Plugable USB Charging Adapter
SKU: USB-MC1
List Price : $7.95
Amazon Rating :
(243 Reviews)
Features
- SAFE CHARGING—The Plugable USB-MC1 adapter turns any USB data port into a USB data blocker, and charge-only port. This serves to protect your device and its data from hackers and viruses, and can help devices that charge too slowly, or not at all when connected to a USB data port
- PEACE OF MIND—Don't risk your device and data by charging unprotected on an unknown USB port. Our USB-MC1 is a juice jacking data blocker, isolating your device so it cannot enter data transfer mode. Protect your data, identity, and device by keeping hackers and unwanted data access while charging (known as “juice jacking”) out
- FASTER CHARGING—Computer USB ports and many other stand alone chargers will only charge devices at 500mA (.5A) with a normal data cable. The USB-MC1 also functions as a fast charger, and allows for charging at 1A or more—twice as fast! Allows supported devices to charge on most powered USB hubs even when the computer is off or not connected computer is off or not connected
- COMPACT AND TRAVEL-READY—The USB-MC1 is smaller than a pack of chewing gum and will easily fit in your pocket, or with your other travel accessories. Perfect for peace of mind on the go charging at airports, coffee shops, libraries, and any place with public USB ports
Plugable's USB Charge-Only Adapter
Plugable USB-MC1
The Plugable USB-MC1 adapter turns any USB data port into a charge-only port for dedicated, safe charging. The adapter blocks juice jacking attacks from hackers. The USB-MC1 is smaller than a pack of chewing gum and will easily fit in your pocket, or with your other travel accessories. Perfect for on the go charging at airports, coffee shops, libraries, and more.
USB Charging Information - How it Works
Most Android and iPhone devices can't or won't charge from normal USB ports and powered hubs if the computer is turned off or not connected. The device must negotiate how much power to pull, to do so by the original USB specification, devices are supposed to only draw 100mA at first and then they can then negotiate up to 500mA.
The Plugable USB data blocker uses a safe, IC-free design by adding a series of resistors in between the data lines to allow for up to 1A charging. This allows for charging communication, but no possibility of data transmission. Other USB data blockers that advertise higher charging rates likely include unfamiliar integrated circuits or chips which can introduce other security concerns.
The Plugable design makes no compromises with a dedicated security focus. Whether you need a juice jacking data blocker, or fast charger for your Android/iPhone, our USB-MC1 gives you the power to charge your device with confidence and security!
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USB Port Types
USB-A
pietz, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
This is the standard USB connection that most computers offered prior to the introduction of USB Type-C (USB-C). Even after the introduction of USB Type-C, this is still quite common.
It can provide data transfer rates up to the USB 3.1 Gen 2 (10 gbps) specification depending on the host and device, but does not directly support video in the way that USB-C Alternate Mode does. This limitation makes DisplayLink USB graphics adapters and docking stations ideal on systems that do not have USB-C, or in instances where more displays are needed beyond available video outputs of a PC.
USB-B
Fred the Oyster, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
IngenieroLoco, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
This type of connection comes in a couple different styles depending on whether USB 3.0 and higher transfer rates are supported (bottom graphic). Usually this type of connection is used to plug into USB devices that do not have a fixed cable connected, such as USB docking stations, USB hubs, printers, and others.
USB Mini-B
Fred the Oyster, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
One of the first connectors for charging a smartphone, wireless game controller (such as the Sixaxis and DualShock 3), and other small devices such as external hard drives. Not commonly used today, but is still used in some cases. Most devices using USB Mini B are using USB 2.0, though a USB 3.0 variant does exist. This specification also added USB On-The-Go (OTG) functionality, though it is more commonly implemented with Micro USB.
USB Micro-B
Fred the Oyster, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
IngenieroLoco, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
A smaller connector that serves many of the same uses as the Mini B connector, with added optional features such as Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL) to allow devices like smartphones to output video to larger displays without requiring a dedicated port for video output.
The larger variant of USB-B is most commonly used for external hard drives for higher 5Gbps transfer rates.
USB-C, Thunderbolt™ 3, and Thunderbolt™ 4
Niridya , CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
The most recent USB connection, USB Type-C (USB-C), represents a major change in what USB can do. The connector is smaller, can be connected in two orientations, is able to carry substantially more power and data, and can directly carry video signals of multiple types (HDMI, DisplayPort, etc.) Intel has also adapted the USB-C connector for use with Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4.
It is important to note that while all Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4 connections are USB-C, not all USB-C connections can be used with Thunderbolt 3 or Thunderbolt 4 devices.
More details regarding physical USB connections can be found on Wikipedia . The graphics depicted here are adapted from Wikimedia Commons by various artists under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.
Do Plugable products support the Apple SuperDrive?
Unfortunately Plugable products do not support the Apple SuperDrive.
The Apple SuperDrive has stringent power requirements that can only be met by directly connecting the SuperDrive to your host laptop. As a result at this time Apple recommends only using their USB-C adapter cables. You can find more information on that here -→ How to connect the Apple USB SuperDrive
If you have purchased a Plugable product to use with your Apple SuperDrive, and would like some additional assistance please do not hesitate to reach out. You can do so by emailing support@plugable.com, or going to Plugable.com/Support.
USB Device Charging
The original USB 2.0 specification limited the power that could be drawn from any USB port to 500mA. This is plenty to charge smaller batteries reasonably quickly, but for larger batteries, a higher wattage solution is needed. Though this limit was increased to 900mA with the advent of SuperSpeed USB 3.0, most battery-powered devices were left wanting, either charging at a very slow rate or "treading water". Over time, these limitations drove device makers to come up with novel ways to draw more than the allowed current from standard USB ports, typically accomplished by signaling to the devices along the data lines that it’s okay to draw current at a higher rate.
Regrettably, there wasn’t a widely-adopted standard, so not all ports and devices spoke the same language. To make the situation even more frustrating for end-users, there wasn’t much public discussion or documentation about these signals.
A quick note about power and charging: It is up to the device attached to the charger to decide if, and how quickly to charge. Either based upon the charging signal it receives from the charger that it may use as a guideline, or if the device does not utilize charging signals, it will charge by drawing as much power as it possibly can unregulated. Some "dumb" devices will overload a standard USB port and may cause the port to temporarily cease functioning (until the port is reset) or may cause permanent damage. It is also important to note that chargers do not "push" power to a device, rather, devices "pull" power as needed. If you have a USB device that calls for 500mA of current, connecting it to say a 2.4A (2400mA) USB charging port will not damage it, the device will only draw as much power as needed.
USB Battery Charging Standard
Some devices support the USB Battery Charging (BC 1.1/1.2) standard, but that support is usually undocumented. Charging behavior is often learned through trial-and-error. With the addition of BC 1.2, the USB standard included three port types.
- Standard Downstream Port (SDP) - Data-only port with no special charging capabilities. Provides data connectivity and the standard 500mA to downstream devices.
- Charging Downstream Port (CDP) - Simultaneous USB data connectivity and high-current charging. Provides up to 1.5A to downstream devices. Has a charging detection phase that triggers device charging, then switches over to data mode after charging has been established.
- Dedicated Charging Port (DCP) - Charging-only port with no data connection. Provides up to 1.5A to downstream devices. This signal simply shorts the data D+ and D- lines.
Proprietary Signals
Many manufacturers created their own DCP signals to either provide higher charging rates or only charge from “authorized” chargers. iPads, for example, can draw up to 2.4A when connected to an Apple computer or Apple charger, but they will not charge at all when connected to a regular USB port.
Apple
Apple was among the first manufacturers to create their own charging signals to meet the needs of their power-hungry mobile devices.
- Apple 2.4A: 2.7V D+, 2.7V D-
- Apple 2.1A: 2V D+, 2.7V D-
- Apple 1A: 2.7V D+, 2V D-
- Apple 500mA: 2V D+, 2V D-
| Signal | D+ Volts | D- Volts |
| Apple 2.4A | 2.7V | 2.7V |
| Apple 2.1A |
2V | 2.7V |
| Apple 1A |
2.7V |
2V |
| Apple 500mA |
2V |
2V |
Samsung
Many legacy Samsung devices use the standard BC 1.2 charging standard for DCP, CDP, and SDP modes. Even older devices often used a proprietary Samsung DCP signal (1.2V D+, 1.2V D-)
Qualcomm Quick Charge (QC) 1/2/3
Legacy Qualcomm QC chargers are capable of outputting much higher power than standard USB chargers. These signals are specifically designed to work with mobile devices containing Qualcomm Snapdragon SoC chips. This standard is often re-branded by manufacturers for marketing purposes, but the standard behind these technologies is Qualcomm QC. A few well-known rebrands of Qualcomm QC are listed below. Currently, Plugable does not offer any QC devices.
- Samsung Adaptive Fast Charger
- Oppo Super VOOC
- OnePlus WarpCharge (Note: There are several implementations of WarpCharge that have evolved with new devices, some being fully OnePlus proprietary offering up to 65W.)
- Huawei SuperCharge
QC chargers output various voltages based on the signals sent over the data lines from the powered device.
| Output Volts (Vcc) | D+ Volts | D- Volts |
| 5V |
0.6V |
GND |
| 9V |
3.3V |
0.6V |
| 12V |
0.6V |
0.6V |
| 20V |
3.3V |
3.3V |
"Smart" Charging
Smart chargers contain a charging controller chip that attempts to detect the ideal signal for the attached downstream device. Once the ideal signal is detected, the charger will stop cycling through signals and the powered device will start charging.
