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USB cables, testing

Table of contents

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Cable measurement equipment (USB testers)

 
USB testers

I use the following USB testers to test USB cables:

  • ChargerLab Power-Z KM003C (Amazon), (AliExpress) 

    • The tester can test a wide variety of USB power supply charging protocols, read information from e-maker chip, identify Thunderbolt 3/4/5 cable, online monitoring of voltage, current, power and charging protocol used.

    • UsbC male connector present.

    • Cannot check wire conductivity and cable resistance.

    • Advanced firmware with detailed PD protocol logs

    • This USB cable tester is used to read eMaker chip parameters, determine USB version, Thunderbolt and PD power rating.

    • Device firmware version: v.1.9.5

    • Documentation and software for Windows

  • FNIRSI-FNB58 USB Tester (Amazon), (AliExpress)

    • The tester can do almost the same thing as the KM003C, but cannot detect Thunderbolt cables.

    • The tester is able to test the resistance of the cable! (Using an external load that I made separately).

    • There is an UsbA output which can be useful in testing.

    • You may see here a comparison of detectable fast charging protocols using the FNB58 and KM003C.

    • Firmware version of the device: v0.68

  • Treedix USB cable tester (Amazon)

    • All standard USB connectors are present in this tester.

    • I use this tester to determine which pins of the cable are connected to determine if the cable can transfer data and what version of USB (2.0/3.0) it supports or if the cable can only be used for low power and 5V charging.

    • The device is fairly simple, lacking e-maker chip detection and charging protocols, but handy for visual evaluation of connected pins.

  • BitTradeOne USB Cable Checker2 (Amazon.com)

    • I purchased this Japanese usb tester for convenience and to speed up the cable testing process since it has a screen.

    • The tester can determine conductivity of wires/contacts (but is visually less convenient than the Treedix)

    • The tester is able to determine cable resistance without external load, which allows to do without UsbA-UsbC adapter (used for FNB58). The resistance value is determined consistently 60mOhm higher than FNB58, which is more accurate, so I take into account the 60mOhm correction when testing.

    • Also the tester shows the presence and value of the resistor installed in the UsbC cables on the CC pin.

    • There is no option to test chargers, only cables.

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Below are simpler testers and cables that are used more for monitoring the charging current through USB cables than for testing cables:

  • HiDANCE HDC-085C(Amazon) (AliExpress)

    • Compact and affordable tester with a bright, easy-to-read screen

    • The information on the screen can be rotated to either side, which is very convenient

    • Connects between the charger and the device being charged with a cable

    • Shows the power, current and voltage flowing through the connected USB cable. This information can help in determining, at the very least, how much power your device is being charged with.

    • This is the second most popular device that I use on a regular basis to monitor the charging process of peripherals over a USB cable.

  • Essager UsbC wattmeter 240W with screen (AliExpress)

    • A simple and very compact wattmeter for UsbC cables that shows the power with which the UsbC device is charged.

  • UGOURD UsbC wattmeter 240W 40Gbps(Amazon)(AliExpress)

    • A compact UsbC adapter, similar to the model from Essager, but differs from it in that it shows not only power, but also voltage and current by changing alternately the value on the screen. It is a good budget option for controlling the charging process, has an unusual translucent housing.

  • USB cable with screen

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The testers below I haven't purchased yet, but plan to:

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ChargerLab Power-Z KM003C USB tester
Fnirsi FNB58 USB tester

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USB cable parameters. eMaker chip, USB protocol

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  • eMaker chip - this is a special chip inside the usb-c plug which takes part in communication between a charger and a charged device (or between two connected devices). eMaker chip does installed for the 60W cables (maximum current is up to 3A by PD charging protocol default). The eMaker chip sends information to charger and connected devices about cable characteristics like:

    • Supported charging protocol (including max.current and voltage). This is how a charger could distinguish cable maximum power: 60W(up to 20V3A) vs 100W (up to 20V5A) vs 240W(up to 48V5A) and determines proprietary cables.​

    • Thunderbolt technology support and its version. Since Thunderbolt version 3 this technology exploits UsbC cable type. There are a few articles I can advise: Thunderbolt 4 vs USB4 and Thunderbolt 4 vs. Thunderbolt 3 vs. USB4 vs. USB 3 and announcement of Thunderbolt 5, First Batch of Thunderbolt 5 Devices Launched.

    • Display port alternating mode (over UsbC), supported starting from USB3.1 cables, but for a USB port on a device the special Display Port marking must be present or the port must be TB3/4/5 or USB4 compatible. Here is the article about that technology.

    • USB protocol (USB 2.0/3.0/4 etc.). The transmission speed, for example, depends on it.

    • Passive or Active cable. The Active cables have a special circuit to boost the signal in order to support high-speed transmission in long cables because the signal quality is degrading due to interferences from surroundings.

    • Chip vendor.

    • If you want more information about eMaker chip you can read this article.

  • USB protocols. There are many USB protocols on the market, starting from USB2.0 (480mbps data transmission speed) up to USB4 2.0 (80Gbps data transmission speed). You can read this article to get more information about protocols and markings.

  • I can advise one more good article about data bandwidth needed for different screen resolutions and frequencies through DP (Display Port) which signal can also be sent over UsbC cable.

  • Here you can find an article about UsbC pinout.

  • Here is the official cable and connector specification for UsbC cables.

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USB cable types

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Not all cables can be used in quick/fast charging because cable producers might use inside cable only power and ground lines (VCC and GND) and ignore data lines. These cables can to be used in basic charging protocols like CDP, SDP, DCP (up to 1.5A) because higher voltages and more sophisticated charging protocols require data lines to negotiate them. That is why sometimes identically looking cables can or can't do fast charge.

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In this test I am focusing on cables that are using in quick/fast charging:

  • UsbA-micro USB - can support QC (Quick Charge).

  • UsbA-UsbC - these cables are more advanced and can be used in many charging protocols including proprietary ones from OPPO/OnePlus/Realme, vivo, Xiaomi/Redmi. These cables might have eMaker chip.

  • UsbC-UsbC is the most advanced type of USB cable. The cable plug is universal, symmetrical, has multiple data lines and double power lines, can be used for standard charging protocols such as QC or PD (power delivery), as well as for proprietary protocols from Xiaomi and other manufacturers, as well as for advanced data transfer (USB4, Thunderbolt 3/4/5, DisplayPort video transmission). In such cables, there may be an eMaker chip that tells connected devices whether the cable meets a certain standard and power (100W/240W), data transfer speed, Thunderbolt version and other specific parameters. Keep in mind that sometimes cheap UsbC cables are not symmetrical as per the standard, so you may notice a difference in charging or data transfer depending on how you plug the cable in, but this is a violation of the USB standard and if you have such a cable, it's best not to use it.

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Cable resistance measurements

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The cable resistance is a very important factor for charging cables (for data transmission it does not really matter) which influences charging efficiency and voltage drop on the cable, because due to internal cable resistance (in wires and in plugs). Part of the energy from a charger to a charged device is losing and dissipating heat because of the cable resistance. As the higher electrical current flows, the more will be energy losses. That is why USB cables designed for high current charging (like superVOOC, Hypercharge etc.) are usually thicker. You can also notice the cable resistance effect as your smartphone gets fewer volts than charger supplies (for example 8.4V instead of 9V). If the resistance is too high (>800mOhm) the cable or plug could be hot or it could even be dangerous to use. Also, power losses in a cable are especially unwelcome for portable charging devices like power banks, solar battery charges, where every drop of energy counts.

 

What is a good USB cable resistance?:

  • Acceptable resistance is <250mOhm

  • Good resistance <150mOhm

  • Very good resistance <100mOhm

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FNIRSI FNB58 USB-tester device measures cable resistance as a difference in voltages between two measurements: direct connection to a power source and connection to the same power source but through the cable. The measurement will only be correct if an external load is used while both measurements are performed.

I am using a stable external load with fixed resistance 8Ohm and 100W heat dissipation capability connected to UsbA plug. This resistance pulls 625mA of current at 5V.

FNIRSI FNB58 has only UsbA male plug for direct measurements, so in order to measure UsbC-UsbC cables, I am using Logitech UsbC-UsbA adapter which has the lowest possible resistance impact on measurement (it was chosen among 5 different adapters of that type).

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With the availability of the BitTradeOne USB Cable Checker2 tester, I use it for the purpose of testing the resistance of UsbC cables because the process is much simplified and accelerated. To the measurement results I apply the correction of the error of 60mOhm, which is revealed in comparison with the results of Fnirsi FNB58.

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Baseus 240W braided cable (UsbC-UsbC) (Amazon) (AliExpress)

Key product features:

  • Flexibility: relatively flexible

  • Surface: braided

  • Color: black

  • Max power: 240W (5A)

  • USB standard: USB 2.0 (480mbps)

  • Thunderbolt: no support

  • Length: 1/2/3 meters (3.3/6.6/10ft)

  • Resistance:

    • 2 meters(6.6ft):​ 130mOhm

    • 3 meters(10ft): 146mOhm

Baseus 240W UsbC braided cable
Baseus 240W UsbC braided cable
Baseus 240W UsbC braided cable
Baseus 240W UsbC braided cable
Baseus 240W UsbC braided cable

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UGOURD 240W USB4 Thunderbolt 4 cable (UsbC-UsbC) (AliExpress)

Key product features:

  • Flexibility: not flexible

  • Surface: braided

  • Color: grey

  • Max power: 240W (5A)

  • USB standard: USB 4.0 (40gbps)

  • Thunderbolt: version 4

  • Video bandwidth support: 8K@60Hz or 4K@144Hz.

  • Length:0.15/0.3/0.5/1/1.5/2 meters (0.6/1.2/2/3.3/5/6.6ft)

  • Resistance(1m(3.3ft) version): 120mOhm

UGOURD 240W USB4 Thunderbolt4 UsbC cable
Pine64 60W soldering pen cable
UGOURD 240W USB4 Thunderbolt4 UsbC cable
UGOURD 240W USB4 Thunderbolt4 UsbC cable

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SlimQ 240W USB4 with screen cable (UsbC-UsbC) (SlimQ web-site)

Key product features:

  • Flexibility: not flexible

  • Surface: braided

  • Color: grey

  • Max power: 240W (5A)

  • USB standard: USB 4.0 (40gbps)

  • Thunderbolt: no support

  • Video bandwidth support: 8K@60Hz or 4K@144Hz.

  • Length: 1 meter (3.3ft)

  • Resistance: 180mOhm

  • The screen shows the charging power(W) and charging protocol(PD).

SlimQ 240W USB4 with screen cable
SlimQ 240W USB4 with screen cable
SlimQ 240W USB4 with screen cable
SlimQ 240W USB4 with screen cable
SlimQ 240W USB4 with screen cable

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Miniware 240W soldering pen cable (UsbC-UsbC) (Amazon) (AliExpress)

Key product features:

  • Flexibility: very flexible

  • Surface: soft silicone heat resistant

  • Color: orange

  • Max power: 240W (5A)

  • USB standard: USB 3.2 gen1 (5gbps)

  • Thunderbolt: no support

  • Length:1 meter (3.3ft)

  • Resistance: 100mOhm

Miniware 240W soldering pen cable
Miniware 240W soldering pen cable
Miniware 240W soldering pen cable
Miniware 240W soldering pen cable

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Hagibis TB4/USB4 240W with screen (UsbC-UsbC) (Amazon.com) (AliExpress)

Key product features:

  • Flexibility: flexible

  • Surface: soft silicone

  • Color: black/green

  • Max power: 240W PD3.1

  • USB standard: USB 4.0

  • Thunderbolt: TB4/TB3

  • Length: 0.25 /1 meter (1/3.3ft)

  • Resistance: 70mOhm (0.25m(1ft) version)

  • Screen shows Power(W), Voltage(V), Current(A).

Hagibis TB4/USB4 240W with screen (UsbC-UsbC)
Hagibis TB4/USB4 240W with screen (UsbC-UsbC)
Hagibis TB4/USB4 240W with screen (UsbC-UsbC)
Hagibis TB4/USB4 240W with screen (UsbC-UsbC)
Hagibis TB4/USB4 240W with screen (UsbC-UsbC)

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AOHi Magline 240W PD3.1 (UsbC-UsbC) (Amazon) (AliExpress)

Key product features:

  • Flexibility: very flexible

  • Surface: soft silicone

  • Color: yellow

  • Max power: 240W PD3.1

  • USB standard: USB 2.0

  • Thunderbolt: n/a

  • Length: 1meter (3.3ft)

  • Resistance: 105mOhm

AOHi Magline 240W PD3.1 (UsbC-UsbC)
AOHi Magline 240W PD3.1 (UsbC-UsbC)
AOHi Magline 240W PD3.1 (UsbC-UsbC)
AOHi Magline 240W PD3.1 (UsbC-UsbC)

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Club 3D USB2.0 USB-IF Certified 240W PD3.1 (UsbC-UsbC)(Amazon​)

Key product features:

  • Flexibility: relatively flexible

  • Surface: TPU

  • Color: light red

  • Max power: 240W PD3.1

  • USB standard: USB 2.0

  • Thunderbolt: n/a

  • Length: 1/2 meters (3.3/6.6ft)

  • Resistance: 137mOhm (2m (6.6ft) version)

Club 3D USB2.0 [USB-IF Certified] 240W PD3.1 (UsbC-UsbC)
Club 3D USB2.0 [USB-IF Certified] 240W PD3.1 (UsbC-UsbC)
Club 3D USB2.0 [USB-IF Certified] 240W PD3.1 (UsbC-UsbC)
Club 3D USB2.0 [USB-IF Certified] 240W PD3.1 (UsbC-UsbC)

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Cable Matters [Intel Certified] Thunderbolt 5 240W PD3.1 (UsbC-UsbC) (Amazon)

Key product features:

  • Flexibility: relatively flexible

  • Surface: TPU

  • Color: black

  • Max power: 240W PD3.1

  • USB standard: USB 4.0

  • Thunderbolt: 5 (80/120Gbps)

  • Length: 0.3/1meters (1ft/3.3ft)

  • Resistance: 57mOhm (0.3m(1ft) version)

Cable Matters [Intel Certified] Thunderbolt 5 240W PD3.1 (UsbC-UsbC)
Cable Matters [Intel Certified] Thunderbolt 5 240W PD3.1 (UsbC-UsbC)
Cable Matters [Intel Certified] Thunderbolt 5 240W PD3.1 (UsbC-UsbC)
Cable Matters [Intel Certified] Thunderbolt 5 240W PD3.1 (UsbC-UsbC)

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Baseus 100W flexible soft silicone cable (UsbC-UsbC) (AliExpress)

Key product features:

  • Flexibility: very flexible

  • Surface: soft silicone

  • Color: different colors

  • Max power: 100W (5A)

  • USB standard: USB 2.0 (480mbps)

  • Thunderbolt: no support

  • Length:1.2/2 meters (4/6.6ft)

  • Resistance (1.2m(4ft) version): 85mOhm​

Baseus 100W UsbC soft silicone cable
Baseus 100W UsbC soft silicone cable
Baseus 100W UsbC soft silicone cable
Baseus 100W UsbC soft silicone cable

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SlimQ Thunderbolt 4 cable (UsbC-UsbC) (SlimQ web-site)

Key product features:

  • Flexibility: relatively flexible

  • Surface: TPE

  • Color: black

  • Max power: 100W (5A)

  • USB standard: USB 4.0 (40gbps)

  • Thunderbolt: version 4

  • Video bandwidth support: 8K@60Hz or 4K@144Hz.

  • Length:1 meter (3.3ft)

  • Resistance: 120mOhm

SlimQ Thunderbolt4 UsbC cable
SlimQ Thunderbolt4 UsbC cable
Pine64 60W soldering pen cable
SlimQ Thunderbolt4 UsbC cable

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AIXXCO 100W USB3.2 20Gbps (UsbC-UsbC) (AliExpress)

Key product features:

  • Flexibility: flexible

  • Surface: soft silicone

  • Color: orange

  • Max power: 100W (20V5A)

  • USB standard: USB 3.2 gen2 (20gbps)

  • Thunderbolt: n/a

  • Video bandwidth support: 4K@60Hz.

  • Length: 0.5/1/2/3 meters (2/3.3/6.6/10ft)

  • Resistance: 225mOhm (2m (6.6ft) version)

AIXXCO 100W USB3.2 20Gbps (UsbC-UsbC)
AIXXCO 100W USB3.2 20Gbps (UsbC-UsbC)
AIXXCO 100W USB3.2 20Gbps (UsbC-UsbC)
AIXXCO 100W USB3.2 20Gbps (UsbC-UsbC)

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WEKOME 100W USB2.0 (UsbC-UsbC) (AliExpress)

Key product features:

  • Flexibility: flexible

  • Surface: soft silicone

  • Color: yellow/white/light blue/black

  • Max power: 100W (20V5A)

  • USB standard: USB 2.0

  • Thunderbolt: n/a

  • Length: 1.2 meters (4ft)

  • Resistance: 145mOhm

WEKOME 100W USB2.0 (UsbC-UsbC)
WEKOME 100W USB2.0 (UsbC-UsbC)
WEKOME 100W USB2.0 (UsbC-UsbC)
WEKOME 100W USB2.0 (UsbC-UsbC)

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Pine64 60W soldering pen cable (UsbC-UsbC) (AliExpress)

Key product features:

  • Flexibility: very flexible

  • Surface: heat resistant soft silicone

  • Color: red

  • Max power: 60W (3A)

  • USB standard: USB 2.0 (480mbps)

  • Thunderbolt: no support

  • No eMaker chip

  • Length: 1/1.5 meters (3.3ft/5ft)

  • Resistance (1.5m version): 150mOhm

Pine64 60W soldering pen cable
Pine64 60W soldering pen cable
Miniware 240W soldering pen cable

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UGOURD 66W 6A Liquid silica gel cable (UsbC-UsbC) (AliExpress)

Key product features:

  • Flexibility: very flexible

  • Surface: soft silicone

  • Color: different colors

  • Max power: 66W (6A) - claimed by seller!, emaker chip was not detected, 60W support by PD charging.

  • USB standard: USB 2.0 (480mbps)

  • Thunderbolt: not supported

  • Video bandwidth support: n/a

  • Length:1/2 meters (3.3/6.6ft)

  • Resistance: 280mOhm (2m (6.6ft) version)

UGOURD 66W 6A Liquid silica gel cable
UGOURD 66W 6A Liquid silica gel cable
UGOURD 66W 6A Liquid silica gel cable

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USLION 120W USB2.0 (UsbC-UsbC) (AliExpress)

Key product features:

  • Flexibility: very flexible

  • Surface: soft silicone

  • Color: black/white/light blue

  • Max power: 120W (seller info), PD60W - tested

  • USB standard: USB 2.0

  • Thunderbolt: n/a

  • Length: 1/1.5/2 meters (3.3/5/6.6ft)

  • Resistance: 260mOhm (2m (6.6ft) version)

USLION 120W USB2.0 (UsbC-UsbC)
USLION 120W USB2.0 (UsbC-UsbC)
USLION 120W USB2.0 (UsbC-UsbC)

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Anker 2in1 140W USB2.0 PD3.1 (UsbC-UsbC) (Amazon) (AliExpress)

Key product features:

  • Flexibility: flexible

  • Surface: nylon braided

  • Color: black/white

  • Max power: 140W PD3.1

  • USB standard: USB 2.0

  • Thunderbolt: n/a

  • Length: 1.2/1.8 meters (4/6ft)

  • Resistance: 140mOhm (both outputs 1.8m(6ft) version)

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  • The cable does not provide charging protocols that are not supported by the charger, i.e. if only PD65W is available, only PD65W will be available through the cable. The cable may also restrict the available charging protocols from charger.

  • Testing has determined support for PD3.1, PPS, FCP, SCP, QC4/5, Sam2A, Apple2.4, DCP. AFC. Not supported: PD AVS, AFC, QC2/3

  • When connecting a single consumer, maximum charging capability is available (e.g. PD140W) with a small allowance for cable electronics consumption.

Anker 2in1 140W PD3.1 (UsbC-UsbC)
Anker 2in1 140W PD3.1 (UsbC-UsbC)
Anker 2in1 140W PD3.1 (UsbC-UsbC)
Anker 2in1 140W PD3.1 (UsbC-UsbC)

  • The maximum power consumer (of the two connected) determines the charging protocol to be requested from the charger and determines the maximum power! (i.e. if a laptop with PD100W capability and a PD27W smartphone are connected, PD100W will be requested from the charger (and further distributed between the laptop and smartphone), even though the charger can deliver 140W.

  • If two smartphones are connected, each with the same maximum PD27W, only PD27W will be requested from the charger and further distributed to the consumers.

  • When a second consumer is connected, all available power is shared equally between the consumers. For example, when connecting a PD100W laptop and a PD27W smartphone, the laptop switches to the PD50W charging protocol and the smartphone receives PD27W and even if the second consumer requires little power (5W) the laptop is still limited to 50% of the maximum power. When two smartphones are connected PD27W max, each smartphone switches to PD13W protocol.  

  • Different voltages for 2 consumers are supported (e.g. 20V and 9V).

  • When a second consumer is connected, the current is not interrupted, only the charging protocol is changed.

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CUKTECH 2in1 100W PD3.0 (UsbC-UsbC) (AliExpress​)

Key product features:

  • Flexibility: Relatively flexible

  • Surface: braided nylon

  • Color: Black

  • Max Power: 100W PD3.0

  • USB standard: USB 2.0

  • Thunderbolt: n/a

  • Length: 0.9 meters (3ft)

  • Resistance: 520mOhm 

 

  • The cable is unique in that it takes power (up to 100W) from USB PD protocol as input and further converts it to protocols:

  • PD: 5,9,12,15V-3A, 20V5A

  • PD PPS: 5-11V5A, 5-20V4.5A

  • Xiaomi 90W

  • QC2.0: 5,9,12V

  • QC3.0: 3.6-12V

  • Samsung 2.0

  • Apple2.4

  • DCP

  • Xiaomi's proprietary charging protocol is available also when powered by less powerful (<100W) charging adapters.

CUKTECH 2in1 100W PD3.0 (UsbC-UsbC)
CUKTECH 2in1 100W PD3.0 (UsbC-UsbC)
CUKTECH 2in1 100W PD3.0 (UsbC-UsbC)
CUKTECH 2in1 100W PD3.0 (UsbC-UsbC)

  • When one consumer is connected (the second plug must not be connected), the maximum charging capacity is available, e.g. PD100W.

  • When two consumers are connected, the energy is distributed in the following proportions:

    • 100W input: 70W+30W

    • 65W input: 45W+20W

    • 45W input: 25W+20W

    • 30W input: 10W+10W

    • 20W input and below: even distribution between consumers

  • When a second consumer is connected, the power supply to the first consumer (which already receiving power) is not interrupted.

  • Thus, this special cable provides a unique opportunity not only to quickly charge two UsbC devices at the same time, but also to provide charging protocols that are not initially available for a USB AC adapter, such as PPS or Xiaomi.  

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Other USB cables and USB adapters worth mentioning

UsbC-UsbС сables/adapters

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UsbA-UsbC (UsbC-UsbA) cable/adapters

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UsbA-UsbA cable/adapters

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UsbC-micro USB cable/adapters

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USB-DC cables/adapters

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USB - HDMI, USB-DP, USB-AUX adapters

 

USB data blockers

Data blockers are devices that are installed between the cable and the charger to allow fast charging while preventing data transfer. This functionality ensures the safe use of USB chargers in public places (airports, bus stops, park benches, etc.), preventing your device from being tampered with.

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If you found the information on this page helpful, please consider supporting my work by following the link to the Amazon or AliExpress when making a purchase. These are affiliated links, but click on them won’t cost you anything extra, prices will be the same for you, but this action helps keep this project going.

Thanks for being awesome!

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