USBANANA01 Gives Your Bench-Top Power Supply a USB Type-A Output, Current Measurement Points

Maker Nicholas Atkins has launched a compact PCB designed to make it easier to work with banana-plug bench-top power supplies: The USBANANA01, which converts the banana plugs into a USB Type-A port.

"USBANANA01 is an adaptor PCB to convert bench power supply 4mm banana sockets into a USB Type-A socket — ideal for prototyping/testing USB powered devices," Atkins writes. "It allows you to run USB powered products from a variable voltage/current bench power supply, which means you can: Use current limiting to prevent damage to prototype devices; Simulate over-voltage and under-voltage conditions on a USB powered device; Measure current drawn by USB powered devices."

"I worked on a few of projects that were USB powered and I wanted more control over the supply. I couldn't see a cheap option that did quite what I wanted so I designed this board."

The board places the banana plugs at a fixed width apart, meaning that it's only compatible with selected supplies: Anyone looking to add the USBANANA01 to their bench-top supply will need to check that the positive and negative sockets are right next to each other with 3/4" spacing and with enough clearance for the PCB.

The USBANANA01 is available in two variants: The standard model is a simple passive adapter with no additional components beyond an LED indicator for power; the second variant includes a 0R1 shunt resistor and test points either side of shunt and ground — though, Atkins warns, accurate current measurement may require additional circuitry for filtering or amplification.

"This adaptor PCB is intended for the testing/prototyping of USB powered electronic projects. If used incorrectly it may cause damage to attached USB devices," Atkins warns. "For that reason, it is not recommended that this adaptor PCB is used to charge consumer devices such as mobile phones, tablets, laptops, power banks or similar. For the same reason care should be taken when setting voltage, polarity and current for any connected device."

The USBANANA01 is now available from Atkins' Tindie store, priced at $9 plain or $10.50 for the shunt resistor variant. Both are supplied fully assembled.