#pdbrick — Public Fediverse posts

Did a small #38c3 project site entry about the #PDBrick.

https://events.ccc.de/congress/2024/hub/de/so/project/pdbrick-public-usb-c-charger/

Come find it at the #Unterland assembly (https://38c3.c3nav.de/l/c:0:109.41:153.84/ )

- Bought a Mercedes #startergenerator and started reverse-engineering it
- Implemented gamma correction for #PixelBridge
- Built a control board and instrument display for the #ePocketBike
- Dabbled in upholstry and built a new seat for the #ePocketBike
- Acquired some big #SSD1303 OLEDs and desgined a breakout board + Arduino library for it.
- Released the #PawConnect (Tag-Connect #TC2030 compatible f̶o̶o̶t̶ pawprint)
- Built the now famous #PDBrick together with @techbeard
2/3

- Bought a Mercedes #startergenerator and started reverse-engineering it
- Implemented gamma correction for #PixelBridge
- Built a control board and instrument display for the #ePocketBike
- Dabbled in upholstry and built a new seat for the #ePocketBike
- Acquired some big #SSD1303 OLEDs and desgined a breakout board + Arduino library for it.
- Released the #PawConnect (Tag-Connect #TC2030 compatible f̶o̶o̶t̶ pawprint)
- Built the now famous #PDBrick together with @techbeard
2/3

- Bought a Mercedes #startergenerator and started reverse-engineering it
- Implemented gamma correction for #PixelBridge
- Built a control board and instrument display for the #ePocketBike
- Dabbled in upholstry and built a new seat for the #ePocketBike
- Acquired some big #SSD1303 OLEDs and desgined a breakout board + Arduino library for it.
- Released the #PawConnect (Tag-Connect #TC2030 compatible f̶o̶o̶t̶ pawprint)
- Built the now famous #PDBrick together with @techbeard
2/3

- Bought a Mercedes #startergenerator and started reverse-engineering it
- Implemented gamma correction for #PixelBridge
- Built a control board and instrument display for the #ePocketBike
- Dabbled in upholstry and built a new seat for the #ePocketBike
- Acquired some big #SSD1303 OLEDs and desgined a breakout board + Arduino library for it.
- Released the #PawConnect (Tag-Connect #TC2030 compatible f̶o̶o̶t̶ pawprint)
- Built the now famous #PDBrick together with @techbeard
2/3

- Bought a Mercedes #startergenerator and started reverse-engineering it
- Implemented gamma correction for #PixelBridge
- Built a control board and instrument display for the #ePocketBike
- Dabbled in upholstry and built a new seat for the #ePocketBike
- Acquired some big #SSD1303 OLEDs and desgined a breakout board + Arduino library for it.
- Released the #PawConnect (Tag-Connect #TC2030 compatible f̶o̶o̶t̶ pawprint)
- Built the now famous #PDBrick together with @techbeard
2/3

As the server PSUs feature #SMBus connectivity, we planned to display some metadata on an OLED.

I soldered up a small perfboard with a buck converter, #ESP32 and a few connectors.

The ESP32 only communicates with the low-side PSU, as I didn't want to implement isolated I²C.
But I noticed that the values coming from the PSU were pretty hit & miss anyways. Especially during light loads.
So I simply used the values that matched the actual values closest and doubled them.

#PDBrick

The 230V wiring consists of a #powerCON #TRUE1 socket to two IEC plugs. We had to remove the jacket, because it would've been too tight otherwise.
The aluminum casing is grounded via the good connection between PSU casing and aluminum. (see above)

You might also notice the #XT60 plug. It's a generic 24V output for connecting external devices like LiPo chargers etc.
The main reason for its existance is still having "left-over" power budget from the power supplies (~600W) :D

#PDBrick