Mumbai, Nov 26(AZINS) It wasn't too long ago when we reported about the OnePlus2's USB Type-C cable not being up to scratch. Google Chromebook engineer Benson Leung, while on a crusade to rid the online market of sub-standard USB Type-C charging cables, spotted  something amiss with OnePlus' offering. Specifically, that it's build was not up to international standard. The company has since responded with a message to its customers.

 

Their statement, on the OnePlus forum here, acknowledges the problem with the cable, saying, "Recently it has come to our attention that two of our products, the OnePlus Type-C cable and the OnePlus USB Type-C adapter, are using a resistor that may not be fully compatible with some third-party devices.......Our cable and adapter use a 10kO resistor, but according to version 1.1 of the Type-C port standard, these products should be using a 56kO resistor. The issue is that the cable and adapter are designed for a maximum of 2 amps of power, but the resistor will allow fast-charging devices to try to draw more power than a power source may allow. This could result in damage to the power source (third-party charger, USB port, etc.) if the device and power source do not have an internal mechanism to self-regulate the amount of power flowing to or from them. Typically, if a charger has a CE, UL or CCC logo on it, it has been certified and is safe to use."

What that basically means is that, since the OnePlus cable has a lower rated resistor, a third-party charger can be problematic if it doesn't have any power draw regulation of its own. For example, if you connect a device that supports fast-charging to the OnePlus USB Type-C cable, which in turn is plugged into a third-party adapter, that could make the device draw more power than the adapter is capable of handling, thus damaging it or the device itself. It's important to note however that, if you're only using OnePlus' cable to charge your OnePlus 2, you have nothing to worry about. 

The new Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P, on the other hand, are extremely vulnerable. They're both 3A rated devices, while the OnePlus 2 is 2A. Here's a handy table from OnePlus, in case that got too convoluted.

Thankfully, the message isn't just a shoulder shrug and an apology, OnePlus is trying to rectify the situation. If you've bought a USB Type-C cable through the company's website, they're offering you a refund until December 31, 2015. Note, that only applies to accessory purchases, and not to the cable packaged in the OnePlus 2 box. For customers in North America and Europe, you need to visit this link  and fill out the form with all the relevant information. If your application is approved, you will be refunded directly through PayPal. For those of you in India and China, you need to take the cable or adapter you want to return to your nearest OnePlus repair center, where they'll refund you. 

Additionally, OnePlus is working on bringing out new Type-C cables that fit the standard with 56kO resistors. No date announced yet for when we can expect those in but, looking at the December 31 deadline for refunds of the old cables, that date is hopefully sometime in January at the latest.