3 ms·

Often you can convert things yourself. Back in the day USB only provided 5V, so anything that needed 12V still used a barrel plug wall wart. But nowadays you sh

Often you can convert things yourself. Back in the day USB only provided 5V, so anything that needed 12V still used a barrel plug wall wart. But nowadays you should be able to have simple breakout boards that negotiate PD to deliver the correct voltage (or correct "enough" that the thing can still operate, eg 14V instead of 12V). I've been converting some of my more problematic devices, for example here's a pretty clean conversion I did of my Wii U Gamepad back in the day. That was before USB C ports and cables were easily available, so I went with micro. USB C wasn't even a consideration back then. https://imgur.com/gallery/cx2gzxQ https://imgur.com/gallery/cx2gzxQ

joshspankit 4y ago
For anyone who wants to do this: it’s not that easy with PD. I have a dozen USB-C PD bricks of various brands. Only 3 of them properly provide 12v, and one of those only does it properly when there are no other devices plugged in to it’s 3 ports.
- boltzmann-brain 4y ago
  Which is why you use a buck-boost converter if you want to get a specific voltage above 5V out of a usb wall wart.
  - joshspankit 4y ago
    I’m no electronics expert, but that seems iffy... Personally I would love to use USB-C PD for longer strings of 12V APA RGB LEDs as interior lights. In that case: not only is voltage a concern but also total wattage, heat, and long-term reliability. Is 60 or even 100W through a boost converter actually safe and easy?
    - fragmede 4y ago
      Boost converter's the technology and can be done as safely or as dangerously as you'd like. Waiting for a totally safe commercial product will take longer than DIY, naturally.
    - boltzmann-brain 4y ago
      There's nothing inherently unsafe about buck-boost converters, they are used on millions of every day products, including the highest end of high tech stuff like motherboards and gpus. If a circuit is in itself safe (it might not be if it's executed poorly), then safety of the whole device depends on how you're using that circuit. 100W is just as fine as 1W. It just depends on whether you're being scammed. If you don't have the knowledge to find out whether what you're doing is safe... don't do it.
      - joshspankit 4y ago
        You’re agreeing with me then: it’s not inherently safe for me to use a buck-boost converter.
zrail 4y ago
I have a number of Dell Wyse 3040 thin clients (5v version, there's also a 12v version) scattered around my property. I've converted two of them to PoE by the simple expedient of buying a USB PoE splitter, cutting off the USB connector, and soldering on the appropriate barrel connector (for future searchers: 4mm x 1.7mm, pin == positive). I also just purchased some pre-made USB-A to 4mm x 1.7mm cables to try out on the rest.

joshspankit 4y ago

For anyone who wants to do this: it’s not that easy with PD. I have a dozen USB-C PD bricks of various brands. Only 3 of them properly provide 12v, and one of those only does it properly when there are no other devices plugged in to it’s 3 ports.

boltzmann-brain 4y ago
Which is why you use a buck-boost converter if you want to get a specific voltage above 5V out of a usb wall wart.
- joshspankit 4y ago
  I’m no electronics expert, but that seems iffy... Personally I would love to use USB-C PD for longer strings of 12V APA RGB LEDs as interior lights. In that case: not only is voltage a concern but also total wattage, heat, and long-term reliability. Is 60 or even 100W through a boost converter actually safe and easy?
  - fragmede 4y ago
    Boost converter's the technology and can be done as safely or as dangerously as you'd like. Waiting for a totally safe commercial product will take longer than DIY, naturally.
  - boltzmann-brain 4y ago
    There's nothing inherently unsafe about buck-boost converters, they are used on millions of every day products, including the highest end of high tech stuff like motherboards and gpus. If a circuit is in itself safe (it might not be if it's executed poorly), then safety of the whole device depends on how you're using that circuit. 100W is just as fine as 1W. It just depends on whether you're being scammed. If you don't have the knowledge to find out whether what you're doing is safe... don't do it.
    - joshspankit 4y ago
      You’re agreeing with me then: it’s not inherently safe for me to use a buck-boost converter.

zrail 4y ago

I have a number of Dell Wyse 3040 thin clients (5v version, there's also a 12v version) scattered around my property. I've converted two of them to PoE by the simple expedient of buying a USB PoE splitter, cutting off the USB connector, and soldering on the appropriate barrel connector (for future searchers: 4mm x 1.7mm, pin == positive). I also just purchased some pre-made USB-A to 4mm x 1.7mm cables to try out on the rest.