An Introduction to Power-Only USB Type C Connectors

USB connectors were introduced in the mid 1990’s and have evolved in their size, shape, data transfer capabilities, and power constraints ever since. Today, the latest physical standard is Type C and besides greater bandwidth and being both bi-directional and reversible, this newest iteration is capable of significantly higher power transfer than previous generations. When it comes to USB connectors, there are three different associated standards: the physical connector, data transmission protocol, and power delivery. Same Sky has an in-depth blog describing these standards here. From a high level, a USB Type C connector follows the physical connector standard. This physical standard is designed to meet the power delivery standard up to 100 W, which opens up USB to a new realm of power opportunities. The USB PD 3.1 standard, released in 2021, has since expanded Type C’s power transfer capability up to 240 W.

USB Type C Benefits for Power Applications

A standard USB Type C connector houses 16 data transfer pins, 4 power pins, and 4 ground pins for a total of 24 pins. Now with up to 240 W of power capability, USB Type C is a viable option for many applications needing significant quantities of power and can replace a standard dc power connector even when data transfer is not required.

The largest benefit of using USB as a method of power delivery is standardization. USB connectors have become ubiquitous and the transition to Type C is quickly gaining momentum. Many new phones and mobile devices are already shipping with USB Type C, plus the EU has moved to adopt the Type C connector as the charging standard for all mobile devices by the end of 2024 and laptops by 2026. The promised convenience of utilizing a single, off-the-shelf cable type for many different products is extremely enticing to an end-user. From an OEM standpoint, these connectors, both power only and data+power, are easy to find with a very stable supply chain as the standardization guarantees a certain level of interoperability. The standard also ensures easy design integration and Type C has a much smaller footprint than many barrel connectors. Finally, USB Type C connectors are robust with a rating of 10,000 mating cycles, ensuring a long and useful life.

The Power-Only USB Type C Connector

Because of the benefits listed above, Same Sky has developed power-only USB Type C receptacles for designs where charging or power delivery is the sole function. Same Sky’s 60 W or 90 W power-only USB Type C receptacles remove the 16 data transfer pins and 2 of the ground pins, leaving only 4 power pins and 2 ground pins.

Thanks to the simplified design of the connector itself, with only 6 pins instead of the standard 24, the cost of the connector is significantly reduced. Besides the lower part cost, it reduces the complexity and failure rate by eliminating the majority of the pins and associated solder points. While these are unable to be used for transferring data, they work with any standard USB Type C cable that transfers both data and power, so there are no additional steps or hardware needed by the end-user when interacting with the product.

Please note that since the data transfer pins have been removed, the USB 3.0 power negotiation process does not occur, in which case the charging device will revert to the USB standard power transfer rate of 5 V and 1 A. For all other applications, the connector will function like any other power jack and the charging will be governed by the adapter/charging circuit.

Other Power Considerations

While USB Type C connectors are extremely useful in a wide range of scenarios, there are times that dedicated power delivery options are still a practical solution. For example, with a hard limit of 240 W, Type C will simply not work in cases where more power is necessary. However, the enhanced 240 W limit introduced with USB PD 3.1 opens even more possibilities for Type C power connections. In other instances, a different footprint or connector size might be needed due to particular design constraints. Ultimately, when a more custom solution is needed, a USB Type C connector could be limited by its standardized footprint, size, and specifications. For more information on when other power connectors can still be the best solution, read Same Sky’s blog on selecting a dc power connector.

The Future of USB Type C

USB Type C connectors and the Power Delivery standard have opened a new way to look at power management and transmission. While not the end-all solution, its high-power capabilities and global standardization makes it an excellent option to consider for many different products. When only power delivery is needed, Same Sky’s power-only USB Type C connectors are an intriguing solution for engineers due to their lower cost and simplified design integration.

Same Sky currently offers horizontal or vertical 60 W or 90 W power-only USB Type C receptacles with a maximum 3 A current rating and 30 Vdc voltage rating.