"Although the printer may have a USB-C port, it lacks the necessary hardware to support USB-C charging protocols. On a more technical level, the manufacturer opted to save a few cents by omitting some basic components (typically just two resistors, which cost virtually nothing) to accommodate different power inputs. Since USB-C doesn't supply power without first negotiating what the device needs, no power is delivered."
"While USB charging is an improvement over the mess of proprietary connectors and protocols that preceded it in the past, it's still not the utopia the tech industry wants you to believe it is. Here's a good example. I have a portable thermal label printer that I've found to be just so useful for keeping things organized -- it prints really clear labels that are resistant to water, oil, acid, and heat. It's also powered by a built-in rechargeable battery."
"The upshot is that, while the port appears to be identical to every other USB-C port, if you plug in a USB-C cable connected to a USB-C charger, the device won't charge. Which is rather annoying. There is a significant giveaway for a device with this limitation: it will come supplied with a USB-A to USB-A cable. There's another rub."
USB-C requires a digital power-negotiation handshake before a charger supplies current. Some inexpensive devices lack the tiny circuitry (often just two resistors) that signals required voltage/current, so a USB-C charger delivers no power. Many such devices still accept physical USB-C connectors, creating the appearance of compatibility while failing to charge. By contrast, USB-A ports provide a default 5V without negotiation, so a USB-A power source or a USB-A-to-USB-C cable can restore charging. Portable accessories, like low-cost thermal label printers with built-in batteries, commonly exhibit this limitation and may be supplied with USB-A-to-USB-A cables as a giveaway.
Read at ZDNET
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