Label your cables!

  • While cables do have individual markings, they should be more obvious and they are not.

Power

  • If you plan on using an unknown cable for charging be careful, especially to when charging a computer.
  • *NEVER USE A 3A USB C CABLE TO POWER A LAPTOP OR MONITOR*
  • Always double check a cable’s capabilities before using to power laptops or monitors
  • If you are just performing data transfer, you will typically be ok.

Display

  • Some cables are meant for display receptacles only. 
  • These are generally Thunderbolt 3 cables and are marked with the Thunderbolt logo.

Buying cables

  • Try to use the cable that came with the device when you purchased it. When in doubt, buy cables from the device manufacturer. 
  • Read reviews wherever you are buying cables from and make sure people are using for what you want to (read their comments)
  • Cables from less-than-reputable sources may have cut corners. In doing that, they may have removed features which keep you safe.

When in USB C doubt, check this graphic out!

By taking these precautions, you save yourself stress and avoid damaging your hardware and ports. Good luck with your connector adventures!

This guide was first published on Nov 27, 2019. It was last updated on Mar 08, 2024.

This page (Takeaways) was last updated on Mar 08, 2024.

Text editor powered by tinymce.