One of the environmental regulations we benefit from here in the us, is eu common charger rules! Basically all computer like devices now use usb-c. Thanks.
But it would be even better to be common to essentially every portable device. I’ve seen flashlights that charge over usb-c.
While I was travelling this past weekend, my toothbrush battery died and I didn’t have the proprietary charging base. I sure wish that took usb-c also. Looking online I see a couple but most electronic toothbrushes still use proprietary chargers
Which brings up: what are you guys seeing, where common charger rules are actually required? Looking across non-computer devices that are not required to be usb-c, are they?
Edit: proprietary
I have a humidifier and air purifiers that are powered via USB-C. Sadly, my dehumidifier has a different connection.
You can make your own pretty cheaply with a little electronics knowledge and tools
Most of new consumer-grade devices are USB-C while non-consumer-grade ones would utilize other standards. But I haven’t seen a proprietary ones in a while here. The one I have for my miniPC is proprietary, but I am skilled enough to either fix it or change it for something else when it’s breaks.
I am all up for USB-C for personal/home electronics. I have modified some of my devices to utilize USB-C and am incredibly happy with results. But I also can see why say audio/video equipment would never adapt fully to USB-C. I guess industrial equipment does benefit from much sturdier connectors than USB-C and there are plenty of standards.
I avoid non-usb-c like the plague.
It’s also very unusual to still find newer stuff still using micro-usb(3.0).
Most stuff ships with usb-c by default except for stuff like microcontrollers like ESP32 and similar stuff.Logical things I think it could or should become the norm as well: electric razors, vaporisers, head-flashlights (like Petzl), many kinds of toys like RC cars and such, christmas lights, Halloween decorations etc etc.
It think in many cases it will usually be a lot more ecological to use devices you already own as long as you can and keep repairing them if possible. It’s nice to have usb-c, but throwing out a fine, still functioning toothbrush to replace it by a usb-c chargeable model just for that reason seems to me like the opposite of ecological.
In that case its not being thrown out simply because its not usb c, its being thrown out because they lost/damaged/donthaveforwhateverreason the actual power supply.
Ive got a whole range of useless electric stuff that I don’t have the power supply for but cant bring myself to throw away
Of course, but there’s also the matter of the degrading battery with much shorter life, the peeling handle, the worn head. Yes, I can put up with the battery for longer, but it will need to be replaced and it may not be any cheaper than replacing the toothbrush. I could just deal with the peeling handle, but it’s not hygienic. I could buy more replacement heads but it’s throwing more money after an appliance whose time is nearing its end
Fair enough if it’s decaying in many ways! I had gotten the impression it would be just for the usb-c only. In my perfect world many electronic appliances would also be forced to be a minimum level of repairable and have replaceable batteries of course. Possibly only “professionally replaceable”, but not glued in and/or artificially made as little repairable as possible.
Mine actually does have a replaceable battery but not a standard one.
The thing is even where things are maintainable, you get to the point where maintenance exceeds replacement cost, where multiple things need attention at once. There’s always the trigger point, but the accumulation affects the weight
Yes.
More and more common personal things are being electronised - toothbrushes, shavers/razors, water picks, just to name a few from the bathroom, but there’s also the tons of various nightstand bits, kitchen utilities (I actually have a handheld stick blender/whisk that uses USB-C, as well as a milk frother), the list goes on.
If it’s a low power device (sub-100W charging/supply), USB-C should be mandatory for it.
Yes I know USB-C can now do 240W but it’s not widespread yet and people would be annoyed by the fact their €5 10W charging brick can’t make their 200W thingie work.
So we have hope, that will make it here as well.
The EU pushing USB-C (and other standardised charging protocols) does actually help every country - because for most manufacturers it will be cheaper to swallow that extra $1-2 cost (at most, incl. design changes for products already in planning) than to set up two separate product lines.
There are still plenty of non-C gadgets, but I can see a trend that people want USB-C more and more.
I was just shopping for some rechargable flashlights and it was a common thing to see reviews mentioning the lack of USB-C as a negative in reviews.
I’m already looking for USB-powered devices for stuff like electric razors and flashlights. Check out Wurkkos for example.
With toothbrushes the problem is seemingly the duopoly. If there is a good USB-chargeable alternative to Oral-B, please let me know.
