my Nitro AN16-41-R3G5They are certainly NOT normal USB-C ports! Do I need a special adapter/cable

MacDknife
MacDknife Member Posts: 4 New User
edited February 2024 in Nitro Gaming

My USB-C parts have symbols that mark them as DP and Power ports. I can use them for data transfer only it appears. I do not have a cable to test the DP function, but I have tested connecting my mobil phone and that functions. I cannot however charge my laptop with that cable, nor can I get any power from the port to power my laptop cooler (5V)?! (The cooler functions if I connect it to one of the USB-A ports)

Does anyone know if this is normal? What functions do these USB-C ports actual have and what can they be used for? They are certainly NOT normal USB-C ports! Do I need a special adapter/cable to be able to use/supply power?

🤔

/MacD

NitroUSB-C.png

[Edited the thread to add issue detail]

Answers

  • Alejandro_AC
    Alejandro_AC ACE Posts: 13,968 Trailblazer

    Hi @MacDknife It seems that the port does support all of that, you may not be using the appropriate cable:

    image.png
    image.png
    image.png
    image.png

    All the best.

    • Un saludo / All the best
    • Haga clic en "Me gusta" si mi respuesta fue útil o márquela como solución si se resolvió, ¡gracias!
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  • MacDknife
    MacDknife Member Posts: 4 New User

    Thank you for answering, Alejandro_AC, but what are you actually saying? If my cable can transfer from one USB-C to another (laptop to mobil and function) and with an adapter (USB-C to USB-A) connect my Cooler (USB-A) to my latop (USB-C), should I not get power if this port supports that?

    If this cable somehow does not support a power transfer, what type of cable should I use specifically? If I use that cable and adapter and connect my mobil to a laptop USB-A port there is no issue, so I know the cable works any which way for data transfer/communication, but power?! I bought this cable as a USB-C cable, with a USB-A adapter that could be attached to it. What other type of USB-C cable or adapter should I get then, is these are not correct?

    🤔

    /MacD

  • Puraw
    Puraw ACE, Member Posts: 14,619 Trailblazer
    edited February 2024
    https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1257727#Comment_1257727

    Alejandro AC spells it out very clearly: AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS processors support power delivery (for a USB-C charger) and that is what these DC symbols (2 horizontal lines) indicate. Intel laptops show a Thunderbolt symbol instead (same thing). The display out symbol means you can connect an external monitor with a HDMI/USB-C adapter connected to any of the 2 USB-C ports or if your external monitor has a USB-C port with just a USB cable. I don't know what you mean by a "USB-A adapter" there is no such thing unless you mean a plug or mobile device you want to charge, all type USB ports provide power out (just regular slow charging though). There are different USB-C cables for charging, try a thick heavy duty one.

  • MacDknife
    MacDknife Member Posts: 4 New User

    … and once again you people are missing the point! I KNOW what a USB-C should do. I also know what the USB symbols mean, even though they are not standard symbols for USB-C ports. I want to know why my USB-C ports don't deliver what the symbols show! AS I have said, this is a brand-new laptop that I just bought! I have also read that all USB-C ports are not equal, but can be adapted to different functions. That is why I want to know if my USB-C ports have been change like that.

    As far as adapter goes, that is what we call it in Sweden (attached image, part marked in red). You can call it a plug or whatever, but to us a plug is something completely different. There is though only one way (as far as I know) to change a cable's primary function, no matter what it's name is! The only thing that a heavy duty cable ensures, is that the cable itself can endure the power/current that flows through it. The wiring inside decides what function it has. So, therfore I want to know if I have the right cable or need a special "power" cable.

    There are also electronic components that are called diodes and these can decide in which direction the current flows through an electronic circuit. If my laptops USB-C ports are manufactured to only recieve power, then that might explain why I don't get any power output. I know about these things, but need to know specifically about just my laptops USB-C functions, because I do not get any power from them.

    In my swedish manual I also have this excerpt from the explanation (translated) of these DP USB-C ports:

    Connects to the included USB-C power adapter and to USB devices with a USB-C connector.

    I did not receive any power adapter, so that is also a question I have to get an answer to.

    I thought I might get a quick sensible answer here in this forum, but no. I have therefore contacted Acer directly and await an answer from them. I am closing this post. You may still leave replies if you wish, but I will not respond anymore.

    USB-A till USB-C kablar 2.png

    )

  • MacDknife
    MacDknife Member Posts: 4 New User

    I have to add a post, because I have received two conflicting replies.

    1. My reseller: whos purchaser contacted Acer and got the reply that these where USB-C 3.2 gen 2 ports, who only support video and data transfers - no charging. Did not say who they got the reply from
    2. Acer support: gave me (in principal) the same answer as others have here in this forum. Said this: quote = "The information I specified in the previous mail is from our service guide for the model, but in the User Manual on p.79 you should see information that you can charge units through USB-ports". Previous information:
      image.png

    So, who do I believe? I would therefore like to ask ANYONE that actually has a Nitro AN16-41-R3G5 model laptop, to tell me what they know/have experienced of/from these ports. As these recieved answers stand right now, and from my own experience, I am going to go with answer one, because the ports cannot be "broken", if they can transfer data and there is another reason why they do not supply power.

    That is at least how I reason, because I do not want a new broken laptop. Also this discrepancy between the USB-C symbols and the actual functions could be very troublesome for Acer though, if this is the case asd in reply 1.

    Thanks in advance,

    /MacD

  • Alejandro_AC
    Alejandro_AC ACE Posts: 13,968 Trailblazer

    This article refers to Apple devices, but what was said about cable types is equally valid, I am not trying to be right because my knowledge is limited, I am just trying to provide information in search of an answer and to be able to help you:

    https://www.macworld.com/article/234030/how-to-tell-whether-a-usb-c-cable-can-carry-high-wattage-power-and-thunderbolt-3-data.html

    All the best.

    • Un saludo / All the best
    • Haga clic en "Me gusta" si mi respuesta fue útil o márquela como solución si se resolvió, ¡gracias!
      • Colaborador pro bono, no trabajo ni hablo en nombre de Acer
    • Please click "Like" if my answer was helpful or mark it as solution if it was solved, thanks!
      • Pro bono contributor, I do not work or speak on behalf of Acer
    • MVP de MSFT (2003-21) & Windows Insider & X (alezmvp)

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