Smallest USB-C PD Controller Using CH224K

For more info: https://www.hackster.io/sainisagar7294/smallest-usb-c-pd-controller-using-ch224k-135ff8

The smallest USB-C PD controller board

Most of the time I am away from my loved stuff, my LAB! I can not carry the big bulky adapter with me having different voltages and all, that’s why I purchased a 65W one, which has USB-C. My adapter supports a lot of changing protocols and one of them is USB-C Power Delivery (PD). My idea is to make a simple PD interfacing device as small as possible so that it can be inserted into small housings.

The CH224K

The CH224K is a USB-C PD fast-charging protocol receiver chip. It is designed to request higher voltages from a PD adapter without using a microcontroller. It supports USB PD 3.0 (up to 100W) and 5V / 9V / 12V / 15V / 20V with a simple resistor configuration, a built-in internal regulator and protection features. The CH224K handles the entire PD handshake, allowing the board to behave like a smart power jack. Just plug in a USB-C PD adapter, and the required voltage appears at the output.

The final PCB is extremely small

For a minimal design, voltage is fixed at PCB level, so no frequent switching is required. The configuration resistors are put on the bottom layer so they are easily accessible and we can change the voltage. There are no high-frequency components, making the design electrically quiet and easy to debug. The final PCB is extremely small, making it suitable for embedded use inside enclosures where traditional adapters simply don’t fit.

Testing with a 12V source

I set the configuration CFG3 to 1, shorted the back pad, plugged the USB-C into my power bank that supports the same voltage, and measured the voltage, it's 12V, pretty accurate. By plugging in a 65W adapter we are able to sweep the voltage 0–20V and then current 0–3A.

USB-C PD is no longer just for phones and laptops. With chips like CH224K, designers can finally tap into that ecosystem without complexity. My aim is to reduce the enclosure size and eliminate bulky adapters.

#usb power delivery#