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Re:Macbook Pro frying USB peripherals by joshvm on Tuesday May 01, 2018 @07:11PM (#16972607)
Ah ok, I misunderstood - yeah it baffles me why manufacturers don't do this. I make it a point to fuse absolutely everything at work, it's a minor expense to save a ton of time later.

Last week I blew up a $100 CO2 sensor because I wired it in backwards. Entirely my fault for not checking the pinout, but a 10 cent diode or a fuse would have saved me.

This is the same issue with telescope controllers. Plenty are rated for 6V absolute maximum, whereas typical power supplies in astro, e.g. the power tanks, or LiPos are 9V or 12V. Boom. Another $100 when a zener would have saved the day.

Re:Macbook Pro frying USB peripherals by zaarn on Wednesday May 02, 2018 @03:13AM (#16974811)
A zener costs atleast 2 cents a piece when ordered in bulk. That's 2 ENTIRE CENTS LESS PROFIT!1!
Re:Macbook Pro frying USB peripherals by jowsie on Wednesday May 02, 2018 @07:11AM (#16975799)
You laugh, but that could be a significant part of the profit for some Chinese peripherals.