Guide - Buy charging cable

What should I look out for when buying a charging cable?

First of all, it is important what the cable is for, i.e. which end devices they are for and whether you want to transfer data.

There are many different standards and ports (USB- Micro, Lightning, USB-C, etc.), and the devices require different levels of incoming power to charge (5W, 20W, 60W, 100W or other requirements). The cable should be able to withstand at least the specified number of watts, otherwise complications can arise and the devices or the cable may be damaged. 

You should also note which power supply you have and which ports are available there. Power supplies usually have a USB-A connector, like those found in cars, hotels, airplanes or other public places. Newer devices already have the USB-C standard. One should consider all these factors to find the right cable. So it may be that you have to buy a separate cable for each end device, which in turn must be compatible with the power supply unit. 

For example, if you have a power supply with 20W and USB-A and one with 60W and one or two USB-C ports, i.e. 2 power supplies and a total of 3 end devices with USB-C (e.g. a vaporiser), USB-Micro (e.g. a mobile speaker ) and Lightning (smartphone) want to connect . Then these are already 6 different combinations, so you need 6 cables. That's a lot of material, which also takes up a lot of space during transport.

It can therefore make sense to choose a solution that is flexible and can handle all standards, ie connections, such as Datagnan's magnetic connectors (Link Datagnan). Due to the interchangeability of the connectors, the solution can be used flexibly for the most common devices. In this case you only need one cable and resources are saved and your carbon footprint reduced.

One for all and all for one

The charging capacity of the cable is also a point. It determines the charging speed, depending on the energy storage capacity of the device in question. Many modern devices can use a chip to control how much energy is allowed to be charged so that the device does not break. The demand can be from 5W, 20W up to 100W for laptops and other devices. In rare exceptional cases more, but this is usually outside the scope of most users. To ensure really fast charging, the cable must have at least the same capacity, otherwise the device will not be charged at the desired speed. The cable should therefore withstand at least the wattage that is required for the respective end device. In addition to the ports, length, etc., this must also be taken into account. If you take this into account, our previous example can quickly add 2 - 4 more cables. 

It is therefore worth investing in a high-quality cable here as well. However, these are more expensive  but can be used more flexibly and save you having to buy several cables with less capacity, which may be far more expensive overall than buying a high-quality cable right away. In our previous case with the 6 cables a minimum of 15 EUR on average can easily  Costs of EUR 90 or more arise. With Datagnan we offer a 100W cable with magnetic connectors that is compatible with almost all common standards. There is also the option of retrofitting additional connectors.

How sustainable is it if I travel a lot or often charge my devices and plug and unplug the charging cable?

With each plugging and unplugging, both the connector at the end of the cable and the port on the end device are worn out. Over time, the ports and connectors become damaged or become unusable. The more this happens, the faster the devices become useless. Since spare parts are often expensive for end devices, or they may become unusable and have to be completely replaced. Cables can also be expensive, so it definitely makes sense to pay attention to quality, or to solutions that protect both the ports of the end devices and the cables. Magnetic cables can be a solution here, as they have a magnet at one end of the cable and can magnetically connect different connectors, which are plugged into the ports of the devices or remain there. For this purpose, Datagnan offers a universal solution for the common ports. This reduces wear and tear and conserves valuable resources. 

 

Magnetic cables with flexible connectors seem to be a solution. What do you have to watch out for here?

There are various cable solutions here. It is also important to note what charging capacities they have, what connectors are provided and whether you can buy replacement connectors. There are cheaper magnetic cables with a small capacity. You should definitely pay attention to the wattage and the term fast charging is often used. However, using a cheap, low-wattage cable with a higher-demand device does not deliver on the promise. There are also round magnetic cable ends of the connectors. This can lead to incompatibilities, for example, with smartphones with protective covers or with devices where the ports are sunk deeper into the devices. The connectors then do not fit exactly and charging is not possible. Datagnan offers rectangular connectors. This means that the Datagnan cable and connectors are compatible with almost all end devices and smartphones, even with protective covers. (Datagnan , Atos, Portos, Aramis Link)

 

What length should my cable be?

It depends on what kind of device and where you use it. Or where your power supply or laptop is if you can do power sharing with it. It also depends on the distance to the energy source. A cable for a vaporizer does not have to be long, maybe 50cm is enough here. However, when it comes to charging your laptop that is standing on the table with a wall charger, then 1 - 2 meters certainly make sense. Datagnan 100W cable has a length of 1.8m and can therefore be used for almost all applications. Link Datagnan

What is the best way to store or transport my cable?

Cables should not be kinked, otherwise the cable can be damaged and thus become unusable. In order to be able to use a cable for as long as possible, kinking is avoided. It is better if you roll up the cable. However, this should not be too tight, because then the cable can be damaged. A lockable container is best for transport so that the cable does not come into contact with other objects or liquids that could damage the cable. When buying, it makes sense to pay attention to whether a transport container is also included. Datagnan 100W cable is conveniently supplied in a lockable lightweight aluminum can. The circumference of the socket is optimized for the cable length and wear and tear is minimized so that the cable lasts longer. At the same time, a small box for storing the connectors is supplied, which is located in the middle of the coiled cable. So everything is tidy. Link Datagnan cable and kit.

Do I need a different cable if I want to transfer data?

It depends on the data transfer speed you need. The function often differs from pure charging cables and you need a special cable. These are expensive given the high possible data throughput. You may need more than one cable. With the current Datagnan cable, data can also be transmitted with a throughput of 480kb per second.

How can I pay attention to sustainability when buying?

It makes sense to consider whether you can possibly save on cables, ie buy as few new cables as possible in order to reduce resource consumption and CO2 emissions during production. It is clear that in today's world of smartphones, laptops and the Internet, we cannot do without devices and without electricity, but we can still make sure that we use fewer resources, buy fewer devices and also do without poor-quality cables. It is advisable to save on cables by choosing a universal solution and opting for high-quality cables that last longer. Magnetic cables with connectors protect both the ports and the cable ends/connectors and thus cause less wear and tear. Devices that have already been purchased last longer and do not have to be replaced as quickly. If you don't kink the cables during transport and make sure that they are stored in a protected place, then there is less wear and tear and the purchased one lasts longer. The Datagnan Cable follows the philosophy of " One for All and All for One" and thus covers all of these  points off. Datagnan link

Which cables and connections are future-proof?

In the European Union, there are discussions about introducing USB-C as a mandatory standard for device manufacturers (Link) in order to standardize the existing connections. We at Mountain Peak assume that this will be realized and that's why we designed the Datagnan concept with magnetic cable and expandable connectors. The Datagnan concept is based on the USB-C standard and is also compatible with all standards that are still in use. With the Datagnan 100W cable you are in safe hands.