Trouble connecting (chinese) nano with USB-C

Official Hardware Nano Family Classic Nano
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Dear Community,

I have some trouble connecting some chinese nano 3 clone with usb-c connector.
I bought them specifically, because they have the usb-c connector and I could not find an original with usb-c connector (what a sadness)

Unfortunately, when I connect the nano with a usb-c to usb-c cable to my usb-c/thunderbolt port on my laptop, nothing happens. This was tested on multiple ports and with multiple Cables (cheap charging cable, ipad cable, thunderbolt 4 cable)
The connection neither can establish data connection nor power.
I tried to power the nano from external 5 volts source but still the data connection did not work.

When I inserted a USB-A to USB-C cable though, the device worked flawlessly. This is a huge issue for me because my laptop only has 2 usb-a ports reserved for mouse/headset.
In this case I could have gotten a mini-usb nano.

Any ideas on what to look out for or how to bring that thing to live on a usb-c/usb-c connection?

Lg,

Julian

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Can you provide the link to your chinesse Nano with USB-c?

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I wonder how you connected this board through USB-A cable?

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ahh sorry, that was a typo. I used a usb-a (Laptop) to usb-c (nano) cable, which worked but occupied my rare USB-A port on the Laptop

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It's not really an Arduino issue. It's something specific to your laptop, its hardware and its software. For some unknown reason, it may only allow certain types of connections through that USB-C bus.
Mine for instance, will not allow USB-C to HDMI, and forces you to use the HDMI and Display ports.
You can either get a USB hub for the port that supports Arduino boards, or get a different Arduino.

This line concerns me a bit. Does the USB-C port on the laptop still work for other devices now?

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From this it follows that the board itself is working normally. The problem is either in the cables what have you tried, or in the laptop itself

1 Like
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For an original Nano, there is protection.
image

For clones, only God knows :wink: I have a schematic of a CH340 based clone and it also shows the protection.

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The Thunderbolt port on my Laptop still works fine. I thought It might be something driver related or so but my laptop does not recognize the nano at all on that thunderbolt port.

Is it known if there is any plan anytime in the future for original arduinos to support usb-c?

schematic shows:
image

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I doubt that that will happen; the costs of redesign will be too high.

And to be honest, I rather have the bulky solid B connector than those flimsy mini / micro / C connectors; if you look at them, they already break of the board.

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ouff. USB-B on a nano seems quite bulky.

I find type-c connectors stable enough (at least more stable than mini/micro usb). Using my phone quite some years with it now.

What do you do, when your laptop/pc does not come with usb a connectors anymore? Its quite a bummer for me. I wonder what cost more. A redesign or if customers stay away from your product because a key feature for them is missing. I might be an early bird in this case or not. But all my devices are usb-c now (some legacy usb-a still but no mini). And i will not buy mini/micro usb devices anymore. Even my keyboard is usb-c

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I have zero issues running my Arduinos on my USB-C port on my laptop.
Like I said, that's an issue with your laptop specifically.

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ahh thank you. so it should work with usb-c arduinos.

Do you use a usb-c to mini usb cable? Do you have a link to the specific nano model so I can try that out as well?

I have plenty devices on hand which I can test on but I doubt it be an issue with my laptop. If so, I think its a software issue with these drivers

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I have a USB hub that goes C to multiple As. To this I have connected Unos, Megas, genuine as well as aftermarket and mini models, ESP32s, and 32U4s. That is to say there are no issues at all between Arduino and USB-C, nor with the drivers.

There are provisions in the Windows registry that prevent the different USB busses from allowing certain devices, they are set by the manufacturer and translate from the UEFI. You can change them, but it is a painful process and can result in other issues, so I will not explain how.

Go with my first advice and get a hub for your USB-A port.

What laptop do you have? Make, Model, Version of Windows?

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im on a lenovo thinkpad P15s gen 2.

I have all generations of Lenovo yoga and Lenovo Thinkpad for testing at hand as well a several tower-pc's of different brands.
Will test them this week. I didnt get to it yet.

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I wouldn't use a Lenovo product if my life depended on it. They provide a backwards, yellow USB port with a tipped corner for charging, if I'm not mistaken and their UEFI is far outside of industry standards.
There's more wrong with them, but I don't want to rant.
I'd bet a dollar that those are the issue.
Find a different computer with an integrated USB-C port and you should see results.

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I encouter the very same problems :

  1. PC usb-A <=> usb-c nano : ok (data & power)
  2. PC usb-c <=> ubs-c nano : NOK (neither data nor power)
  3. power supply usb-A <=> ubs-c nano : ok
  4. power supply usb-c <=> ubs-c nano : NOK (no power)
    I tried on several PCs, power supplies and cables.
    conclusion : it doesn't work in usb-c to usb-c configurations...

But why ? can it be fixed ? that's the question :slight_smile:

note : the usb-c arduino clone I bought is this one : https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/32859196868.html

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Which PCs exactly, with which OSes?
I have 4 computers in my office, all with USB-C, and not a one of them has this issue.
I'm not doubting that you have the issue, mind you. Rather, I just want to know what hardware to be warry of, as others probably do as well.

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  • lenovo thinkpad X1, OS = Ubuntu : usb-a : ok, usb-c : nok
  • Dell XPS-13, OS = Ubunty : usb-c : nok (there is no usb-a port on this PC)

But as it doesn't work even with an usb-c power delivery, I guess the problem is more on the arduino side.

My guess is that if the Cable is usb-c <=> usb-c, then it expects that the Device is an usb-c device.
But I assume the arduino has plugged only the 4 basic pins of a micro usb. Whereas if it was a "real" usb-c device, it should be able to define its status.
It might be what is explained here, but I lack knowledge to fully understand : Converting devices to USB Type-C - YouTube

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exactly same issue with 2 different heltec boards. they are working when connected via USB-A -> usbC (power only or power+data), but they are not working when connected as usbC -> usbC.

I think the idea with wires could be right. chinese manufacturers probably don't implement usbC spec properly