll try to plug the damn thing in upside down first.
In reply to stuart in mn :
And it usually takes (at least) three attempts to properly plug it in.
Standards are important, that's why there's so many of them.
In reply to David S. Wallens :
Maybe my favorite thing about my Macbook is the power cord connector. There's no up or down so it can be connected either way, and it's held in place with a magnet so you just hold it next to the laptop and it pops into place.
pinchvalve (Forum Supporter) said:This makes me want to throat-punch the evil scientist who created these.
̶B̶o̶s̶s̶ Engineer: We already have a great plug design on the shelf, just use this one.
AHole Boss: Forget that plug on the shelf, We need a different one to make more money!
FTFY
But it does make sense! Or did before the adoption of USB 5V
Engineer: "We have designed this device to run off 17.23VDC, any more or less will reduce the devices accuracy. How can we make sure people don't try to plug it into their existing 12 or 20 volt supplies?" Simple, make the plug different!
End users "Why can't I plug in this other power supply?" *Caveman banging on rocks noises intensifies*
Remember the days of wall warts that were anywhere from 3VDC to 20VAC and everything in between? I ran a computer shop in the mid 90's and I can't tell you how many accessories came in with power supplies with different barrel ends taped onto them that weren't compatible. Sorry you fried your new logitech gaming speakers duder, but you clearly didn't see the 12VDC on the device and just fed it 18VAC.
It is the same with people who get angry about BMW/VW lug bolts. "Why the hell did they use M12X1.5 thread pitch? I can't find these anywhere!" Well, they used it so you wouldn't be able to put a hardware store class 5 bolt in place of that specific bolt that is classed higher than 12.9, It is a safety thing"
Anyone else have a drawer FULL of A/C wall chargers that they refuse to toss because one of them "might" be theeeee one they need. One day. In the future.
Maybe.
In reply to Appleseed :
YES!! Well, a few years ago I did toss a bunch of them.
I'm a retired electrical engineer and worked in hardware design for over 40 years. The most astonishing thing I ever saw when designing equipment was the almost infinite variety of electrical connectors that were available. It's mind-boggling. It's the worst intersection of a Venn diagram, put an electrical engineer, mechanical engineer and production/cost engineer together to choose a component that fits each of their requirements and there won't be anything in existence that will work. Solution, make a new connector. Go to the Digi-Key on-line catalog an look at connectors and it has 4,837,900 results. Chose a subset, like "circular connectors" and there are 2,624,554 results. And NONE of these are connectors that are typically used in automotive applications for main wiring harnesses. Digi-Key doesn't carry automotive stuff. It seems like every auto manufacturer has the Venn diagram issue, and every couple of years they have to design a whole new connector family, obsoleting the old stuff. Oh, and by the way, every connector family requires a special set of tools to terminate the wires, insert and remove the contacts, even mate and unmate the pair. Military specific stuff is even worse. There are an infinite number of ways to connect two electrical wires together, and humanity is committed to creating a connector that addresses every possible way. Oh, and then they will create an "adapter" that will let you connect any one of the infinite connector choices with any other. Want job security? Become a connector engineer.
Appleseed said:Anyone else have a drawer FULL of A/C wall chargers that they refuse to toss because one of them "might" be theeeee one they need. One day. In the future.
Maybe.
Much to Mrs. APEowner's dismay I have a whole Rubbermaid tub full of them.
APEowner said:Appleseed said:Anyone else have a drawer FULL of A/C wall chargers that they refuse to toss because one of them "might" be theeeee one they need. One day. In the future.
Maybe.
Much to Mrs. APEowner's dismay I have a whole Rubbermaid tub full of them.
This is what Goodwill exists for. On the off chance I need a wall wart for some vintage 4 track recorder or something, I can go there, spend a few minutes finding the correct one and leave with it for under $5.
I had two large drawers full of a/c adapters; one drawer full of adapters that were AC to AC (ie, 120vac to 18.5vac) and one for DC adapters. Amazingly enough I use one of them about every month or so. I realized a bit ago that I hadn't used anything from the AC to AC drawer for years, as almost everything low voltage AC powered has aged out of regular circulation. So, I went through it and culled anything worth money and donated the rest to a friend with a vintage computer museum. The ones I culled out I've sold for $120 so far. Not worth the years they sat in a drawer but hopefully they're getting a new life out there.
And yes, these days I'm shocked when I get a DC powered thing that isn't USB of some flavor.
This is also why I try to put a P-Touch label on a power supply when I get it. All too often it gets separated from its device and then I'm staring at a pile of power supplies wondering, "WTF are these for?" I recently misplaced a power supply before I labeled it and damn it's annoying...
USB-C will take over a lot of power adapters as well. There are standards for negotiating arbitrary voltages and amperage limits over USB-C, within the limits of the hardware. My last two work laptops have used USB-C for their power input.
USB-C is one of those little things I'm thankful for since now my wife (Apple) and I (Android) can share the same phone chargers. 
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