You must use a USB Type-C compatible cable
How to design incompatible cables so they don't damage your system.

A new type of USB is here. With the proliferation of USB Type-C ports on tablets, laptops, and smartphones, early adopters are facing problems due to the many UCB Type-C cables that are not compatible with the USB 3.1 specification.

In previous USB implementations (Figure 1), most systems could withstand less than 10W of power from noncompliant cables. However, USB Type-C now allows charging up to 100W, complicating the implementation of appropriate system protection features.

Most devices we use include some form of USB connectivity. This could be Type A or a micro/mini port. Because devices use a variety of connectors, cable confusion can occur. Previous generations offered low power consumption of less than 10W, so misusing cables wasn't a problem.

The USB Type-C standard brings two changes: 100W charging capability and a new connector design, as shown in Figure 2. This change in design necessitates an upgrade to USB cables. While numerous companies manufacture and sell USB Type-C cables, the sheer number of compatible and incompatible cables presents a significant risk of purchasing an incompatible cable. Some of the many cables are so out of specification that they can damage the systems they connect to.


Therefore, robust power path protection must be implemented in system design to prevent damage to devices, regardless of the USB Type-C cable used. Implementing power path protection can prevent several common consumer issues, including connecting a defective cable to a working system or shorting out pins in close proximity due to moisture or debris inside the connector.

One way to implement these protection features is detailed in TI's USB Type-C Power Path Protection and Audio Accessory Support reference design.


USB Type-C ports require multi-layered protection, particularly power and signal path protection. In this reference design, the TPD6E05U06 provides signal path protection for the CC1, CC2, D+, D-, SBU1, and SBU2 pins. This device provides International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 61000-4-2 Level 4 electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection by integrating six ultra-low loading capacitance transient voltage suppression (TVS) diodes on a single chip. The TPS25923 eFuse device and the CSD17571Q2 power MOSFET combine to provide up to 30 V of overvoltage protection, current limiting, and reverse current blocking for the power path. Finally, other important TUSB320LAI, TS5USBA224, and TS3A226AE manage USB cable orientation (USB Type-C is a reversible connector), operating role (DFP, UFP, DRP), and cable attach/detach.

These devices can also support analog audio accessories, providing both power and audio through a single USB Type-C port. Developers can also implement appropriate protection features in next-generation USB Type-C designs with the USB Type-C Power Path Protection Reference Design with Audio Accessory Support.