Power: follow the negotiated direction

Cable wattage is a limit to verify, not a command to the charger or device.

01 / READ THE QUALIFICATION

What the specification does—and does not—establish.

Published scope, conditions and what remains unknown. Figures are not measured end-to-end performance.
Name or mark	Supported reading and conditions	Do not infer	Authority
60W cable marking	Cable power class, not delivered powerMatch charger output, device input and cable.	No data/video rate follows from wattage.	S511 · USB-IF · S513 · USB-IFChecked 2026-10-11
240W cable marking	Cable power class; USB PD ceiling up to 240WEquipment must support and negotiate the required power.	A cable cannot create a charger voltage or increase a device limit.	S511 · USB-IF · S513 · USB-IFChecked 2026-10-11
Power direction	Separate from data-host and video-source rolesDocument which equipment supplies power.	A laptop sending video need not supply the power.	S513 · USB-IFChecked 2026-10-11
HDMI Cable Power	Power for active cable electronicsBoth source and cable support the feature, or use the cable’s specified auxiliary power.	Not power delivery to a monitor and not a universal adapter supply.	S518 · HDMI Licensing AdministratorChecked 2026-10-11

60W cable marking

Published scope: Cable power class, not delivered power
Conditions: Match charger output, device input and cable.
Do not infer: No data/video rate follows from wattage.
Authority: S511 · USB-IF · S513 · USB-IF
Checked 2026-10-11

240W cable marking

Published scope: Cable power class; USB PD ceiling up to 240W
Conditions: Equipment must support and negotiate the required power.
Do not infer: A cable cannot create a charger voltage or increase a device limit.
Authority: S511 · USB-IF · S513 · USB-IF
Checked 2026-10-11

Power direction

Published scope: Separate from data-host and video-source roles
Conditions: Document which equipment supplies power.
Do not infer: A laptop sending video need not supply the power.
Authority: S513 · USB-IF
Checked 2026-10-11

HDMI Cable Power

Published scope: Power for active cable electronics
Conditions: Both source and cable support the feature, or use the cable’s specified auxiliary power.
Do not infer: Not power delivery to a monitor and not a universal adapter supply.
Authority: S518 · HDMI Licensing Administrator
Checked 2026-10-11

Original concept diagram · not connector geometry, not to scale, not a certification mark. S513 · USB-IF

02 / FOLLOW THE ACTUAL PATH

3 cases. Three honest outcomes.

Supported under stated conditions, excluded within a stated scope, or not established. Only 3 cases belong to this desk; none is a universal compatibility approval.

Not established · not hardware tested

Will a 240W-marked cable make a laptop charge faster?

The cable rating alone cannot establish the negotiated charge power.

Still unknown. Both endpoint power profiles are missing.

Next check. Read charger and laptop specifications before choosing the target power.

Host, cable, destination, power and evidence

Host / source: Charger output profile and per-port allocation.
Cable / intermediary: Correct cable rating and documented condition.
Destination / sink: Laptop input profile at the selected port.
Power direction / supply: Source supplies only a mutually supported negotiated profile.

Basis: source-scoped interpretation. This classifies only the stated proposition, not an entire equipment pairing.

C004K

USB-IF’s January 2026 cable guidance separates data performance from 60W/240W power markings. USB 2.0 Type-C cables can use power-only logos without a displayed data rate.

USB-IF compliance-program markings; not independent authentication or video qualification.

S511 · USB-IF

C040B

USB Power Delivery permits power flow independently of the data-host role and a supported system envelope up to 240W. A powered monitor can charge a laptop while receiving its video.

Negotiated power with suitable equipment and cable, not mandatory power from every port.

S513 · USB-IF

S511 · USB-IF · S513 · USB-IF

Supported under stated conditions · not hardware tested

Can the monitor power a laptop while the laptop sends video?

USB-IF documents this division of power and video roles.

Still unknown. The exact monitor output profile and laptop requirement remain unverified.

Next check. Check video-input and PD-output specifications separately.

Host, cable, destination, power and evidence

Host / source: Laptop supplies video through a supported port.
Cable / intermediary: Cable supports the required video path and negotiated power.
Destination / sink: Monitor accepts video and supplies documented PD output.
Power direction / supply: Monitor → laptop; video travels laptop → monitor.

Basis: source-scoped interpretation. This classifies only the stated proposition, not an entire equipment pairing.

C040B

USB Power Delivery permits power flow independently of the data-host role and a supported system envelope up to 240W. A powered monitor can charge a laptop while receiving its video.

Negotiated power with suitable equipment and cable, not mandatory power from every port.

S513 · USB-IF

Not established · not hardware tested

Is HDMI Cable Power available at this source?

The active cable and source must both support that feature.

Still unknown. Source support is not established by an HDMI version label.

Next check. Check the source manual and cable instructions before relying on connector power.

Host, cable, destination, power and evidence

Host / source: Exact source documentation must identify Cable Power.
Cable / intermediary: Identify the active cable’s required supply and auxiliary connector.
Destination / sink: Display is the video sink, not the cable supply assumption.
Power direction / supply: Use the cable’s specified alternative supply when the source lacks the feature.

Basis: source-scoped interpretation. This classifies only the stated proposition, not an entire equipment pairing.

C008H

HDMI Cable Power requires support from both the active cable and the HDMI source. HDMI LA specifies source/sink direction for active cables and a separate power connector for sources without Cable Power support.

HDMI Cable Power feature scope; follow the exact cable’s instructions. Not monitor power or a universal converter-power rule.

S518 · HDMI Licensing Administrator

Continue to the permanent reference.

Earlier capability-library bookmarks remain available below; the table and cases above use the newer source-scoped observations.

240W is a system capability—not a cable promise

USB Power Delivery overview →

Every USB-C cable has at least two capability questions

USB-C full-featured cable: capabilities to verify →

Retained source-scoped study · 10 October 2026

No. Record the published USB data rate and the cable’s power rating independently, then check support for the required display path and cable length. USB-IF cable labeling distinguishes performance and power; charging-only behavior should not be mistaken for a defective data port.

Data channel: A USB 2.0 Type-C cable may deliver up to 480Mbps even when rated for high charging power.
Power rating: The USB-IF cable guidance distinguishes 60W and 240W cable markings.
Full setup: Display/tunneling support, active cable behavior and endpoint capabilities still need checking.

Do not assume. Buying a charge-rated cable for a high-bandwidth monitor or dock without checking its data/video qualification.

Write down the exact data-rate label and watts on the cable or its model documentation.
Check cable length and whether active signaling imposes special compatibility requirements.
Verify the host and destination requirements for data, display, and power separately.

S040 · USB-IF · S006 · USB-IF · S007 · USB-IF

Original study retained, not newly reinspected or independently approved. Its source-record dates and limits are unchanged.