Nintendo: Use 3rd Party USB Cables With Switch At Your Own Risk

After the massive turmoil generated by the third party dock bricking fiasco, many Nintendo Switch owners are wondering what type of accessories are safe to use for their console.

On the topic of third party chargers and power banks, Nintendo has an answer. The company says before charging the Nintendo Switch console with a power bank, users should “always perform the latest system update”.

In the event you would like to charge your system with a power bank (assuming the power bank has a standard USB-A port), Nintendo recommends players to use the official USB charging cable (product code HAC-010) that comes with the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller and Joy-Con Charging Grip.

If that’s not possible, the company advised players to use a third party USB charging cable with a 56k Ohm resistor. The resistor ensures the correct amount of power is drawn from the power bank to your Nintendo Switch console.

What happens if you don’t use the official charging cable or a third party USB charging cable with a 56k Ohm resistor? Not enough power will be drawn to charge the Switch and it may cause your system to break down.

In other words, if you aren’t using an official charging cable or a cable with a 56k Ohm resistor, you’re at risk of damaging your system.