EEVblog 1606 - $45 AlienTek DP100 100W USB-C PSU REVIEW

• EEVblog 1606 - $45 AlienTek DP100 100W USB-C PSU REVIEW
  Posted by EEVblog on 29 Mar, 2024 21:08
• AlienTek DP100 100W USB-C PSU REVIEW
  https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DeWCLIN
  
  00:00 - AlienTek DP100 100W USB-C PSU Unboxing
  02:43 - Power on and operation
  08:57 - User Manual
  10:01 - Trying USB-C source
  10:44 - Setting Menu
  12:00 - uSupply Inception
  12:55 - Physical size comparison
  13:16 - Teardown
  14:44 - PCB Inspection and design analysis
  18:14 - BOM Consolidation & MOSFET's
  19:15 - USB Power Delivery Chip
  20:46 - MP9928 Buck Converter & PWM Current Limiting
  23:37 - Zero drift opamps
  24:14 - Processor
  24:52 - Connector LED lighting
  26:09 - Housing
  26:39 - DC input testing
  27:28 - Output noise measurement
  28:57 - Classic Dave GOOF
  29:57 - USB-A vs USB-C input noise
  31:37 - Voltage Accuracy test
  32:11 - Real noise measurements
  33:08 - MAGIC SMOKE!
  34:12 - Max 100W load testing
  35:45 - Overshoot and CV/CC mode change testing
  37:35 - Conclusion
  
  
• #1 Reply
  Posted by shapirus on 29 Mar, 2024 23:54
• Looks like a perfect second channel for my single-channel lab PSU to power negative rails and whatnot.
  Nice little thing, indeed, the designers knew what they were doing. Noise figures are impressive, too. Shouldn't be too bad in the EMI department, either.
  
  ...of course this review came just in time, one day after the aliexpress anniversary sale ended, lol. Starts at $52 now. Still good value for the price, I guess.
• #2 Reply
  Posted by ledtester on 30 Mar, 2024 08:38
• There's another thread on this unit here:
  
  https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/dp100-mini-power-supply-(0-30v-0-5a)/
  
  User Dexter2 discovered spikes on the output when the output is turned off under a light load using USB-C power supplies:
  
  https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/dp100-mini-power-supply-(0-30v-0-5a)/msg5418107/#msg5418107
  
  It seems there is a footprint for a cap on the pcb to mitigate this issue but it was left unpopulated:
  
  https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/dp100-mini-power-supply-(0-30v-0-5a)/msg5420219/#msg5420219
  
• #3 Reply
  Posted by DaneLaw on 31 Mar, 2024 03:16
• The fellow behind the open source "SmartKnob"..
  - shows the benefit of WebHID and controlling DP100 from a browser.
  
• #4 Reply
  Posted by AlundrA on 31 Mar, 2024 11:45
• Can someone explain me how they use a microcontroller to control mp9928 and make a digitally controlled CC/CV power source. I mean how one can set digitally constant current or constant voltage point
• #5 Reply
  Posted by pamphonica on 01 Apr, 2024 18:45
• Side question, but where did those dinky binding post to 4mm adapter thingies on pcb come from (at about 30:18), on that power load.  I have a near identical load (Matrix PEL-8150) and I am fed up with having to find thick leads with spade-ends to test psus.  I do wish that they had used beefy binding posts with 4mm holes.
  thanks, Jeremy.
  
• #6 Reply
  Posted by DaneLaw on 01 Apr, 2024 21:58
• Quote from: AlundrA on 31 Mar, 2024 11:45

  Can someone explain me how they use a microcontroller to control mp9928 and make a digitally controlled CC/CV power source. I mean how one can set digitally constant current or constant voltage point
  

  Punctual Atom / AlienTek got quite a lot of development details on the chinese forums when I search for it in November....it also looks like they took user input and Q&A some years back when they created DP100. (2022)
  
  A good part of these videos have been ported to Youtube, but they are still in Chinese and Chinese CC, so not sure how useful they are, but extensive videos on DP100 & STM32.'
  https://www.youtube.com/@alientek_official/videos
  
  Im not familiar with any programs that can translate videos or spoken language on the fly from YT... though some of the newer AI phones, perhaps could do it?
• #7 Reply
  Posted by thm_w on 05 Apr, 2024 21:25
• Quote from: AlundrA on 31 Mar, 2024 11:45

  Can someone explain me how they use a microcontroller to control mp9928 and make a digitally controlled CC/CV power source. I mean how one can set digitally constant current or constant voltage point
  

  
  Use the DAC or PWM output on the microcontroller, feed that into the voltage feedback of the DC/DC.
  For current they might be taking the shunt and also feeding that back to the FB, not sure, you'd have to look at the board.
  
  https://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/640467/is-it-possible-to-control-a-dc-dc-buck-converters-output-voltage-with-the-dac-o
  https://arduino.stackexchange.com/questions/10559/microcontroller-controlled-power-supply
  https://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/39107/can-i-use-a-microcontroller-to-control-the-output-voltage-of-a-switching-powersu
  https://www.naun.org/main/NAUN/circuitssystemssignal/2021/a442005-022(2021).pdf