USB-C Chargers (power supplies) Keep Getting Smaller

I saw the recent RDR-928 product announcement on e14 and thought I would take a minute to record the physical size and power density of my current collection of USB-C chargers.

All of my USB-C chargers have programmable output voltages via the USB-C power delivery protocol. Some also have quick-charge or the programmable power supply control interfaces as well.

The power gang (original Apple 5W charger included for nostalgia)

The size and power ratings are in the table below:

UGreen 30W

Amazon 30W

China QC09 45W

Presumably, the RDR-928 would fit in the same enclosure as the amazon supply and provide twice the output power, pretty neat.

Aside, Ken Shirrif has a wonderful teardown blog of the original Apple 5W USB charger https://www.righto.com/2012/05/apple-iphone-charger-teardown-quality.html

Top Replies

scottiebabe 9 months ago

Google's newest 45 W USB-C charger appears to be 49.6 mm x 58.4 mm x 28.3 mm, V = 82 cm^3, Pd = 0.55 W/cm^3

www.chargerlab.com/.../
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kmikemoo 9 months ago

scottiebabe I've got a Ziploc full of the 1A cube chargers - and a few that do even less than that. I just haven't been able to throw them out - yet. They've been relegated to charging battery banks and powering small LiPo boards.
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ntewinkel 9 months ago in reply to kmikemoo

Lots of new little lights and clocks and gadgets seem to just have a usb plug these days, power supply not included, so we’ve been using these little charger cubes to power them. We have at least 6 gadgets like that, that I can think of right now. Several flashlights and emergency lanterns have usb charger ports too, but I tend to use a powerbar for them. Also, my hummingbird feeder heaters use usb hand warmers.

So you just need to go to the dollar store or Temu and load up on silly gadgets
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genebren 9 months ago

We truly do live in amazing times. Here is another example:

It contains 3 USB C charging ports, with 6.0 A capacity and you still have two outlets.

My biggest issue with a lot of these devices is that they typically are not that reliable. They are built with low cost in mind and they often don't last too long.
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beacon_dave 9 months ago in reply to ntewinkel

ntewinkel said:
Lots of new little lights and clocks and gadgets seem to just have a usb plug these days, power supply not included,

Perhaps has interesting implications for warranties and safety now, as the chances are you are no longer using a manufacturer approved charger, so they get to walk away. Due to the number of electrical fires caused by cheap chargers there have been safety campaigns about always using a manufacturer supplied/approved charger.
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beacon_dave 9 months ago in reply to genebren

genebren said:
It contains 3 USB C charging ports

Looks like 2 type A's and 1 type C there ?

I noticed that Philips have started selling their electric shavers without a charger included. I wonder if shaving mirror lights are starting to be equipped with USB charging.
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kmikemoo 9 months ago in reply to genebren

genebren I installed a couple similar outlets in my living room and almost never use them. I still like the idea, but so few of my outlets are readily accessible. I wind up using power bars and chargers.
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anniel747 9 months ago in reply to kmikemoo

Lots of power bars with USB are available nowadays.
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genebren 9 months ago in reply to beacon_dave

USB C uses both connector types and comes with a higher current level that the standard USB port.
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vmate 9 months ago in reply to genebren

USB-C is just the physical connector, there's only one of that on the image you've shown. You're probably mixing up USB-C with quick charging. All the USB and charging standards are super confusing.
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