🔧 Tool of the Week
PicoPD Pro A Pico‑form factor dev board that makes USB‑PD/PPS/AVS work with an RP2040 — useful for testing chargers, negotiating voltages, and building PD‑aware bench supplies. 🔗 https://github.com/CentyLab/PicoPD_Pro. (github.com)
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🛒 Deals & Finds
- Twonkie (assembled PD sniffer)
– If you need a ready‑to‑use USB‑PD sniffer/injector (saves the headache of hand‑assembling tiny SMT parts). 🔗 https://shop.3mdeb.com/product/twonkie-usb-c-sniffer/. (shop.3mdeb.com)
- USB‑C Power/Data Splitter (Tindie / PiKVM style)
– Handy to separate PD power from host data for debugging or using a high‑power charger while keeping data connected. 🔗 https://www.tindie.com/products/rkoripalli/usb-c-powerdata-splitter/
- PPSTrigger V2.2 (PPS trigger / current limit)
– Cheap board to request PPS voltages and set current limits for bench experiments. Good companion to PD sniffer or PicoPD. 🔗 https://lectronz.com/products/ppstriggerv2-potentiometer-with-cv-cc-mode
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🧪 Cool Build
Twonkie (open hardware USB‑PD sniffer / injector) A practical, hand‑buildable rework of Google’s Twinkie PD sniffer—captures BMC PD frames and measures VBUS; great for understanding what chargers actually negotiate. Good docs, BOM, and firmware on the repo. 🔗 https://github.com/dojoe/Twonkie. (github.com)
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📚 Worth Reading
- USB‑C power input: a practical design checklist – Short, practical PCB/design checklist for replacing barrel jacks with USB‑C and PD. 🔗 https://dvar.co.uk/usb-c-power-input-design-checklist/. (dvar.co.uk)
- Component and layout rules for USB‑C, PD, and CMTI (EDN) – Layout rules and component guidance focused on reliability under real‑world stress. 🔗 https://www.edn.com/component-and-layout-rules-for-usb-c-pd-and-cmti/. (edn.com)
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⚡ Quick Hits
- pd_logger — small DIY USB‑C PD logger (GitHub). 🔗 https://github.com/lhm0/pd_logger.
- EPRTwinkie — EPR (PD 3.1) capable Twinkie variant (GitHub). 🔗 https://github.com/UnifiedEngineering/EPRTwinkie.
- whatcable — macOS app to decode cable capabilities (useful when debugging PD/cable limits). 🔗 https://github.com/darrylmorley/whatcable
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📺 Cool Videos
- USB‑C Power Delivery Hardware Design — Phil's Lab
– Practical walkthrough of PD hardware choices, CC routing, and PD IC placement. 🔗 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W13HNsoHj7A
- EEVblog — TS80P Portable USB PD Soldering Iron Review
– Good teardown / PD use case for a PD‑powered tool. Useful if you’re testing PD power docks or charging supplies. 🔗 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xy3Jg_Wukg