FusionXvision's BenchVolt PD Aims to Put an Open Source Lab-Grade PSU on Any Desk

Dutch open hardware specialist FusionXvision has opened crowdfunding for a design it says can provide lab-grade programmable power from any USB Type-C Power Delivery (PD) power adapter: the BenchVolt PD.

"BenchVolt PD transforms any USB Type-C power adapter into a versatile, multi-channel laboratory power supply," FusionXvision's Suleyman Yasin Dundar says of the company's latest launch. "Designed for makers, engineers, and professionals, it combines portability, safety, and flexibility to put bench-grade power performance in your pocket. With up to 100W of total power, five output channels, and built-in monitoring, it's the perfect tool for powering prototypes, testing circuits, or working in the field without bulky equipment."

Dundar first unveiled the design back in December last year, though under the name Fusion USB PD Powerbox — a mouthful now simplified down to BenchVolt PD. The finished version almost matches the feature-set promised by its predecessor: a compact board with three fixed-voltage outputs of 1.8V, 2.5V, and 3.3V at up to 3A, one low-range adjustable output from 0.5–5V at up to 3A, and one high-range adjustable output from 2.5–32V at up to 3A — all somewhat downrated from an originally-specified 4A peak output.

The outputs are under the control of an on-board STMicroelectronics STM32F030F4 microcontroller, which also comes with a bonus feature in its firmware: the ability to generate arbitrary sine, square, triangle, and ramp waveforms on the adjustable channels, as well as stable outputs. There's a 1.9" TFT display and rotary encoder for standalone use, plus support for remote control over USB through either a bundled Python graphical user interface or the Standard Commands for Programmable Instruments (SCPI) standard for third-party integration.

Dundar is currently crowdfunding production of the device on Crowd Supply, with rewards priced at $99 board-only or $149 bundled with an aluminium-based plexiglass housing and cable set. All hardware is expected to ship starting in March next year, while Dundar has pledged to release schematics alongside existing source code on GitHub in the near future under an unspecified open source license.