wa8yxm wrote:
First.. Data cables have all their leads.. A "Charging" cable may not have the data wires in place... but usually does.. A Data cable SHOULD work for charging, a charging cable MAY work for data (Note the lesser likelyhood of "May" as opposed to "Should")
The other thign. .There are 4 different USB "Device" ends
B (The large one like on your printer
Mini (Used on my Android Tablet
Micro (Used on my cell phone)
Special (I have no idea what the dang thing is called) used on my Bullet Speaker
So long as the ends match however any matching cable works with all devices it fits.
Actually more complicated than that. More than you want to know here:
Wikipedia USBThe "large one" actually has Type A and Type B ends NORMALLY. Most have Type A ends at the Source/Host end. There are both Mini-A, Mini-B, Micro-A and Micro-B flavors at the Client end.
As for OP's question, a charging only cable will not carry data as the data pins are shorted. I understand that allows more amps for faster charging. An an engineer needs to pop up to verify that.
Some devices do have proprietary connectors. Mixing and matching can result in no connection or the device being bricked. Samsung reportedly is going to add a chip to their connectors. If it is not a Samsung cable, it will not handshake and connect. WONDERFUL. We'll have to carry around several dedicated $30 cables everywhere we go.
