This PD Trigger Board Features a Potentiometer – Adjust Output Voltage

Engineer and designer Vincent “CentyVin” has designed a simplified USB-C PD (Power Delivery) based PPS (Programmable Power Supply) trigger board, that allows users to easily set different output voltages by simply using a potentiometer.

CentyVin in his Hackday Post Explains that this board is

A much simplified USB-C PD and PPS trigger board, [that]  allow users to select arbitrary voltage from PPS-capable power brick via potentiometer

Vincent mentioned that the board includes Diodes Incorporated’s AP33772 USB PD Sink Controller, along with an RP2040 that sends instructions to the PD controller and the PD controller then sets the output voltage. The device prioritizes using the PPS profile; if unavailable or the voltage range is insufficient, it switches to a fixed PDO.

In the board, there are jumpers through which fixed outputs of 5V, 9V, 12V, 15V, or 20V, can be set quickly. But by default, you can adjust voltage through a potentiometer. You can also use the potentiometer to select a voltage during boot-up, which remains constant until the next restart.

In a brief test using a UGREEN 140W charger, the board effectively accessed the full 3.3V to 21V range. A 15-minute stress test at 20V 5A showed the board’s temperature reaching 62C, within the safe operating limit of 85C for all onboard ICs.

Feature of  PD Trigger Board:

• Simplified USB-C PD and PPS trigger board.
• Arbitrary voltage selection via potentiometer.
• Jumpers for fixed 5V, 9V, 12V, 15V, 20V outputs.
• Voltage remains constant after board reboot.
• Uses AP33772_CPP library for efficient USB-PD operation.
• Compatible with various USB-C chargers.
• Stable in 15-minute stress test at 20V 5A.
• Option for custom screw terminals.

Though the device allows voltage adjustment via a potentiometer one concerning thing is that the device has no current limit. Drawing more current than the charger’s rating will cause it to reset as a standard USB-PD safety feature.

Nguyen has now launched a limited batch of the PPSTrigger boards for sale on Tindie at $9.50 each. For further details and updates, visit his project on the Hackaday.

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