United Nations trying to standardize wall warts

[Greegor]

Surfing away from news stories about the
30MHz to 300 MHz switching power supplies
the first time I ran across a story that
the United Nations wants to standardize
wall warts across many different brands
of similar equipment to make replacement
and recycling easier and to cut back on
e-waste.

Supposedly it's been warmly received by
cell phone makers so far.

But weren't these wall warts already on
the way to being standardized because
of the option of using USB port power?

Then I remembered that lots of these wall
warts are inferior quality fire hazards.

Do you think the UN will get into
regulating the QUALITY of wall warts
to cut down on e-waste? LOL

Is the UN trying to become a government
itself or a government regulator?

Do you think they'll standardize computer
printer ink jet and laser toner refills?

I'd actually like to see them end the
refill scams with "chipped" cartridges
and support refilling.
That would also cut down e-waste.

But why the United Nations?

Aren't there already international
organizations to standardize things
like that?

 

[Spehro Pefhany]

Surfing away from news stories about the
30MHz to 300 MHz switching power supplies
the first time I ran across a story that
the United Nations wants to standardize
wall warts across many different brands
of similar equipment to make replacement
and recycling easier and to cut back on
e-waste.

Not that I doubt it might have been said, but do you have a link on
this? I know the EU has been working on this for quite a while, and
they've achieved some success, even with Apple.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10274953-94.html

The EU accounts for something like 185 million phones a year, China
for another similar amount, so they're pretty important markets,
especially in terms of unit volume.

Supposedly it's been warmly received by
cell phone makers so far.

But weren't these wall warts already on
the way to being standardized because
of the option of using USB port power?

Then I remembered that lots of these wall
warts are inferior quality fire hazards.

Do you think the UN will get into
regulating the QUALITY of wall warts
to cut down on e-waste? LOL

Is the UN trying to become a government
itself or a government regulator?

Do you think they'll standardize computer
printer ink jet and laser toner refills?

I'd actually like to see them end the
refill scams with "chipped" cartridges
and support refilling.
That would also cut down e-waste.

But why the United Nations?

Aren't there already international
organizations to standardize things
like that?

Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany

 

[Lasse Langwadt Christensen]

Den fredag den 27. december 2013 14.51.23 UTC+1 skrev Spehro Pefhany:

Not that I doubt it might have been said, but do you have a link on

this? I know the EU has been working on this for quite a while, and

they've achieved some success, even with Apple.



http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10274953-94.html



The EU accounts for something like 185 million phones a year, China

for another similar amount, so they're pretty important markets,

especially in terms of unit volume.

too bad for the apple people, the EU only said it had to charge from a usbport
not that the phone had to have a micro usb for charging, so they still have to carry around the cable

they already do, just look at all the markings on a charger
doesn't help much when people fake them and disappear


-Lasse

 

[[email protected]]

Surfing away from news stories about the
30MHz to 300 MHz switching power supplies
the first time I ran across a story that
the United Nations wants to standardize
wall warts across many different brands
of similar equipment to make replacement
and recycling easier and to cut back on
e-waste.

Are they trying to standardize the AC side or DC side ?

Trying to standardize the AC side is quite hopeless due to the
different AC connectors in different countries. This would also affect
the mechanical size of the device, assuming you should be able to plug
in a device at any mains socket in a multiple output socket assembly,
regardless of 0 degree, 45 degree or 90 degree pin angle. hopefully
the standard will demand that the power supply electronics is
contained in the direction perpendicular to the sockets, i.e. you can
plug such wall warts in every socket in an extension cord.

A few mains voltages is not an issue these days, since it is quite
easy to make universal 100-240 Vac supplies.

On the DC side, such standardization would be much easier with a few
DC connector alternatives, but it does not solve the problem with a
huge number of discarded wall warts.

 

[Lasse Langwadt Christensen]

Den fredag den 27. december 2013 15.25.59 UTC+1 skrev [email protected]:

Are they trying to standardize the AC side or DC side ?



Trying to standardize the AC side is quite hopeless due to the

different AC connectors in different countries. This would also affect

the mechanical size of the device, assuming you should be able to plug

in a device at any mains socket in a multiple output socket assembly,

regardless of 0 degree, 45 degree or 90 degree pin angle. hopefully

the standard will demand that the power supply electronics is

contained in the direction perpendicular to the sockets, i.e. you can

plug such wall warts in every socket in an extension cord.



A few mains voltages is not an issue these days, since it is quite

easy to make universal 100-240 Vac supplies.



On the DC side, such standardization would be much easier with a few

DC connector alternatives, but it does not solve the problem with a

huge number of discarded wall warts.

still a standard voltage and standard barrel connector for the DC side would go a long to way to be able to reuse them

many chargers already changeble slide-ons for different mains connectors and most laptop chargers use the mickey mouse plug

-Lasse

 

[Spehro Pefhany]

they already do, just look at all the markings on a charger
doesn't help much when people fake them and disappear

The United Nations has nothing to do with any of those particular
markings.


Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany

 

[Lasse Langwadt Christensen]

Den fredag den 27. december 2013 18.33.21 UTC+1 skrev Jeff Liebermann:

That's because the cell phone vendors will no longer need to supply

wall warts with their devices since it will be assumed that everyone

already owns such a charger.






Standards are a good thing. Every organization should have one.








ISO and ITU. The cell phone charger standard already exists:

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_External_Power_Supply>

<http://www.itu.int/newsroom/press_releases/2009/49.html>

Unfortunately, they picked the Micro USB-A connector, which has some

advantages, but is essentially a throw away connector.

micro usb might seems flimsy but it is rated for 10000 insertions

-Lasse

 

[[email protected]]

That's because the cell phone vendors will no longer need to supply
wall warts with their devices since it will be assumed that everyone
already owns such a charger.


Standards are a good thing. Every organization should have one.

Oh, the do. Every company, too.

ISO and ITU. The cell phone charger standard already exists:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_External_Power_Supply>
<http://www.itu.int/newsroom/press_releases/2009/49.html>
Unfortunately, they picked the Micro USB-A connector, which has some
advantages, but is essentially a throw away connector.

It's far better than the Mini-A.

I think passing out one of these could also solve the problem:
<http://www.ebay.com/itm/390598558227>
I gave a few of these to friends as Christmas presents. Of course,
one of them plugged in several phones at the same time, and wondered
why the 1A USB adapter shut down.

I wouldn't want to carry one of those around. Looks like a mess.

 

[Lasse Langwadt Christensen]

Den fredag den 27. december 2013 19.06.02 UTC+1 skrev [email protected]:

Oh, the do. Every company, too.







It's far better than the Mini-A.

http://www.usb.org/developers/Deprecation_Announcement_052507.pdf

"the USB-IF will no longer certify products that use the Mini-A and Mini-AB connectors nor products that use them. This change is effective immediately. "

-Lasse

 

[Martin Riddle]

That's because the cell phone vendors will no longer need to supply
wall warts with their devices since it will be assumed that everyone
already owns such a charger.


Standards are a good thing. Every organization should have one.


ISO and ITU. The cell phone charger standard already exists:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_External_Power_Supply>
<http://www.itu.int/newsroom/press_releases/2009/49.html>
Unfortunately, they picked the Micro USB-A connector, which has some
advantages, but is essentially a throw away connector.

I think passing out one of these could also solve the problem:
<http://www.ebay.com/itm/390598558227>
I gave a few of these to friends as Christmas presents. Of course,
one of them plugged in several phones at the same time, and wondered
why the 1A USB adapter shut down.

I like the mini-USB. My RAZR phone and Samsing Clip use the same
charger. And the connector is fairly robust.

Cheers

 

[Robert Baer]

Surfing away from news stories about the
30MHz to 300 MHz switching power supplies
the first time I ran across a story that
the United Nations wants to standardize
wall warts across many different brands
of similar equipment to make replacement
and recycling easier and to cut back on
e-waste.

Supposedly it's been warmly received by
cell phone makers so far.

But weren't these wall warts already on
the way to being standardized because
of the option of using USB port power?

Then I remembered that lots of these wall
warts are inferior quality fire hazards.

Do you think the UN will get into
regulating the QUALITY of wall warts
to cut down on e-waste? LOL

Is the UN trying to become a government
itself or a government regulator?

* YES!!
It is all about power.
Greed breeds more greed.
Just look at the US "peace"keepers.
And how we have been raping South America countries since (at least)
FDR (remember that guy that stole our gold).

Do you think they'll standardize computer
printer ink jet and laser toner refills?

I'd actually like to see them end the
refill scams with "chipped" cartridges
and support refilling.
That would also cut down e-waste.

But why the United Nations?

* Like i said. It is all about power.

Aren't there already international
organizations to standardize things
like that?

* And what does that have to do with the price of rice in China?

 

[[email protected]]

Standardizing on something like a micro-USB is just the first step. Even
with the proper adapter cable, try to get Apple, Motorola and a bunch of
other models to actually charge just because they see +5V is a crap shoot.

No, 5V is just fine. USB is the question mark. The "spec" isn't
enough to charge something like an iPad in a reasonable amount of
time. Even a cell phone is really pushing it at a half amp.

Motorola won't play nicely with an Apple USB wall wart. Apple won't play
nicely with Motorola. Neither will charge off a Kindle supply. It's a mater
of how the wall wart and load implement the handshake for charger capacity.

It's not an "implementation of a handshake" at all. The decision
about how to charge is made by sensing resistors on the device. If
they're not there, the normal USB handshake goes on. Of course, USB
limits the charge to .5A. Some *chargers* don't like the load up to
that point.

Good luck getting that to work across vendors. The best attempt I've seen is
a 12V power port (cigarette lighter) charger with 'Apple' and 'Everyone
Else' ports.

It's done all the time but only if this is a requirement of the
charger. MicroChip has some interesting solutions for this.

 

[Greegor]

G > But why the United Nations?

PH > They need to concentrate on things like
PH > conflict-free diamonds. I bought one
PH > for the wife, but she still picks fights.

Droll, very droll.

 

[Phil Hobbs]

Greegor wrote:

[snip]

But why the United Nations?

They need to concentrate on things like conflict-free diamonds. I bought one
for the wife, but she still picks fights.

Next time buy a bigger one.

Cheers

Phil Hobbs

--
Dr Philip C D Hobbs
Principal Consultant
ElectroOptical Innovations LLC
Optics, Electro-optics, Photonics, Analog Electronics

160 North State Road #203
Briarcliff Manor NY 10510

hobbs at electrooptical dot net
http://electrooptical.net

 

[Maynard A. Philbrook Jr.]

Greegor wrote:

[snip]

But why the United Nations?

They need to concentrate on things like conflict-free diamonds. I bought
one for the wife, but she still picks fights.

Next time buy a bigger one.

Bigger wife?

Now now....

Jamie