WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.600 Continuing its march to take over the tech world, USB-C is getting an upgrade to handle up to 240 watts, 00:00:07.600 --> 00:00:10.880 which is enough to power most of the gadgets you use every day. 00:00:11.520 --> 00:00:15.040 It's an awesome feature, but it's also a little confusing. 00:00:15.040 --> 00:00:19.440 So let's break down how exactly this works, what devices will use it, 00:00:19.440 --> 00:00:24.560 and how to know if your electronics are compatible. The main reason that the USB implementers forum 00:00:24.560 --> 00:00:28.960 wanted to bump the max power delivery from 100 watts to 240 watts 00:00:28.960 --> 00:00:34.000 is to get closer to a world of near universal charging for consumer electronics. 00:00:34.000 --> 00:00:37.600 100 watts is more than nearly any phone would need, 00:00:37.600 --> 00:00:41.360 but as USB-C charging grew as more popular on laptops, 00:00:41.360 --> 00:00:46.560 that 100 watt limit rules it out for higher powered machines such as gaming laptops 00:00:46.560 --> 00:00:52.960 and mobile workstations that designers and engineers use. USB-C can even be used to power laptop docks and monitors, 00:00:52.960 --> 00:00:57.520 but that 100 watts again simply isn't enough for larger displays either. 00:00:57.520 --> 00:01:02.400 That means the upgrade to 240 watts will be good news for a huge number of everyday people, 00:01:02.400 --> 00:01:06.000 not just folks who have ever had a laptop charger break or go missing, 00:01:06.000 --> 00:01:09.440 but also those who have had a hard time getting a new one in a pinch 00:01:09.440 --> 00:01:12.960 because of the huge number of incompatible charging tips out there. 00:01:12.960 --> 00:01:17.840 I mean, there are so-called universal chargers with over a dozen interchangeable tips included, 00:01:17.840 --> 00:01:21.120 and even those won't fit in every laptop. 00:01:21.120 --> 00:01:27.840 Ask me how I know that. But what do you need to take advantage of this new standard? 00:01:28.560 --> 00:01:31.840 Well, this is where it gets a little tricky. 00:01:31.840 --> 00:01:36.080 You can't just send 240 watts of power down any old USB-C cable. 00:01:36.080 --> 00:01:39.280 Part of the reason for this is that the new USB power delivery specification 00:01:39.280 --> 00:01:45.040 that allows for such high wattages works by bumping up the maximum voltage to 48 volts, 00:01:45.040 --> 00:01:51.840 while keeping the 5 amps of current the same. And if you remember from high school physics that volts times amps equals watts, 00:01:51.840 --> 00:01:57.040 48 times 5 is 240. So back to talking about power. 00:01:57.040 --> 00:02:02.800 When you use higher and higher voltages, you increase the risk of electrical arcing that can damage equipment. 00:02:02.800 --> 00:02:06.720 Now, this isn't a big deal when connecting a cable or a wireless plugged in, 00:02:06.720 --> 00:02:11.840 but when you go to unplug it, that's when arcing can cause a serious hazard. 00:02:12.400 --> 00:02:17.600 This means that 240 watt USB-C cables have to be engineered differently. 00:02:17.600 --> 00:02:21.440 So that cord you got three years ago isn't going to work. 00:02:21.440 --> 00:02:26.080 The good news is that older USB-C cables are being deprecated or phased out, 00:02:26.080 --> 00:02:31.440 but this is obviously going to take some time, so what should you look for? 00:02:31.440 --> 00:02:34.480 Well, the USB implementers forum was nice enough to come out with 00:02:34.480 --> 00:02:38.080 official logos for cables that can support 240 watts of power, 00:02:38.080 --> 00:02:45.280 which should make your search a little easier. But be wary that you'll need to pay attention to determine the data transfer speeds. 00:02:45.280 --> 00:02:49.440 Of course, the chargers themselves also need to support the new standard, 00:02:49.440 --> 00:02:56.480 and there's an official logo for that too. Keep in mind these logos are probably going to be on the packaging and not on the cables themselves, 00:02:56.480 --> 00:03:01.840 so don't go rooting around the pile of bare cables or loose chargers in a bargain bin 00:03:01.840 --> 00:03:07.680 and expect whatever you pull out to work. But if you don't see those logos anywhere, remember that the USB implementers forum 00:03:07.680 --> 00:03:12.800 is officially referring to these cables and chargers as extended power range, or EPR. 00:03:13.440 --> 00:03:17.440 So if you see these letters on a cable or a charger that you're looking at, 00:03:17.440 --> 00:03:22.400 you're probably good to go. And of course, the ports on the device you're actually trying to power 00:03:22.400 --> 00:03:31.520 need to support the new spec too. So look out for USB power delivery 3.1, which is part of the USB Type-C 2.1 spec, 00:03:32.240 --> 00:03:39.520 just to make it all nice and confusing. The spec is very new, so don't expect to see tons of compatible cables, chargers, 00:03:39.520 --> 00:03:46.640 and laptops on the market just yet. And there will be some devices that even this new USB revision won't be powerful enough to charge, 00:03:47.200 --> 00:03:52.320 such as those really beefy tank-like gaming laptops that have multiple chargers. 00:03:52.320 --> 00:03:57.680 They're not going to work with a single cable. But as the USB-C standard becomes more and more capable, 00:03:57.680 --> 00:04:01.440 the hope is that in the near future, basically any contemporary corridor 00:04:01.440 --> 00:04:03.920 charger will power whatever portable gadget you have. 00:04:04.480 --> 00:04:08.720 And full-power USB-C wall sockets might even become a common thing as a result. 00:04:09.520 --> 00:04:12.400 Until then, though, make your own labels. 00:04:12.960 --> 00:04:16.240 Thanks for watching. Like, dislike, check out some of our other videos, 00:04:16.240 --> 00:04:18.880 maybe something on USB Type-C or charging, or maybe... 00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:27.840 Oh, what's the gallium nitride? That's cool. And don't forget to comment below with video suggestions and subscribe and follow.