USB Type-C Power Delivery Cable Test
Keywords：USB Type C，USB PD2.0，USB PD3.0，USB PD3.2
Foreword
Apple's Lightning interface was splendidly launched in 2012 with the two major advantages of small size and the fact that it is reverse insertion. It became a rivalry to the USB Mini-A, Mini-B, Micro-A, Micro- B, and its advantages undoubtedly bring considerable competitive pressure to the USB standard.
The USB Association learned from Lightning’s design concept and launched a Type C connector that adopts reversible design in 2014 to improve the user experience. Starting from 2024, the EU regulation stipulates that all small electronic devices, including mobile phones, tablets, cameras, headsets, handheld game consoles, portable speakers, e-books, keyboards, mice, and portable navigation (enforcement date is December 28, 2024) and laptops (enforcement date April 28, 2026) must use USB-Type C as the charging interface.
This regulation aims to reduce electronic waste and improve consumer convenience. In the wake of switching to Type C interface for Apple’s iPhone 15 launch in 2023, more than 10 years of portable product interface competition has also come to an end.
The era of USB unification
With the support of many manufacturers and EU regulations, USB has become the dominant external interface for 3C products.
Type C connector and cable: small in size, can be used reversibly.
USB4 provides high-speed data transmission: Up to 80Gbps
USB PD3.2 power delivery: maximum power of 240W.
|
Name |
Rate |
Other names |
|
USB Basic Speed |
1.5Mbps or 12Mbps |
USB1.0/USB1.1 |
|
USB High Speed |
480Mbps |
USB2.0 |
|
USB 5G (Super Speed) |
5Gbps |
USB3.0 or USB3.1 Gen 1 or USB3.2 Gen 1 |
|
USB 10G (Super Speed+) |
10Gbps |
USB3.1 Gen 2 or USB3.2 Gen 2 |
|
USB 20G (Super Speed+) |
20Gbps (10Gbps x2) |
USB3.2 Gen2x2 |
|
USB 20G |
20Gbps (10Gbps x2) |
USB4 Gen 2×2 (2019/9) |
|
USB 40G |
40Gbps (20Gbps x2) |
USB4 Gen 3×2 (2019/9) |
|
USB 80G |
80Gbps (40Gbps x2) |
USB4 Ver2.0 or USB4 Gen4 (2022/10/18) |
Table 1: USB speed specification table
USB PD (Power Delivery) Summarized Specifications
Devices with USB PD capabilities: Host / Device / Hub / Charger.
Charging modes: Fixed Voltage Charging Models / Programmable Power Supply (PPS) Charging Models / Adjustable Voltage Supply (AVS) Charging Models.
|
Power Range |
Available Current and Voltages |
PDP Range |
Notes |
|
Standard Power Range (SPR) |
3A: 5V, 9V, 15V, 20V 5A1: 20V |
15 – 60W >60 – 100W |
|
|
Extended Power Range (EPR) |
3A2: 5V, 9V, 15V, 20V 5A2: 20V 5A2: 28V, 36V, 48V |
15 – 60W >60 – 100W >100 – 240W |
Requires entry into EPR Mode |
Table 2: Fixed voltage charging mode power range
|
Available Current |
Prog |
Min Voltage (V) |
Max Voltage (V) |
PDP Range |
|
3A |
9V Prog |
5 |
11 |
16 – 60W |
|
|
15V Prog |
5 |
16 |
|
|
|
20V Prog |
5 |
21 |
|
|
5A (Requires 5A cable) |
20V Prog |
5 |
21 |
16 – 60W |
Table 3: Programmable power supply charging mode power range
The power range of the adjustable voltage supply (AVS) charging mode is based on the rated value of the power delivery power range (PDP) to define a set of voltage ranges. The range includes the standard power range SPR mode greater than 27W and the extended power range EPR mode greater than 100W. The maximum current of the standard power range SPR is determined by 15 volts in the range of 9 to 15 volts; and 20 volts in the range of 15 to 20 volts.
|
PDP |
SPR AVS |
EPR AVS |
||||
|
Minimum Voltage(V) |
Maximum Voltage(V) |
Maximum Available Current |
Minimum Voltage(V) |
Maximum Voltage(V) |
Maximum Available Current |
|
|
>27…45W |
9 |
15 |
3A |
N/A |
||
|
>45…60W |
9 |
20 |
3A |
|||
|
>60…100W |
9 |
20 |
5A1 |
|||
|
100…140W |
9 |
20 |
5A2 |
15 |
28 |
5A2 |
|
>140…180W |
9 |
20 |
5A2 |
15 |
36 |
5A2 |
|
>180…240W |
9 |
20 |
5A2 |
15 |
48 |
5A2 |
|
1Requires a 5A Cable 2Requires an EPR Cable |
||||||
Table 4: Adjustable voltage supply charging mode power range
Based on the above working conditions, testing Type C PD cables requires a DC power supply to simulate the operating voltage range of Table 2 to Table 4, and confirm that the cable can withstand the operating current in this range by a DC electronic load.
The recommended models are as follows:
- PSW 80-13.5 programmable power supply specifications: 80V, 13.5A, 360W can meet the needs of fixed voltages 5V, 9V, 15V, 20V, 28V, 36V, and 48V; programmable voltage 5~21V; and adjustable voltage 9~48V and other requirements.
- PEL-504-80-70 electronic load specifications: 80V, 70A, 350W can meet the load requirement of 5A.
The test connection is shown in Figure 1
Figure 1: Testing Type C cable through PSW 80-13.5 programmable power supply and PEL-504-80-70 DC electronic load
Summary
USB cables not only must pass the actual working voltage and current tests, the components of cables including connectors, wires, and jackets, related contact resistance and insulation resistance are also required test items. The following relevant required instruments and important features are for readers’ reference.
Figure 2: Special functions of PSW series power supplies
Figure 3: Features of PEL-500 series
Figure 4: Milliohm meter measurement requirements for contact resistance and related precision resistance measurement
Figure 5: GPT-10000 series safety tester equipped with V-I curve to truly confirm the breakdown voltage of insulation materials
References
1：Universal Serial Bus 4 (USB4®) Specification, Version 2.0, October 2022
2：Welcome the USB4-80Gbps ultra-high-speed era (Granite River Labs, GRL Sandy Chang)
https://www.graniteriverlabs.com/zh-tw/technical-blog/usb4-80-cio80
3：Wikipedia
3-1：https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-tw/USB
3-2：https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB4
3-3：https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB_Power_Delivery
4：Universal Serial Bus Power Delivery Specification, Revision:3.2 Version:1.0 Release date:2023-10
Contact Us:
Diana
Digital Service Specialist
E-mail: diana@goodwill.com.tw