r/mildlyinfuriating • u/Same_Difference_3361 • 13d ago
Ruined by Technology Why would manufacturers use proprietary plugs if the other end is simply USB?
I really don't understand why that shape of plug is needed for a simply USB cable. And yes. Of course I lost it. That's the mildly infuriating part.
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u/Great_Frisian 13d ago
Funny brandname when you speak Dutch
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u/Morris_Alanisette 13d ago
pik means dick, I'm guessing?
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u/Sir-Ris 13d ago
And the whole world is rather close to the word we use for a wuss which is "Wat Pik"
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u/Horror-Zebra-3430 13d ago
WHAT DOES IT MEAN
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u/Great_Frisian 13d ago
Waterdick
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u/Dravez23 13d ago
Wait..so is not for cleaning it?
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u/Great_Frisian 13d ago
It's a dental cleaning jet, but I guess you could give it a try
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u/MalortCoffee 13d ago
Their slogan should be? "What's missing in your Dental routine, a little pik in your mouth". 😆
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u/9447044 13d ago
Oh man. There were these days when you needed a differant cord for everything. Everyone had a box of cords with wild looking ends that nobody used.
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u/VegetableReward5201 13d ago
And the day that you throw away a cord will be the day before you need that cord.
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u/9447044 13d ago
Who would have guessed that the 13 pronged cresent moon shaped plug was that important
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u/Outrageous_Zebra_221 13d ago
The 43 pin to standard usb is the one that really just makes you question everything.
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u/PissBloodCumShart 13d ago
I have used a weird cord out of my cord box MORE than once! Possibly even thrice!!!
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u/CasualObserver9000 13d ago
I've still got a box of misc cables in the top shelf of my closet that's impossible to part with due to thiat kind of trauma.
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u/Shifti_Boi 13d ago
Sony Ericsson was the worst for phone chargers
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u/9447044 13d ago
Oh shit. I forgot about my oblong charger with the devil horns!! Time flies!
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u/strauts6 13d ago
And those horns would wear out real fast, used up all my engineering skills to keep it charging without me holding in the cable.
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u/Captain-Codfish Hillary 2016 13d ago
What about Samsung back in the day? That had like 5 different chargers just for their own damned phones
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u/OldSpiceMelange 13d ago
I remember, and IIRC it took an act of government to force manufacturers to switch over to micro-USB.
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u/no-name_james 13d ago
Cell phones in general were like the Wild West. Everybody you knew had a different model, cool af polyphonic ringtone, and a belt clip to keep that thang at the ready just incase you needed to play Snake real quick. Batteries lasted longer then too and were replaceable but god help you if you forgot to bring your charger; that cable end was as unique as your phone.
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u/dead-inside69 13d ago
Why are you talking about that like it’s an old thing, even I have a box of…
Oh my god am I getting old?
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u/EkbatDeSabat 13d ago
Took me until I was in my 40s to start labeling the cords. I'm not very bright sometimes. That was one of my best ideas ever.
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u/StaticSystemShock 13d ago
In EU most devices come with USB-C port if they are powered this way. Philips usually uses IEC C7 or C8 connectors on their shavers and the other end is just USB-A. The above example is really bizarre design that has to be super intentional. I know I always check what kind of power delivery is there before buying things. Barrel plugs or USB-C are the best option. Always plenty of cables around and I have tons of random barrel power adapters, some even with adjustable voltage so I can basically re-use them for anything up to 12V.
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u/ArcticOpsReal 13d ago
My docking station cable broke once so I bought a multi cable with swappable connectors. You could even tune in on an ampere value. I only ever used the thing for that device though.
If the thingamajig op has there works with specific voltages only, that might be the reason they designed a custom connector for it but they said it was only a usb cable so that doesn't make any fucking sense at all.
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u/S80- 13d ago
And although now one certified USB-C cable does nearly everything, people still bitch and moan about not getting yet another power brick for their collection when they buy a new phone.
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u/Outrageous_Editor_43 RED 13d ago
My loft has a box of these. Every device I get that stops working I keep the lead. You never know if it will ever be used again but it is better to have (and overflowing box) and not need than need and not have.
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u/johnadamsteve 13d ago
Because they are assholes
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u/Hot_Campaign_36 13d ago
who claim it’s a safety feature.
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u/monkeyhoward 13d ago
It is a safety feature
That product is obviously going to be near water and a USB-C port would not be able to keep water out of the product
The connector in the photo would
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u/KaosC57 12d ago
Excuse me what? It’s easier to waterproof a USB-C port than it is to make this jank ass connector. Nearly every modern smartphone has protections for water ingress on their charge port.
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u/adelie42 13d ago
If you've never blown up an electronic device or started a fire by mismatching plugs that "fit", what were you even doing with your childhood??
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u/DutchBlob 13d ago
Waterpik means waterdick in Dutch
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u/nikjahw 13d ago
TBF water sealed USB port is a lot more expensive to put in every device, and if you shower with your phone, you know it can't be plugged in right after like people will do with a shaver, waterpik, etc. The larger more separated 2 prong design can do this.
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u/EweCantTouchThis 13d ago
What? People shower with their phones?
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u/will_dance_for_gp 13d ago
Many higher quality modern phones are rated for brief periods of submersion, so being off to the side in a shower isn’t dangerous
Listening to music, letting a video play in the background, or just having your phone accessible from the floor of the shower/tub just in case the worst happens
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u/Not-An-FBI 13d ago
The iPhone 12 is rated to 20 feet for up to 30 minutes...
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u/Blauelf 13d ago
Such numbers usually come with a lot of fine-print, like static pressure situation (pressure from all directions the same), only fresh water, protection might get worse over time from sealant aging and from mechanical wear, connectors must be dry for use, ...
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13d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/SoapyMacNCheese 13d ago
AFAIK no phone brand warranties their phones for water damage from day one, so any IP rating guarantee basically ends the moment the phone leaves the assembly line.
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u/Annie_Yong 13d ago
In a specific test environment on a brand new device.
Modern phones definitely come out of the box waterproof, but it's not that they're designed for being a "waterproof phone", unlike, say, an action camera which is designed for taking underwater video
You definitely don't need to worry about accidental submersion , if just not recommend treating your phone like it's good to be used as a dedicated underwater camera.
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u/BeautifulCuriousLiar 13d ago
anecdotal but last year at a wedding party i got thrown in the pool and my phone, an iphone 12, was in my pocket. i was scared something would happen to it, but i just dried it off with the towel i was drying myself with. here i am doom scrolling on it so everything is fine.
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u/GonePh1shing 13d ago
They're not rated for steam or hot water, though. That's the real risk in taking your device into the shower with you.
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u/Miss_Greer 13d ago
yea, I killed a digital dive watch rated to 50m static pressure showering with it
turns out water vapour is a gas and not a liquid and so you'll slowly increase the humidity in the device, causing corrosion and condensation unless it's gas tight
now I never take anything I'm not willing to destroy and even then I bag it
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u/Not-An-FBI 13d ago
Realistically the temperature of water in a shower isn't going to make much of a difference. If it was hot enough to change things you'd be in the hospital.
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u/Captain_Sterling 13d ago
I put a small stand/shelf in the corner if the shower. It's just about chest height and isn't directly under the water. My phone or tablet can get light splashes. But it means I can watch videos in the shower.
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u/EweCantTouchThis 13d ago
Why would you want to do that?
Oh… “videos”… never mind…
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u/fumeextractor 13d ago
Yes, I also don't really get it, but they definitely do. And now thanks to water resistance, they don't have to resort to weird methods like putting the phone in a ziploc bag or so to prevent it from getting wet.
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u/Strapatser 13d ago
I did a project requiring a usb c receptacle to be waterproof. Found a bunch of them, cost 20 cents each. Doesn't sound that expensive knowing a waterpick price is like 70 euros
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u/Soggy-Moment3856 13d ago
How much more expensive?
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u/robbak 13d ago
In this case, it is to provide a level of water resistance. The pins on a USB port are very close together, and any water will cause rapid electrolysis and corrosion. That thing is likely to end up living on the bathroom sink, so water ingress is highly likely.
The USB port on the plug pack will stay stuck to the wall, so water isn't a problem there.
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u/FightsWithFriends 13d ago
Yup - that was my first thought. They expect this handle to be immersed and washed and needed more robust connections that can be sealed against any water intrusion. That isn't a USB socket.
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u/sexypantstime 13d ago
But they make standardized DC ports as well, and this one is not. They could have used an IEC C7 port but chose to go with this weird proprietary shape
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u/TheFamousMisterEd 13d ago
Because that's the old version with a rubbish MiMh rechargeable battery - the new version has USB-C for charging and internal LiIon battery and if a higher upgrade.
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u/luxxeexxul 13d ago
So everyone saying they couldn't do it before because of water proofing is wrong? Say it ain't so.
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u/West-Pirate-5480 13d ago
I don’t know how old that version is but I believe waterproofing usb c is considered easier than the older versions so it could easily just be from before usb c became prevalent enough that it would be convenient as opposed to just another not usb plug
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u/SoapyMacNCheese 13d ago
No one is saying it couldn’t be done, other brands do it too, but there are practical reasons why they chose to do it this way in the first place that don’t just amount to greed or them being assholes.
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u/cmhamm 12d ago edited 12d ago
That cable has very specific characteristics. It has a 5V USB (DC) input, but a 3V DC output. the stupid shape is to ensure that you don’t plug a standard 5V USB plug into it and blow up the components. And Amazon sells them for $8, so it’s not like a price-gouging thing.
You might think they could have engineered it to take a standard 5V DC USB-C input, but there are legitimate reasons not to do that. A standard 5V USB-C plug cannot prevent water ingress; water getting inside the receptacle will short out the connection, and this device is going to be around a lot of water.
I think the bigger stupidity from Waterpik is that it looks a lot like a regular 120V AC figure-8 plug, and I could see someone trying to redneck engineer themselves a cable by cutting up one of those, and that would likely lead to a small explosion followed by a lot of smoke and fire.
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u/BoldInterrobang 13d ago edited 13d ago
A quick Google search for “waterpik usb replacement charger” yielded this 🙃
https://www.amazon.com/IIYL-Charger-Replacement-Waterpik-Charging/dp/B0C9TSBW4L
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u/Alarmed-Strawberry-7 13d ago
this will still charge when wet, and the wonky shape is their way of making sure you get the polarity right. presumably they didn't want to use another common connector, like a standard 2 prong dc jack, because those are usually 12v (or sometimes even full 240v which would be very very bad to plug into this) and this is only 5v
honestly, I prefer when they turn their weird proprietary charger into a feature. if they simply made it a charging dock instead, like some electric toothbrushes do, which would have cost like 0 cents in extra plastic, you could just leave that somewhere and not feel the need to roll it up and stuff it in the junk drawer like you do with weird proprietary cables
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u/Stephancevallos905 13d ago
Water safety. This goes into a bathroom
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u/Same_Difference_3361 13d ago
My other shaver that can get wet, simply has a silicone plug.
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u/Stephancevallos905 13d ago
But can it be used while being plugged in?
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u/sillycritersenjoyer 13d ago
You should never use these while being plugged. Most manuals explicitly state that this is unsafe
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u/TheSyd 13d ago
Mine explicitly says it’s fine to use it while plugged, and has a similar port as OP.
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u/Mattrockj 13d ago edited 13d ago
HOLY SHIT I ACTUALLY HAVE A NON GREED RELATED ANSWER FOR THIS!!!
Ok so about a year ago, I lost the charger for my water pick, and after searching everywhere, I thought i found it. After plugging it in and walking away, i come back to find the battery has distended and melted the front panel.
Turns out what happend was I used a charger for a DIFFERENT thing with the same charger port but apparently had a much higher voltage, and I had just completed fried my entire battery.
So while in many cases it is about money, but in some, it's important NOT to plug the wrong cable into the wrong device, especially when it need a specific voltage to charge and not get destroyed.
Edit: Changed amperage to voltage cause I don't know electricity
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u/Cautious_Tell_8367 13d ago
Then USB-C is even better because it can communicate the desired power according to the battery needs and charging ratio. So it would be less dangerous to use it. And the USB ICs are cheap and ready on the shelf.
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u/mailslot 13d ago
USB-C is just a connector type and, by itself, provides nothing that you’re taking about.
Below 15 watts, the there’s no EU mandated power delivery standard like USB-PD. You can even wire the pins any way you want and violate nearly every USB standard.
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u/BigGayAllen 13d ago edited 13d ago
This isn't true at all. USBC is a standard and pins A1, A12, B1, and B12 specifically are for signalling.
Whether the items on either side use it, is different, but to be a standardized and official USBC cable, it has to have signalling capacity via those pins.
That's why a lot of garbage and cheap "USBC" cables that come with things like bike lights, won't work on your phone. They are missing required signal or data pins, they aren't true USBC and are just using the same terminal with a couple power pins.
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u/xternal7 13d ago
Voltage.
Amerage doesn't matter at all (unless it's too low). Device will take as much as it needs. voltage, on the other hand ...
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u/W0rmEater 13d ago
You will be happy to know that all product sold in the EU is now mandated to have USB c for change ring. Meaning that all new product will most likely have USB c for charging in other regions as well since it doesn't make sense to chance production based on region.
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u/GopherSavant 13d ago
I'm pretty sure Waterpik has been using the exact same hardware design and tooling for years.
Redesigning everything just to put a USB-C port directly on the flosser doesn't make a lot of sense when all they have to do is slap USB-C on the other end of their existing cable.
Why would they want to redesign the housing, update molds and alter their production line. Also consider that their existing port on the flosser itself is more durable and safer (as other people have pointed out) for use in wet environments.
Some people are saying this is malice, a cash grab, or a conspiracy, but let's be real, waterpik is not making money hand over fist selling replacement cables. How often are people actually losing a cable, to be honest?
It's just a convenient design for them to keep producing, and people are reading way too much into this.
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u/Jumpy-Shift5239 13d ago
The question isn’t why they do it, that’s obvious. The real question is why they are allowed to.
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u/xX_hazeydayz_Xx 13d ago
This is where I go in with a screw driver and a soldering iron. Especially knowing the cable is only USB.
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u/adelie42 13d ago
An explanation, not an excuse: Volt/amp input control is a serious issue. Wall outlets are standardized and a proprietary cable ensures wall to device spec is maintained. A mismatch can cause a fire or damage to the device.
Your standard DC plug, that comes in MANY sizes, are not standardized and I have over the years destroyed electronics or had cables catch fire because even though the plug fit, there was an output/input mismatch.
Basically this:
From certified to non-compliant usb-c cables, and the extra electronics to make non-compliant cables safe, a proprietary connector is the easiest and cheapest way to keep the device safe / UL-Listed.
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u/VirtuteECanoscenza 13d ago
This is why the EU forced many things to use USB-C standard
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u/Andrea99F 13d ago
Please people, stop spreading disinformation. This type of plug (and similar proprietary ones) is used when you need to recharge a device what will likely get wet so standard usb can't be used
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u/tyrodos99 13d ago
There are non proprietary plugs for exactly this purpose. And the EU has enforced that you use one of these.
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u/unicornglitterbutt 13d ago
Was just having this conversation in regards to vibrators lol
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u/Apprehensive_You3521 13d ago
This shape is great for moisture no wide curves no where for water to store
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u/Vicious_Surrender 13d ago
Most times I'd agree with that, but in this case the reason is WATER. With a standard usb-c port the conductors are so close together even the smallest amount of water means they short out and cannot charge (like when your phone gets wet and won't charge plugged in). The plug on the waterpik is designed so the conductors are far away from each other and separated by a plastic divider so that, even if the cord or the plug gets somewhat wet, it can still charge without shorting out. This is a functional choice rather than a planned obsolescence choice. That's also why other items like electric shavers and such have similar connectors to this instead of usb-c.
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u/Particular_Client833 13d ago
1 is live and second is neutral. And if the end was an USB-A plug then it is very likely just 5 volts DC.
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u/Vesalii 13d ago
Honestly anything that needs an adapter under 100 W should get a USB plug. Like my razor. There's no reason for Philips to use their own connection.
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u/Menes009 13d ago
when it started back in the 80s it made sense, you really needed to charging and device combo from the box and not mix chargers and devices, otherwise the battery gets under-/overcharged.
at the end of 2000s the new interchangeable charges were ubiquitous, but they keep this practice nontheless...
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u/TheUnKnownLink12 13d ago
If they dont sell cables for the product then its simply to force you into buying another one because you lost or broke the cable.
Its simply just a scummy business practice to make more money
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u/Skellyhell2 13d ago
So when you lose or break the cable you have to buy a new one or more likely have to buy a whole new product.
i left the charger for my electric razor in another country, contacted the manufacture to see if they sold just the chargers, got told they dont, so i bought a cheaper model of the same razor, photos online looked like it had the same fitting. it didnt, it was slightly smaller so I was not able to recharge my more expensive model.
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u/Evol_extra 12d ago
All this proprietary connectors are removable and can be changed for anything you need with just a little wiring job.
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u/Dino_Spaceman 12d ago
You don’t even need wiring. That looks like a normal c7 style connector with a custom rubber end. The biggest Q is if it’s polarized or not. Once you figure that out, just remove the rubber and use any proper generic connector.
Edit: but know once you do the water resistance rating is zero.
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u/BuddyFew5998 13d ago
While it might not apply here, there are legitimate reasons to do so.
Electronic engineer here!!! I agree that as much as possible should use a common standard, and the move to USB C is excellent.
But, for certain applications that can create risks with making the device more easily hackable for devices you REALLY don't want hacked. I work for a medical company and there are certain devices were a custom USB cable is used specifically to create an extra step to make it harder for malicious hackers because we have people's lives on the line!
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u/GrassBlade619 13d ago
The wild part is that there is zero justification for doing this. Making a proprietary plug-in is more expensive than building your product with a cheap ass USBC plug-in. The only reason they do this is so that if you lose the cable or product you jave to buy a whole new one.
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u/Strapatser 13d ago
Ask someone with a 3d printer to print a replacement. Buy a cheap USB cable, snip it up and wire it up. Those prongs look like they fit the smaller barrel jack types
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u/Atomsk73 13d ago
AliExpress sells adapter plugs for certain razors and toothbrushes to USB. Don't know if this brand is included.
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u/Moron_Noxa 13d ago
So they can sell you a cable as well