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Comment by rjmunro | Hacker News Reader

> possible exception of unit-specific power adapters

No. Unit-specific power adapters should not exist. Either put a USB-C or a 120v/240v AC connector on the device, depending on power requirements. It's really not that hard.

Note: it must be connector, not a fixed cable. I.e. an IEC C8 or C14.

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I agree in principle, but I think there has to be some room for exceptions here. Some portable devices like smartwatches are too space constrained for USB-C and some devices might use too much power for USB-PD but still be too small to include the power supply internally. Also, some of my synth gear uses a locking barrel connector, which I think is a better trade-off than a locking USB-C connector because it can be locked and unlocked faster.

Bundled power bricks are also much less likely to directly be e-wasted without being used.

This might apply to (most) IT devices. But there are devices that require 24 V, or 48 V, or any other voltage that USB-C can't supply, and that for various reasons (space, EMI, possibly even compliance with some safety regulation) can't contain an integrated power supply unit from 120/230 V mains. Of course this should be an exception and most consumer devices can definitely work with the regular voltages and currents that USB-C can supply.

That's fine but it should be a standard for a entire class of products.

Totally agree. Using something like USB-PD that has voltage negotiation on the wire might increase the price of some appliances (especially those that have just minimal electronics inside), but a standard connector (like just a barrel jack?) would already be nice thing!

It's a bit silly IMO, but USB PD EPR _can_ support 24v and 48v- for charging laptops, I believe. The day I see a server rack with a pair of USBCs plugged into it is a far day off I hope though.

Didn't know, thanks for the info... I still have to see a power supply capable of delivering those voltages on USB-C though. All the ones I've seen can output 5V, 12V and 19V.

> But there are devices that require 24 V, or 48 V, or any other voltage that USB-C can't supply, and that for various reasons (space, EMI, possibly even compliance with some safety regulation) can't contain an integrated power supply unit from 120/230 V mains.

Sounds like a job for Power-over-Ethernet :)

I'd add 8P8C for PoE to that list, but otherwise agreed.

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