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Comment by vuln | Hacker News Reader

If you have Nintendo switch in your household ensure everyone understands to use the Nintendo branded USB-C or else your switch will be toast and warranty voided.

Source: USB-C household with a 9 year old and a new switch.

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This is misinformation, and this particular strand of it seems to never die. There is an issue with unofficial 3rd party docks for Nintendo Switch causing issues. USB-C PD chargers work fine.

I had to buy a Nintendo USB C cable to use for my switch. None of the ones I got with my Pixel or other USB C devices worked. Granted, I only had 5 other cables to test at the time.

The only unofficial thing I used was the cable itself. Once I bought their cable, the switch charges on everything I connect it to now.

Not quite the same issue as burning up my switch (as of now), but issues nonetheless.

What? I've charged my Switch with a dozen different cables and 5+ different chargers and it was not damaged, altough it does not charge with 1 charger.

Was it a cheap USB A -> USB C Cable without a resistor? Those a well known to be dangerous [1]

[1] https://www.howtogeek.com/353410/3-problems-with-usb-c-you-n...

I have this rule too. While there are a bunch of people with anecdotes saying their Switch is fine with non-Nintendo power supplies, the fact that the dock and console are both ridiculously noncompliant[0] is enough to dissuade me from ever trying it. I'd rather eat the markup cost on a Nintendo-branded power supply than risk bricking an expensive piece of tech.

[0]: https://www.reddit.com/r/NintendoSwitch/comments/87vmud/the_...

It varies strongly. Handheld charging is typically fine, it's using unofficial docks which cause problems (since Nintendo didn't follow USB-C spec when it charges via that)

I'm not so familiar with the Switch, but this thread here https://www.reddit.com/r/NintendoSwitch/comments/6jnkl4/list... seems to indicate that using other USB-C chargers is okay?

This isn’t true, I’ve charged the switch at least 20 times with my MacBook Pro charger and it’s fine...

And I use an Aukey charger on my Switch. I never even used the stock one, it still is in the box. OP is misleading everyone by mixing the dock problem (which counterfeits can brick the switch) with something he imagined.

Pretty sure I didn't -imagine- my son plugging his switch into my Google Pixel USB C charger. I did not -imagine- the device being bricked. I didn't -imagine- the hours wasted dealing with tech support and RMA'ing the device only to be told that we voided the warranty.

I'd send you the correspondence between Nintendo and myself but I feel as if I've wasted enough time on you already.

Is that really the case?! Wow. I've used a USB-C car charger from Anker with the Switch and not given it a second thought. I recall reading that the Switch had odd or picky behavior but I didn't think that it could be damaged by non-Nintendo equipment.

It's not. It's an issue with the Switch Docks and it's counterfeits. Chargers are okay.

I regularly charge my Switch with my Dell XPS 13 charger. Never had an issue.

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