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The USB micro-B and C cable tester identifies functionalities supported by USB cables. It helps figuring out if a USB cable is for charging or to transfer data. It supports type A to micro-B, A to C, and C to C USB cables.

usage

  • ensure the tester has a non-empty battery in the CR2032/2025, or is externally powered through the USB power port
  • plug one end of the cable in one of the host ports
  • plug the other end of the cable in one of the devices ports
  • the tester will identify the cable's capabilities

design choice

features

do:

  • USB micro-B: still wide-spread and popular for charging devices
  • USB type-A: still the de-facto host plug
  • USB type-C: becoming the standard for battery operated devices
  • C to C: often used for high power charging of phones and laptops
  • battery operated: it's a very simple device, and this avoids needing to require external power
  • power port: in case you have no battery or it runs out
  • USB 3.0: because it is hard to identify if C-C cable support Super-Speed

don't:

  • small: no need to build it as compact as possible
  • A or micro-B 3.0: the connectors that support it are obvious, and it's rare they are used for anything else than Super-Speed transfer (plus they are less common or problematic)
  • Power Delivery capabilities: this requires complex host software communicating with the eMarker chip in the cable
  • OTG: even if detecting this functionality is easy, micro-B OTG adapters are not popular anymore

future:

  • interpret the supported functionalities to show the cable purpose
  • show a simple cable type result, and not just the individual capabilities

alternatives