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Live on Kickstarter: Tiny USB 2.5W V/I controllable power supply
Posted by brrup on 06 Dec, 2018 09:44 -
Hello,
Update 05/2021: Project Relaunch Now
The first campaign in 2019 failed, so more than two years later after finishing the project in my spare time, there is a relaunch now!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/507351807/sirubox-the-v-i-controllable-power-supply-for-your-pocket
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here is a link to my first Kickstarter project I started some days ago, maybe it will be interesting for some of you:
I developed a tiny USB 2.0 variable power supply with controllable voltage and current:- Voltage from 0 to 15V with current up to 600mA (2.5W)
- Controllable via onboard web server (no driver installation for many OS)
- Remote control is simple using the Rest API
Bruno
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Wow!!! Great job man!!!
I’m really interested to buy one, can you explain the difference from the early bird and the special offer? -
Hi, Thank you!
Cool if you like this tool. There is no difference, the Early Bird is just limited in quantity but reduced in price. -
That's a jolly clever idea and implementation.
Just a couple of questions...
Is there any security on the web server? What's to stop someone else whacking up the volts to blow my project up?
Can the web server be modified to allow setting of volts/current without actually changing the output until so 'apply' button is pressed? I am thinking that clicking spinners on edit boxes could lead to tears given a mis-click or wheel scroll, so being able to hold back changes until they are known to be correct could be useful.
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Thank you.
Generally, the web server is running on the device itself, your computer will not share it to the outside would. The siru.box adds as a separate virtual ethernet device when its is connected via USB using the RNDIS protocol. (It is the same concept mobile internet sticks are using).
There is a nice RNDIS example project for STM32 discovery board, if you are interested: https://github.com/fetisov/lrndis .
But if there is someone sitting in front of your computer, or hacked into your computer, there is no additional security on the web access planned. This would also complicate the simple Rest API access for scripts.
To prevent form accidentally changes, there are different ideas in my mind. There will be a setup area to adapt the handling to what you want.
Possible options might be:
[ ] Show confirmation dialog on changes
[ ] Show additional apply button
If there are better ideas, I will try to do my best to implement them.
Another option here will be to setup a startup voltage/current. (On default, the output will be disabled.)
With this startup setting, you can power the device by a micro USB battery charger without being connected to the PC. -
Ah, excellent. I got the wrong end of the stick and assumed it used wifi or something to be like any other IoT kit and available to any passing browser (my phone, for instance). I see now that it isn't like that
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Very cool indeed!
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Nice!
All the EE should have one of this in the Laptop bag!
In the next version please consider to crank up the current to 2A, almost all the USB ports today can deliver 2A.
Don't know what to do, either buy it now and hack it. Or wait for the next >600mA version... -
Excellent idea and great implementation.
Backed.
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Looks kinda nice, especially for quick hack jobs where you don't want to go to your lab.
Price is good too.
But it looks like common GND with your USB, which would be a big NO for me.
It's not safe for your computer and not really usable for general purpose work.
Go with full galvanic isolation (by optocoupler or DC free protocol over inductor), even if it costs more, it makes the difference between a toy and a lab instument, IMO. -
Any chance of a USB CDC serial port interface? Could be an easier to use alternative to the RESTful interface. Making a composite USB device to handle the RNDIS network interface and the CDC serial interface might be a bit too much hassle though. In that case, maybe a basic telnet interface instead?
My other minor request would be some way of changing the background colour on the web interface. Bright yellow needs
What zucca said about increased current capability. -
I too think it's a great idea. But like already posted, if the device does not isolated ground from the PC to the DUT then I wouldn't want to use it.
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The siru.box adds as a separate virtual ethernet device when its is connected via USB using the RNDIS protocol. (It is the same concept mobile internet sticks are using).
I wonder if this could be an issue in a company environment. Usually admins in a company aren't happy it you try to add ethernet devices to your PC. Most certainly using mobile internet sticks is forbidden in most companies as this would circumvent the firewall. So chances are that installing virtual ethernet devices is forbidden or even impossible in many companies. -
Galvanic isolation is the best ofc, but has significant disadvantages (cost, physical size, limited current capability). You can get away instead with proper protections, meaning output over-voltage, over-current, and reverse-current protections. Considering the lack of isolation otherwise, I'd say these are mandatory or else many users will ruin their computer's ports.
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What's the issue with DUT ground? I realise that if the DUT ground is not PSU negative then there could be issues, but you wouldn't connect PSU positive to some random track and expect it all to survive, right? It's not like a BNC socket is going harbour 240VAC on it without you knowing.
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Very clever. Good idea. But overpriced IMO.
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I have couple of questions before goes on with my order:
- I was supposed that the max current of a generic USB laptop port is 500mA... am I worng? How can you reach 600mA 15V? Sorry I'm a beginner
- I'd like to use your power supply connecting it to my MacBook 12" through an usb-c/usb adapter or with an usb-c hub. Will it works fine?
- Is there any rick for my MacBook? May I damage it in case of reverse polarity conenction, over voltage or.....
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- I was supposed that the max current of a generic USB laptop port is 500mA... am I worng? How can you reach 600mA 15V?
It doesn't. Look at the graph marked "Current output limitation at 2.5W" and you'll see the maximum current drops as the output voltage rises. 2.5W / 15V = ~166mA if this PSU was 100% efficient which it can't be.I'd like to use your power supply connecting it to my MacBook 12" through an usb-c/usb adapter or with an usb-c hub.
USB-C is backwards compatible if you have a suitable adapter. If other USB-A devices that want 5V at 500mA work okay with your adapter or hub then so should this PSU.Is there any rick for my MacBook? May I damage it in case of reverse polarity conenction, over voltage or.....
brrup will have to answer this one and state what protection circuitry is part of the design. This is what most of the other replies are concerned about. -
Thanks for response!
Yes, as first I'd like to understood if is there a good protection/de-coupling to prevent damages on my laptop -
Yeah the price is a little on the high side, but otherwise it's a nice idea; be on the lookout for chinese clones popping up on aliexpress before your campaign even finishes!
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Anyway... can't wait! I've just ordered one Early Bird so I'm a backer of your project man!
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You all are right, GND is on USB GND. Having it isolated would be cool, but it also would increase the costs, and maybe the size. I decided to start with the simplest variant, my budget and time is very limited.
Cool, thank you Markino!
The answer was already given, with USB 2.0 we are limited to 500mA @ 5V = 2.5W.
There is a graph showing possible output current down on the Kickstarter page.
I really like the idea having a 15W version based on Type-C, however its the same argument, for me this can only be the second step, and it will again come with additional costs in components.
There are several mechanisms to prevent the USB Host from damages:
On software level, I got good results with an additional interrupt handler on output shortcut situations, that guarantees that input current always fits the USB 2.0 specification.
Additional, when USB input voltage is falling down a specified mark (e.g. 4.75V) the output current is reduced automatically. (A message will be shown that there is a problem with your input). When falling down again, the output will be disabled.
For the situation things go really wrong, I added a PPTC resettable fuse to protect computer from consequences.
Maye I can add a video, showing the noise on USB line with the oscilloscope while doing shortcuts on the output. Will do this next week.
As RNDIS is a Microsoft concept, you have to install the HoRNDIS driver on Apple products: https://joshuawise.com/horndis
I never tested your usb-c/usb adapter combination, but as siru.box acts the same way all other USB devices do, I can't find a reason why it should not work. -
Thank you so much Brrup and keep up the great job!
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Just backed - great project
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One can never have too many power supplies! I just ordered one! Great work!