USB charger

[Roobarb]

I've just bought a rechargeable dental water flosser that doesn't have a charging plug, just a USB lead. Will it be okay for me to use this with my phone charging plug that has a USB socket? I don't want to do anything that would damage the plug but neither do I want to buy yet another plug if it's not necessary.
(Have just bought a new tablet that comes with what I believe is known as a USB C fitting and doesn't fit anything so had to spend a tenner on a plug as well!).

Why do they have to keep changing these things? 

[RJ_Paton]

I've just bought a rechargeable dental water flosser that doesn't have a charging plug, just a USB lead. Will it be okay for me to use this with my phone charging plug that has a USB socket? I don't want to do anything that would damage the plug but neither do I want to buy yet another plug if it's not necessary.

There shouldn't be any problems

Why do they have to keep changing these things? 

Improvements in the design and function of the units and partially economics as the EU directed a single interface be used on all such devices and it is cheaper for the manufacturers to create one interface rather than different connectors for different markets.

[martin hooper]

Yes you'll be ok to use any USB charger. It's the device itself that limits the charging current.

Martin

[purlin]

As I understand it USB cables are capable of dealing with a range of voltages ie from 5-20volts.  However, the individual USB sockets can vary eg USB 2 and 3 are 5volts whilst USB c can be anything from 5-20volts.  As long as the cable you have fits both the flosser and the charger then all should be well.

[Roobarb]

Thanks everyone, that's useful information. 

As soon as I'd posted I realised that the changes were probably related to saving the manufacturers money but I wasn't aware of the EU directive. Hopefully I'll be able to use the plug I've bought for the tablet for future purchases of devices with a USB  C cable.

[Zaphod99]

I was surprised by the earlier replies.  I searched for "fires wrong usb cable plug", and I suggest that you do the same.

I can't believe that it doesn't say what it was supplied with on EVERY PLUG AND CABLE supplied with a device.  I always put a luggage tag on any USB cable and/or plug that I acquire, detailing what it came with, and reserve them for the original device.  I started doing that after discovering a cable I was using was too hot to touch, and started to melt before I found something to use to remove it.

The above search will list many differing views, and reports of fires from using incompatible parts.

Zaph

[RJ_Paton]

I was surprised by the earlier replies.  I searched for "fires wrong usb cable plug", and I suggest that you do the same.

I suggest that you read some of those articles - they refer to the dangers in using cheap knock off cables.
Try searching "can i use my usb charger to charge other devices" instead.

I can't believe that it doesn't say what it was supplied with on EVERY PLUG AND CABLE supplied with a device.  I always put a luggage tag on any USB cable and/or plug that I acquire, detailing what it came with, and reserve them for the original device.  I started doing that after discovering a cable I was using was too hot to touch, and started to melt before I found something to use to remove it.
Zaph

For some time now manufacturers have been reducing the equipment they supply with any device that requires USB charging to the extent that many now no longer even supply a cable let alone a charge plug. The argument is generally along the lines of "reducing" the amount of electrical waste in society (basically the same argument put forward in respect of one connector fits all).

[Jo6100]

As a side note, I have found these type of adapters useful as we seem to have more usb plugs than usb-c
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Adapter-Charger-Connector-Mini-Led-Generation-Black/dp/B07Z662186/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=24O0JK0GPOPBO&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.JK_8XNchMGCLDpEI2rH-XmArH-OK1FgKNCc3X6bOABB1LCKD27qgTSSE56KTad9GkFylcri_M8LDm13DCey5BqtySt3nOVHxMGN7EpacBTPMNtPP_JEyC1aK6mzaIYJYoToxt_D58ZW-wP3x_cTlSzr3ghKLVlcHBrADcf7NO1IBkMGkFPgwVejFn4x9zqYUvKeyMC1y6vB7FJSMwOtPGunlVU8rmRqhyzR-F5DDxDnoFuVGhYaHh8DhVGt8pT1Cnn0c2U_xVCj1_gahX5YIKoXO38KdMpr4GX9lP5JdEiE.BpR0stOSJRdhGmSpL6KYHMKfJ9Efdttq9UMFtBHX0Z4&dib_tag=se&keywords=usb%2Bto%2Busb%2Bc%2Badapter&qid=1762850379&s=electronics&sprefix=Usb%2Celectronics%2C99&sr=1-2-spons&aref=4Nn7v0bgcY&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1

[Kiltaglassan]

As a side note, I have found these type of adapters useful as we seem to have more usb plugs than usb-c
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Adapter-Charger-Connector-Mini-Led-Generation-Black/dp/B07Z662186/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=24O0JK0GPOPBO&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.JK_8XNchMGCLDpEI2rH-XmArH-OK1FgKNCc3X6bOABB1LCKD27qgTSSE56KTad9GkFylcri_M8LDm13DCey5BqtySt3nOVHxMGN7EpacBTPMNtPP_JEyC1aK6mzaIYJYoToxt_D58ZW-wP3x_cTlSzr3ghKLVlcHBrADcf7NO1IBkMGkFPgwVejFn4x9zqYUvKeyMC1y6vB7FJSMwOtPGunlVU8rmRqhyzR-F5DDxDnoFuVGhYaHh8DhVGt8pT1Cnn0c2U_xVCj1_gahX5YIKoXO38KdMpr4GX9lP5JdEiE.BpR0stOSJRdhGmSpL6KYHMKfJ9Efdttq9UMFtBHX0Z4&dib_tag=se&keywords=usb%2Bto%2Busb%2Bc%2Badapter&qid=1762850379&s=electronics&sprefix=Usb%2Celectronics%2C99&sr=1-2-spons&aref=4Nn7v0bgcY&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1

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