When I connect a USB C cable to my Anker PowerPort 5 and Macbook, it creates a high pitch noise. Has anyone else experienced this?
I’ve tested it without the Anker PowerPort and there is not a similar noise.
PowerPort 5 - USB C cable high pitch noise
1 Like
Hey @irvingho
Over time electrical devices can create high pitched noises.
Its generally down to internal components vibrating at s high frequency.
Manufactures use glue to reduce the huh pitch noise coils make while passing current.
My PowerPort 5 doesn’t do this but other chargers do.
Generally its not a problem but as @Insider mentions, contact support as they might choose to exchange it for you. Just send them your purchase details in the email too.
Please let us know how you get on.
All the best.
1 Like
Powerport 5 uses an unearthed C7 cable. All (all!) electrical devices in unearthered power make an electrical high pithed sound, younger people can usually hear it, older cannot.
The longer the cables the worse it is because the resonant frequency moves down from it annoying dogs and young people to everyone. By inserting the Powerport you’re making the total cable length longer.
Try tying a knot in one of the wires.
Where this originates is the fact electricity is AC, so it causes small electrical induction in everything, the earth wire feeds this induced energy back away. The 50Hz/60hz induction then causes resonant inductions which can become audible, so slightly modifying the cable length can just move it off resonsance.
The dangerous noises are low pitch then it’s a high resistance short and unsafe.
Thanks, the issue is with the USB C cable (I’ve tried an Apple one and Amazon basics but same result). The high pitched noise only results when the USB C cable is plugged into the Anker Powerport 5. When I plug into my Anker GaN Tech wall charger, there is no noise.
The wall charger by definition is on end of a shorter cable than the Powerport 5.
And when you say no noise, no human detectable noise.
If you used say one of the 3 prong Powerstrips, it should take back to Earth the induction voltages.
You can of course email support@anker.com with concerns and resolve with them.
If the Universe did not include induction then you’d not be able to see this message as nearly all electronics actually rely on it. It exists as one of the foundations of the 4 forces of the Universe. You usually don’t notice it because human perception is too narrow and its usually bad luck you notice what exist in everything around you continually.
Back in old analogue radio transmission days, as everthing electrical has a natural resonant frequency, in some situations you’d find unwanted reception of radio signals including some people got it induced in their false teeth.
If you can hear it, then it can be a sign of a failing system, the lower the frequency the nearer it is to the originating power. Anything a low hum is likely to kill.
I would stop using the cable right away
Technically it is not the cable but the charger, the Powerport 5, which I think you meant to say should stopped being used? Hum is when using Powerport not using a wall charger. You think it’s the USB-C cable itself? If so, why?
I just re-read the topic and I realize I read it wrong the first time, I apologize lol
Yea maybe it’s the powerport
1 Like
Well if that were the case then the same Powerport with a different cable would help eliminate…
So you have to change every part of the equation to solve the equation. These resonance effects tend to only happen in specific combinations, so that cable+Powerport how does it sound in another device?
If the Powerport rang with different cables and different devices, it’s the Powerport’s fault. If the swapping of the cable solves the problem it is more likely the cable’s fault. The issue with resonance is it requires harmonics which are impacted by physical dimensions, so size, shape.
It is the low band sounds to worry about, because the higher harmonics are due to harmonics from harmonics. The 2nd order harmonics are inductions off inductions and the energy level goes down by the square. So a high pitched noise has to be from low energy 2rd or higher order resonances. The low pitch noises are from lower order harmonics so higher energy. Of the resonance, not the sound itself. It’s the same way a crystal radio works, you can get energy by setting up the resonance by altering the capacitance, i.e. the moving the coil.
Have you felt the lower order resonance by rubbing finger over an un-earthed device while charging?
I pretty much can predict what Anker support will say “we’ll swap it if you have a concern”. Changing any part of the system moves the harmonic from audible to unaudible.
1 Like
Sorry for the late reply but I agree with you
I would try and change different parts until I get to the root of the problem
2 Likes
If possible, would you please try a different wall charger and cable to see if the same issue happens?
Yes, I tried different wall charger, different cable and different laptop. The high pitched noise only occurs with the Anker Powerport 5. My Powerport 5 is out of warranty, so I will have to just throw it out or use only with USB A devices (which doesn’t create the high pitched noise).
Just get another one
1 Like