high speed charger fail

[idleprocess]

IMO USB-C fast charging is not a fully baked system yet.

Best I can tell USB-PD is a well-implemented system with two major caveats:

1. All components in the chain - charger, cable, device - must fully comply with the spec
2. Mixed-specification (i.e. USB-PD and the other proprietary standards) compatibility is not guaranteed

On #1 cables tend to be a major sticking point. The wrong resistor across pins and insufficient conductors for the amperage are the sources of so many woes. Cheaply-designed chargers trying to deliver more watts than they can handle is another issue - either because an acceptable lower-current design was not sufficiently augmented for greater currents or simple fraud was performed and the device claims more capability than it can handle for any length of time.

#2 is an issue because the proprietary standards are normally silo'ed beind patents or trade secrets thus interoperability is ... basically left to chance. Some charger manufacturers have a decent history of licensing popular current at the time of design standards - greatly reducing the odds of problems - but time moves on or they might not have bothered with something and along comes a device that behaves in such a fashion that it confuses the charger and causes problems.

 

[DRW]

I accidentally blew out a PD36R head by using a modern 20 watt fast charger...

We are unlikely to ever know, but I suspect the light was the weak link. I don't see anything on the Fenix lighting website claiming fast charge compatible. Where did you find that info?

 

[PhotonWrangler]

We are unlikely to ever know, but I suspect the light was the weak link. I don't see anything on the Fenix lighting website claiming fast charge compatible. Where did you find that info?

I found that info here.

 

[DRW]

I found that info here.

Thanks. Other than using the word fast there isn't any mention of a 'charging standard'. 5 volts at 3 amps is 15 watts.

Did you send the light in for repair?

 

[PhotonWrangler]

Thanks. Other than using the word fast there isn't any mention of a 'charging standard'. 5 volts at 3 amps is 15 watts.

Did you send the light in for repair?

There are the USB-PD 2.0 and 3.x power delivery standards which covers power negotiation over USB-C. The current version can offer constant-current or constant-voltage charrging as well as a wide range of charging voltages. The PD36R doesn't say which standard it's compliant with. I don't have the analysis tools to determine whether the failure was caused by the charger, the flashlight or the cable.

I did receive a replacement head so it's back in business again, but I won't be using one of the newer fast chargers with it this time. At least not until I determine exactly what caused the failure.

 

[hsa]

Just slow charge, the light will last longer. Since your light is legendary we need the legend to live on.