SA12 - USB-C Powercell

KyleM
KyleM Member Posts: 10

Tinkerer

Unfortunately I can confirm that the Monoprice USB-C 10000mah powercell will NOT charge the Switch Alpha over USB-C.

 

Has anybody had any luck finding a USB-C powercell that will in fact charge the Switch Alpha?

 

This is also my plea to Acer to fully support USB-C on the Switch Alpha.  The current solution only leads to more confusion as USB-C works as it "should" for some chargers, and then not at all for others.  This leads users into a bit of a trial and error situation for solutions that should function, such a situation only looks bad on Acer.

Answers

  • emef
    emef Member Posts: 12

    Tinkerer

    Hi KyleM,

     

    I can not help you in regard to a USB-C charging solution or powercell, but can only provide some information on a workaround, that worked for me.

     

    I have had bought this field-charging system some time ago:

    http://www.voltaicsystems.com/array

     

    Ignore the solar panel etc., but part of the system is a powercell with this specifications:

    V72 Laptop Battery

    • Capacity: 20,000mAh, 72 Watt Hours
    • Output: 5V/2A USB, and 12V/4A, 16V/3.5A, 19V/3A
    • Input: 14-20V, 1.2A
    • Battery Type: Li-Polymer
    • Protection: Short Circuit, Over Charge, Over Discharge, Over Current, Over Temperature

    With the supplied adapters it is possible to charge the SA12 via the regular charging port.

     

    The battery pack seems to be the same as this one, which is available also seperately (except that this has even more capacaty)

     

    https://www.amazon.com/Intocircuit-26000mAh-Capacity-Portable-External/dp/B00BB5VQCE/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1474548523&sr=8-4&keywords=19v+power+bank

     

    I can not guarantee that it will work, but chances are very high, I would say. Still, don't know if this helps you anyway.

     

    Cheers,

    EmEf

  • gregoryx
    gregoryx Member Posts: 23 Troubleshooter

    I'm looking for one as well. Here's what I've learned: while a Macbook will power with less than the ideal USB-C (29W - I think it's 12V / 3A-ish), the Acer wants that full power. A Macbook USB-C charger works. The Targus works. The Dell works. But many do not. So... eventually someone will have a battery pack that will "fast-charge" the Macbook... and then will charge the SA12. I'm still searching - and have returned a couple so far. 

  • SA_senior
    SA_senior Member Posts: 11 New User

    The USB type-C port on SA12 looks kind of weird. I have a 30w USB-C charger which output 5V 3A, 9V 2A, 15V 2A, and 20V 1.5A. When I tried to use this charger to charge SA12.  It doesn't work well but the notebook was charging this movement and switched off next second and repeatly like this.

     

    However, when I connect a USB-C to HDMI+USB3+type-C charger adapter to laptop, and connect the 30w usb-C charger to the adapter, it works very well. The adaptor looks like this one but not this brand

    https://www.amazon.com/CableCreation-Charger-Adapter-Macbook-Chromebook/dp/B019RM88ZU/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1477106221&sr=8-3&keywords=usb+type-c+to+hdmi+usb+charger

     

    So my assumption is both sa12 and macbook take 5v 3A for the usb-c charging. Any powersource with 5v 3A output should works. But if your charger is able to output multiple voltage/current combinations, you might need to adapter to output 5V 3A only. That could be the trick

  • gregoryx
    gregoryx Member Posts: 23 Troubleshooter

    I wish someone would test the USB-C power the Acer is using - or post what the input options it's expecting / negotiating might be. 

     

    This USB-PD slide-show describes the six current profiles available on slide 9 - profile 0-5.

    http://www.usb.org/developers/powerdelivery/PD_1.0_Introduction.pdf 

     

    Interesting that 29W (Apple's description of their charger) isn't actually one of the profiles. 

    Profile:

    1 - 5V @ 2A = 10W max

    2 - 5V @ 2A, 12V @ 1.5A = 18W max

    3 - 5V @ 2A, 12V @ 3A = 36W max

    4 - 5V @ 2A, 12V, 20V @ 3A = 60W max

    5 - 5V @ 2A, 12V, 20V @ 5A = 100W max

     

    Interesting that all profiles require a new "detectable cable" for anything over 1.5A or 5V. 

     

    Also interesting that it DOES seem to suggest that USB-PD is supported over Micro-USB and USB-A/B. I assumed those were all non-standard implementations. But they'd require a unique cable, of course. 

     

    Finally, the note that "Additional capabilities possible as optional extensions to standard profiles" may suggest why we're having so much trouble with this thing working at this point. I'm guessing all the various implementations have their own "tweak" to what they support. 

  • KyleM
    KyleM Member Posts: 10

    Tinkerer

    Thanks to the helpful folks at Bestbuy this evening I was able to test a USB-C "Power Delivery" cable with the Monoprice power pack.  Sadly it didn't work out.  I will admit that I could not verify that the cable was a "Power Delivery" cable, but it was the charger cable the comes with a Macbook which supports over 5v so it should be approved.

     

    Very bummed out to say the least.

  • gregoryx
    gregoryx Member Posts: 23 Troubleshooter

    So far, all USB-C cables I have tested (all decent / good cables from reputable sellers - though not all checked on the Benson list) have all performed the same. FWIW.

  • SA_senior
    SA_senior Member Posts: 11 New User

    I just want to point out, we have to use USB 3.1 cable that support 3A currency. either 5V or not is not critical. I didn't use mackbook charger, but it works fine for me. Make sure the cable description with:

     

     Charge 3A/Data Sync 10Gbps

     

  • josemaria92000
    josemaria92000 Member Posts: 6 New User

    Such a mess! And we have to do the search? What about Acer? I naively bought a usb type 3 to usb3 cable and of course it's completely useless. Have you tried to use the usb type 3 port for anything else, apart from charging?

  • gregoryx
    gregoryx Member Posts: 23 Troubleshooter

    FTR, the MacBook situation is the same: testing everything is left up to the users; and not everything works. 

     

    So far, everything I've tested as USB has worked over the USB-C port through all the USB-C "docks" or "adapters" I've tried. The USB-PD (power) portion has been spotty. I'm guessing it will improve over time. 

     

    One key point if you do search for stuff: USB3 is not USB-C and USB-C is more than just USB3. So if you are looking for "USB type 3" stuff, you're not going to get USB-C. USB-C is the physical interface type (remember USB-A for printers and USB-B ports for PCs?) and USB3 is the protocol for what runs over it - the newer, faster stuff. USB3.1 is newer still. Then there's USB-PD (power delivery) for the broad range of power-delivery options only available over USB-c. And USB-C-? (can't recall the name for the video spec) that delivers Display-Port or HDMI directly over USB-C - it maps as an external monitor on the Intel video card, not as a USB device, which is very different than the old video-over-USB compressed stuff. And USB-C-A (audio) is coming next. 

     

    So... yeah... it's up to us. The good news is that the MacBook folks are searching as well.