What Usb Cables Are Safe to Use to Charge a Nintendo Switch
It is safe to accuse the Nintendo Switch with a third-party USB charger or power bank. In that location have been no confirmed reports of quality charger dissentious a Switch console. There have been problems with third party docks. Just those issues stem from bad Power Delivery protocols on the dock's power transfer fleck. As with any accessory do your homework and buy well-reviewed and quality products. Here we'll go over Nintendo's history with third-political party chargers. Licensing and certifications yous tin can look for. And why there are concerns with safely charging a Nintendo Switch in the first identify.
Chargers for the Nintendo Switch | Portable Chargers for the Nintendo Switch
Listed wall chargers and power banks on this site are considered safe to apply with the Nintendo Switch and other devices. You lot can as well check out my reviews which dig deeper into their rubber.
Have questions nigh fast charging your Switch? Cheque out How Nintendo Switch Charging Works.
Nintendo On Third-Party Chargers
Nintendo's position on using third party chargers varies across their unlike regions. Their universal message is that unlicensed accessories are not guaranteed by Nintendo. Every bit said when Nintendo of America released this argument during the third party dock bricking scare:
Unlicensed products and accessories practice not undergo Nintendo'southward testing and evaluation process. They might not work at all with our game systems, and they could accept compatibility problems with certain games, the Nintendo Switch system itself, and other licensed accessories and peripherals.
Nintendo Co., Ltd. (parent company, covers East Asia) has a support Q&A for Nippon and Hong Kong. They go over using a USB-A power bank with the Switch. They practise "not guarantee the operation," but they do become over getting the best results. Nintendo recommends using the cable included with the Pro Controller and Joy-Con Charging Grip. Or utilize a third-party USB-C to USB-A cable with a 56k Ohm resistor. Note a USB-C to USB-C cable doesn't have the same 56k Ohm resistor requirement.
Nintendo of America'south Switch support site discusses using the included Ac adapter. They make no mention of other charging options.
An episode of Nintendo Minute featured travel tips for the Switch. In it, they suggest having power banks for long flights. They showed off unreleased MimoPowerDecks with Nintendo licensed designs, which are USB-A power banks.
It is important to note that none of these statements have specific concerns with safely charging the Nintendo Switch. Nor has whatsoever other statement from Nintendo. They are reasonably covering themselves from liability when it comes to accessories they do not control.
Nintendo Licensed Third-Party Chargers
Nintendo licensing means Nintendo has tested a product. And guarantees its compatibility and functioning with their panel. Every bit well that it will safely charge the Nintendo Switch. Licensed by Nintendo products offer Switch owners a way to use an accompaniment not made past Nintendo. But remain under Nintendo'southward support umbrella.
Anker PowerCore 13400 Nintendo Switch Edition
- 22.5W USB-C Power Commitment
- Charges Switch every bit fast as possible in handheld mode
- Provides an extra 5 to 7.5+ hours of playtime, depending on your model Switch
- Includes USB-C to USB-C cable
- A unique offering from Anker
Review of the Anker PowerCore 13400 Nintendo Switch Edition
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Anker PowerCore 20100 Nintendo Switch Edition
- 24W USB-C Power Delivery
- Charges Switch as fast as possible in handheld mode
- Provides an extra 8 to 12+ hours of playtime, depending on your model Switch
- Includes USB-C to USB-C cablevision
- Discontinued
Review of the Anker PowerCore 20100 Nintendo Switch Edition
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PowerA Nintendo Switch Car Charger
- 15W USB-C
- Congenital-in cable, 6 anxiety
- Charges Switch while you lot play in handheld mode
- Not a fast charger, only more enough to continue playing throughout a long road trip
There are no licensed, third party wall chargers. But Nintendo's own Switch Air conditioning Adapter.
USB-IF Certification
The USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) is a non-profit organization. Formed by Agere Systems, Apple, HP, Intel, Microsoft, and NEC. It promotes and markets USB. It also maintains USB specifications and a standards compliance program. They offering certification (USB-IF certified) for USB-C products that run across their strict compliance. To proceeds certification a production must pass their USB-IF Compliance Program. And the producing visitor must be a dues-paying fellow member of the USB-IF.
USB-IF certification is a potent indicator of a good product. But the lack of certification is non a stiff indicator of anything. In some cases, certification is forgone to support extra standards. For instance, Quick Accuse three.0 is not immune on a USB-C port under USB-IF standards. But such devices exist, without any bad reports. Certifications started in late 2017. Products which pre-date that frequently don't submit for certification. And some companies are not dues-paying members of the USB-IF, such equally RAVPower and Inateck. These are fifty-fifty members of the USB-IF who ignore certification, such as Apple and HP.
If yous see USB-IF certification that is in the product'south favor. But lack of certification is not a red flag on its ain.
USB-C Cables
In the kickoff couple of years USB-C was on the marketplace there were problems with poor quality USB-C cables. Some damaged smaller electronics. With today'southward cables, this is rarely the case. Well-nigh of the bad cables were found and pulled before the Switch's release. And USB-IF certification was besides introduced. Amazon has taken efforts to remove known bad cables from their listings. Only yous should remain vigilant when buying cables. Especially from an unknown make with few reviews.
USB-C to USB-C Cables
You would use a USB-C to USB-C cable with the Switch and a USB-C charger. Most of any you detect today can safely charge the Nintendo Switch. There are many more certified cables than chargers. And those from big brands are reasonably priced.
- USB-IF certified cables take proven they run across USB specifications and rubber requirements
- Major charger brands (Anker, RAVPower) normally have good cables, if not certified
- Nylon-braided cables have more durable exteriors, but their internal components are the same
USB-C to USB-A Cables
You can utilise an older USB-A charger with the Switch. Only USB-A doesn't support the advice line USB-C uses to "negotiate" power transfer. Every bit a result, it is possible a USB-C device could attempt to describe 3A from a USB-A ability source. And nearly USB-A ability sources cannot handle 3A. This could consequence in an overdraw, potentially damaging the charger. And in rare cases the Switch.
- Utilize cables that list having a 56k Ohm resistor. The resistor prevents the overdraw issue.
- A USB-IF certified USB-C to USB-A cable will likewise have the resistor.
- The cable included with the Pro Controller, Joy-Con Charging Grip, and Poké Ball Plus have the resistor. Every bit does the Nintendo licensed cable made by PowerA.
USB-C to USB-C cables practice non need the resistor, as they practise non suffer from the aforementioned overdraw issue.
Listed USB-C cables on this site are considered safe to utilize with the Nintendo Switch and other devices.
Nintendo Switch is Not USB-C Compliant
The Nintendo Switch does not fully conform to USB-C specifications. Partly considering its development pre-dated the finalization of USB-C specifications. And partly because USB-C is a complicated system that supports lots of technologies. Few devices, including the Switch, support all included capabilities. And then information technology isn't uncommon for a device to "skip" over the parts it doesn't use. This disrupts the universal compatibility promised by USB-C. But given the costs involved it is unexpected. And Nintendo is by no means alone when it comes to such practices. But lack of compliance does not necessarily mean safely charging the Nintendo Switch is difficult.
My quondam Switch charger prophylactic rating system
Overdraw Concerns
Nathan K, a hardware engineer who does reviews of USB-C accessories, tested the Switch in May 2017. He found many bug where the Switch did not behave as it should according to USB-C standards. His posts were the source of warnings the Switch could overdraw past 300%. Unfortunately, his original post is no longer bachelor. Equally it was on Google+, which has since close down.
Nathan G's Posts Summary
The overdraw mentioned occurs with a docked Switch continued to an Anker USB-C power bank. The Switch requests 15V/0.5A. The power source re-advertised its bachelor options. When information technology did the Switch improperly shifted to 1.5A (a 300% increment). It did and then without proper negotiation, which is confronting the Power Delivery protocol.
Nathan specifically notes concerns with power banks, 2+ USB-C chargers, and >3A chargers. The overdraw occurred during a separate PDO. A carve up PDO is when a ability source advertises one set up of Power Data Objects (PDO), and then lists a unlike set on a 2nd advert. At the time of his postal service, those types of chargers tended to apply split PDO. It has since become normal behavior for more USB-C PD chargers. Information technology is used to offer a lower, safer power profile at first and figure out the optimal power profile later on. For the end-user, their device starts charging immediately, without signs of delay. For the device, information technology and the charger work out the best ability profile to utilise safely.
Nathan likewise noted the issue could be resolved with a firmware update.
In another post, Nathan sees like behavior with a handheld Switch. But he doesn't requite the same warning. The Switch requests 0.5A then moves on to full amperage. The beliefs is a function of the Switch. It is against USB-C protocols and causes errors, only it appears to be intentional. Nathan likewise notes a lot of USB-C products from 2016-2017 are outside of standards. When the Switch was beingness developed standards were volatile and certification testing unfinished. Because of this many USB-C devices on the market are outside USB compliance.
Evaluating Nathan M's Posts
At the time of the test, no Anker power bank had enough output to power a docked Switch. This was washed earlier Nathan institute a docked Switch will only operate with a specific power profile (15V/2.6A).
The 1.5A draw in and of itself isn't dangerous to the Switch or USB-C power source. Both are capable of the electric current. And improperly changing voltage is far more likely to result in damage. Regardless, the beliefs is not immune under USB-C PD standards.
Since the test (May 2017) several firmware updates for the Switch have been released. Nintendo does not share consummate details on these updates. So the issue may be no longer present. Nathan borrowed his test Switch and has not revisited his work. To appointment, there have been no confirmed issues reported betwixt a Switch and a ability banking company. In the summer of 2018, Nintendo licensed USB-C power banks from Anker for use with the Switch.
Nathan's comment to the Switch community more than a year afterward his tests was to remain calm. He stood past the information, simply information technology is old and he is a solitary tester. The technical information is complicated, as is the USB-C PD protocol.
Concerns with 65-100W Chargers
A 65-100W USB-C PD charger does so by providing more than than 3A at 20V. The Switch doesn't make use of 20V. But such chargers negotiate differently than a 15-60W charger. They need to verify the connected USB-C cable tin can handle more than 3A. And unfortunately, there isn't an manufacture-standard way to do then.
Most USB-C cables only support up to 3A. Those which support 5A must too include an eMarker. Which is used to share the cable'south capabilities with the charger and device. The platonic way for high output chargers to negotiate is to advertise up to 60W when a device is connected. Then re-annunciate (split PDO) its total capabilities in one case it verifies the cable'southward eMarker.
But the platonic is non always how things piece of work. Apple'due south 87W USB-C power adapter offers 20V/iv.3A. To deal with potentially non-5A cables information technology forces the device to 5V/2.4A (12W, way below 60W) until it tin verify the cable. This behavior has caused reports of forcing a restart of the Switch. Those many users report no problems, too.
Other high output chargers tin can arroyo this issue in other ways. Every bit such they should be taken on an individual ground. Rather than all clumped together equally being good or bad for the Switch and other depression power draw devices.
Source: https://switchchargers.com/safely-charge-nintendo-switch/
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